Thousand Islands Expeditions

Thousand Islands Expeditions Boat trips around Ramsey Island, Skomer Island and Grassholm Island, St Davids, Pembrokeshire Coast

Traditional boat trips to land on the RSPB Nature Reserve of Ramsey Island, trips around Ramsey Island with a wildlife guide onboard, visiting the bays and caves and to see our resident Atlantic Grey Seals and Harbour Porpoise. Offshore whale and dolphin watching trips, RSPB guided walks on Ramsey Island and to see Grassholm Island. See our website for more details and wildlife sighting records.

28/05/2026

Take a look at these beautiful Puffin photographs taken down at Skomer Island this week by one of our exceptionally skilled passengers.

RJP Photography UK

26/05/2026

A huge thank you to our customer Rich, who joined us for an unforgettable day on the water yesterday as we made our way down to Skomer Island in search of puffins. He captured some fantastic footage and images during the trip, and we’re thrilled to be able to share a glimpse of the experience.

Whist out on the water around Ramsey Island today, warden Nia captured this incredible shot from the back of the island....
07/05/2026

Whist out on the water around Ramsey Island today, warden Nia captured this incredible shot from the back of the island. Those huge cliffs rising straight out of the sea are truly breathtaking, some of the highest in Wales, and at this time of year they’re buzzing with thousands of nesting seabirds.

The sheer rock faces and steady updrafts create perfect conditions for cliff‑nesting species. Razorbills, guillemots and kittiwakes crowd the narrow ledges, while fulmars glide effortlessly along the cliff line. If you’re lucky, you might catch a peregrine falcon sweeping across the heights or hear choughs calling as they wheel overhead.

First Sighting of the Season!We had our first barrel jellyfish sighting of the season today, and it felt like a proper m...
06/05/2026

First Sighting of the Season!

We had our first barrel jellyfish sighting of the season today, and it felt like a proper marker that summer is on its way. As we moved through the waters around Ramsey Island, the shape of it appeared beneath the surface, that pale, drifting bell that looks almost unreal until you’re close enough to see its slow, rhythmic movement. Barrel jellyfish are always impressive, but seeing the first one of the year has a special kind of excitement to it, as if the whole coastline is waking up again.

Ramsey’s waters are perfect for them at this time of year. The currents carry in rich plankton, and the sheltered bays give these huge, gentle drifters a place to linger. Even though they can grow to nearly a metre across, there’s something peaceful about the way they move, letting the tide do most of the work. Spotting one there, in that clear blue water, felt like the beginning of the season’s rhythm, the first sign of the marine life that will follow as the weather warms.

Harbour porpoise are one of the quieter residents of the waters around Ramsey Island, and part of the reason they’re so ...
02/05/2026

Harbour porpoise are one of the quieter residents of the waters around Ramsey Island, and part of the reason they’re so often seen there is the way the tides work. Ramsey Sound has fast, powerful currents that stir everything up underwater, drawing in shoals of small fish, and wherever the fish gather, the porpoise aren’t far behind. The seabed drops away sharply in places, creating deep channels and eddies that make perfect feeding spots, so they spend a lot of time moving through the area in a steady, purposeful way.

Their diet is mostly small fish such as herring, sprat, whiting, and sometimes squid or sand eels. They find their food using echolocation, sending out rapid clicks and listening for the echoes to pinpoint exactly where their prey is. It’s incredibly precise, and it lets them hunt even in murky or fast‑moving water.

In terms of personality, they’re very different from the showy image people often have of dolphins. Porpoise are shy, gentle, and keep to themselves. They don’t leap, bow‑ride, or come over to investigate boats. Watching them feels more like catching a glimpse of a wild animal going about its day, calm, subtle, and easy to miss if you’re not paying attention.

Spotting them is all about looking for small details. Instead of big splashes, you’ll see a neat triangular fin cutting the surface, followed by a smooth, rolling motion as they breathe and dip back under. Their blow is tiny and almost silent, so calm seas make a big difference. They often travel alone or in small groups, especially when they’re feeding.

They’re often confused with dolphins, but the differences are clear once you know them. Porpoise are smaller and more compact, with a blunt, rounded face rather than a beak. Their dorsal fin is a tidy triangle, not the curved shape you see on most dolphins. And while dolphins are social, playful, and often approach boats, porpoise prefer to keep their distance and stay focused on feeding.

Did you know?

Harbour porpoises earned the nickname “puffing pigs” because of the deep, chuffing sound they make when they surface to breathe

With the forecast looking bright this Bank Holiday weekend, it’s the perfect moment to get out on the water and trade th...
01/05/2026

With the forecast looking bright this Bank Holiday weekend, it’s the perfect moment to get out on the water and trade the everyday routine for something far more memorable. Our trips around Ramsey and down to Skomer Island are running all weekend, giving you the chance to experience Pembrokeshire at its most spectacular.

A circuit around Ramsey takes you straight into the drama of the coastline, sheer cliffs, powerful tidal races, and some of the richest wildlife in Wales. Atlantic grey seals haul out on the rocks, seabirds crowd the air, and if you’re lucky, harbour porpoise glide alongside the boat as if escorting you through their world. It’s a trip full of energy and raw beauty, the kind that makes you pause just to soak it all in.

Further south, Skomer Island offers a completely different kind of magic. This year’s puffin census has just reported an incredible 52,019 birds, making the island’s wildlife spectacle even more extraordinary. Puffins bobbing on the surface, shearwaters sweeping overhead, seals drifting through clear blue water, it’s a front‑row seat to one of the UK’s most iconic natural landscapes. And with the Bank Holiday giving everyone a little more breathing room, it’s the perfect excuse to treat yourself to something special.

