Discover Pembrokeshire’s Incredible Marine Life on a Boat Trip from St Justinian’s

Did you know that you can spot porpoises, dolphins, seals, whales and lots of other incredible marine life along the UK coastline? Some of the best boat trips I’ve ever taken have been in the UK, and one of my absolute favourites was from St Justinian’s in Pembrokeshire.

Named after St Stinan, a sixth-to-seventh-century monk who was a contemporary of St David, St Justinian’s is home to Porthstinan, a small harbour used for boat trips to explore local islands and wildlife.

Several operators offer boat trips from St Justinian’s, including Falcon Boats, Voyages of Discovery, and Thousand Islands Expeditions. A variety of different adventures are available, including trips that pass Grassholm, Ramsey Island, Skomer Island and Strumble Head. We took a trip around Grassholm Island with Falcon Boats, which was truly magical.

What Wildlife Can You See on a Boat Trip from St Justinian’s?

There are no guarantees when it comes to seeing animals in the wild, but that makes it even more exciting when you to spot someone! As well as porpoises, dolphins, seals and even whales, there are so many seabird species to discover, including gannets, puffins, Manx shearwaters, kittiwakes, choughs and more. Our most interesting sighting on our boat trip was a sunfish!

What Islands Can You Explore on a Boat Trip from St Justinian’s?

Ramsey Island

Ramsey Island is a dramatic offshore island with cliffs rising to 120 metres, which is home to choughs, breeding peregrines and grey seals, who pup on the island’s beaches in late summer and autumn. Ramsey is a Special Protection Area for chough, and is owned and managed by the RSPB. You can take a day trip to Ramsey Island with Thousand Islands Expeditions.

Grassholm Island

Grassholm is a small island which is uninhabited by people, but home to a huge colony of northern gannets – so many that the island appears white as you approach it, thanks to both the gannets themselves and their faeces (which also give the island a distinctive aroma!). Owned by the RSPB since 1947, Grassholm is one of the RSPB’s oldest reserves.

Skomer Island

Skomer is home to over one million seabirds, including over 350,000 breeding pairs of Manx shearwaters, thousands of guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes, and 40,000 horned puffins. Pint-sized puffins are a real treat to spot in the wild – they’re adorable, great fun to watch, and only stop off in Pembrokeshire between April and August. You can only stop off on the island on a trip from Martin’s Haven, but you can see the puffins from a boat trip from St Justinian’s.

Strumble Head

Situated on the north-west tip of Pembrokeshire, Strumble Head is home to Strumble Lighthouse, perched on a tiny island off the coast. The lighthouse is now automated, so there isn’t any access onto the island. The area is a great spot to see grey seals.

Can I Discover St Justinian’s Without Visiting?

If you want a taste of St Justinian’s before your trip, you can watch Thousand Islands Expeditions’ live webcam.

How Do I Book My Trip?

To find out more and book your boat trip, take a look at the websites of Falcon Boats, Voyages of Discovery, and Thousand Islands Expeditions.

A walk along the Wales Coast Path is an amazing adventure, so what are you waiting for?! If you’re ready to start planning your walk, you can find lots of resources to help you on your way here.