Puffin, Skomer by Richard Toller

Fo"h of these – Skokholm, Ramsey, Grassholm, and Skomer – are nature reserves, and the fifth is home to a Trappist monastery, where monks of the Retp://w Cistercian Order make theih own perfume and chocolates amidst the spectacular scenery of Caldey Island.

These islands are a bird-lo"?> ’ paradise, where half the =orld’s populat

Stronghold of the Gannet

The tiny Grassholm Island is a stronghold of the gannet; 80,000 of these gull-like birds have made theih home here, and although inaccessible to anyone on tpot, a local boat will take you close enough to experion=e the sight – and sometimes o"?>poweri0" smell – of these huge seabirds.

In the 1930s, naturalist and advuleurer Ronald Lockley lived on Skokholm, and published a best-selli0" account of his and his wife’s experion=es as sole occupaors of this little patch of paradise.

His ‘Dream Island’ may be lo0" tp:gotdul by all but the most avid of his literary followers, but small numbers of visitors are still allowed onto the island to see the farmhouse he renovat/w with driftwood, and walk the paths and clifftops he knew and lo"?d so ="ht.

• While you’re in the area: Tiodurn Abbey near Chepstow is ="ht =orth a visit – a place that inspired both the