Grassholm

Island Offshore Welsh island with large gannet colony

Grassholm sits off Pembrokeshire with one of Britain’s largest gannet colonies; boat trips target the island for close seabird viewing and coastal photography.

Grassholm is a small, rocky island off the coast of Pembrokeshire in southwest Wales, internationally noted for its large colony of breeding northern gannets. The island is designated and managed for wildlife conservation.

The island has been uninhabited for long periods and has been important as a seabird breeding site. It has been protected under UK conservation designations to safeguard the bird populations.

Grassholm lies off the Pembrokeshire coast of southwest Wales, several kilometres offshore from the mainland and accessible only by boat.

Gannet colony and access: Home to one of the United Kingdom's largest northern gannet colonies and protected as a wildlife site, best viewed from licensed boat trips rather than landing on the island.

How to Get to Grassholm #

Grassholm is an offshore island off the Pembrokeshire coast of southwest Wales, noted for its seabird colonies. The usual way to visit is to drive to the Pembrokeshire coast (St Davids / Marloes area via the A487 from Haverfordwest) and join a licensed boat trip to Grassholm from local operators (boat departures typically operate in summer and are weather‑dependent). Landings are tightly controlled to protect wildlife, so visits are by organised boat trips rather than independent landings.

Tips for Visiting Grassholm #

Visit between late spring and mid-summer (May-July) to see the peak gannet breeding season when thousands of birds are present.
The island is an RSPB-protected seabird colony and is not open for casual landings; the usual way to see Grassholm is from licensed boat trips that keep a regulated distance to avoid disturbance.
Aim for morning trips when seas are usually calmer for clearer viewing and photography, and bring binoculars-most visitors miss the scale of the colony if they only rely on unaided sight.