With local skippers who know these waters like old friends and guides who love sharing the stories, history, and geology of the islands, the trips end up feeling relaxed, interesting, and a bit of an adventure all at once. Whether you’re heading out with the family, hoping to spot some wildlife, or just fancy switching off and feeling the sea breeze for a while, there’s always room for you on board.

Bank Holiday spaces always disappear quickly, so if you’re dreaming of puffins, seals, sea spray, and a proper escape, now’s the moment to book.

The coastline is calling.

📞 01437 721721

✉ [email protected]

🖥 https://thousandislands.co.uk/boat-trips

The WandererThe Peregrine Falcon is Ramsey Island’s resident daredevil, a bird with a passport stamped almost everywhere...
30/04/2026

The Wanderer

The Peregrine Falcon is Ramsey Island’s resident daredevil, a bird with a passport stamped almost everywhere on Earth. Its Latin name, Falco peregrinus, means “pilgrim” or “wanderer,” which feels about right for a species that treats the entire planet like its personal playground. Yet despite having nearly every continent to choose from, peregrines still pick Ramsey’s cliffs as one of their favourite hangouts, and honestly, who can blame them?

The island gives them towering sea cliffs for nesting, endless sea breezes to ride, and a buffet of unsuspecting seabirds flapping past at just the wrong moment.

Watching a peregrine hunt here is like watching nature’s own action movie. They’re the fastest living creatures on the planet, capable of dropping into a stoop at more than 240 mph. One moment they’re a speck in the sky, the next they’re a feathered missile, slicing downward with such force that their prey, often a pigeon, barely has time to register the incoming doom. The strike is instant, the feathers explode like confetti, and the peregrine loops back with its dinner practically pre‑plucked.

Ramsey homes three breeding pairs of Peregrine, and can be spotted all around the Island, but the best places are the high western and northern cliffs where they nest and patrol. Sometimes they sit on a ledge looking regal and slightly smug; other times they rocket across the sky like they’ve got somewhere very important to be. Boat trips around the island give you a front‑row seat to the drama, especially if you catch a peregrine launching off a cliff edge or returning triumphantly with lunch.

They may be global wanderers, but on Ramsey Island, peregrines feel like part of the island’s personality — bold, wild, and always ready to put on a show.

15/04/2026

Happy National Dolphin Day to the ocean’s most joyful acrobats 🐬

National Whale & Dolphin Watch 2026We’re once again, excited to support Sea Watch Foundation’s National Whale & Dolphin ...
14/04/2026

National Whale & Dolphin Watch 2026

We’re once again, excited to support Sea Watch Foundation’s National Whale & Dolphin Watch for 2026.

While we’re out around Ramsey, Grassholm, Skomer, and the offshore seas, our crew, and our brilliant passengers help record sightings of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Every bit of data we collect will go straight to Sea Watch Foundation to help build a clearer picture of where these animals are being seen and why.

The 2026 Whale and Dolphin Watch will take place from 25 July to 2 August. However, all observations submitted throughout the year remain extremely important.

If you spot something during your upcoming trip, let the crew know, and you can also log it yourself using the Sea Watcher app.

Your sighting becomes part of real conservation work happening right here in Pembrokeshire.

Sea Watch Foundation

Guillemots & Razorbills — Two Friendly SeabirdsBetween April and July, our boat trips are alive with seabird activity, a...
14/04/2026

Guillemots & Razorbills — Two Friendly Seabirds

Between April and July, our boat trips are alive with seabird activity, and two species you’ll almost always encounter are guillemots and razorbills, both charismatic members of the auk family. Whether we’re exploring the cliffs of Ramsey, drifting beneath Skomer’s ledges or passing the great seabird walls of Grassholm, these two species are a constant presence throughout the season.

You often see them side‑by‑side because they like the same things: steep, safe cliff ledges, rich feeding grounds close to shore, and the company of large, established colonies. As close relatives, they share similar nesting habits and diets, so they naturally gather in the same places.

Guillemots are tall and slim, dressed in chocolate‑brown plumage with a long, fine bill. They pack themselves tightly onto the narrowest ledges, creating that classic “seabird city” look. Thousands breed across Pembrokeshire each summer, and they’re astonishing divers, reaching depths of around 180 metres in search of sand eels and sprats.

Razorbills are chunkier, with crisp black‑and‑white plumage and a deep bill marked by a bold white line. Skomer alone holds around 10,000 Razorbills, with more on Skokholm and Grassholm. They’re powerful divers too, regularly plunging to 60–120 metres.

After breeding, both species leave the cliffs and spend the entire winter out at sea. Razorbills may travel as far as the western Mediterranean, while guillemots spread across the North Atlantic, riding winter swells and feeding offshore. Each spring they return to Pembrokeshire’s islands because the cliffs offer safe ledges, rich feeding grounds and long‑established colonies, perfect conditions for raising their single chick.

The 'Huddle':

Guillemots are "Close Talkers." They huddle together on narrow ledges in massive, chaotic crowds, literally shoulder-to-shoulder.

Razorbills value their personal space. They prefer "boutique" nesting, usually tucked away in little crevices or holes, looking slightly more dignified and less like they’re at a crowded concert.

Wherever we sail, you’ll spot both species diving, rafting and filling the coastline with life.

Address

Cross Square
Saint David's
SA626SL

Opening Hours

Monday 8:45am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:45am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:45am - 5pm
Thursday 8:45am - 5pm
Friday 8:45am - 5pm
Saturday 8:45am - 5pm
Sunday 8:45am - 5pm

Telephone

+441437721721

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