The Skerries

The Skerries are a group of rocky islets about three kilometres off the northwest corner of Anglesey. Their Welsh name means ‘Islands of the Seals’, though the islands themselves are named after the Old Norse word for a small rocky reef. The highest point holds the Skerries Lighthouse, which guides vessels around the treacherous waters. At low tide the islets can be reached on foot or by small bridges that link them together. Divers come to explore the many shipwrecks scattered around the reefs. The islands form one of the most important seabird colonies in Wales. They hold nationally important numbers of Arctic terns, and roseate terns have returned to breed here after a decade’s absence. Other breeding birds include Atlantic puffins, black-legged kittiwakes and common terns. The site is protected as part of a Special Protection Area and an Important Bird Area shared with nearby Cemlyn Bay and Ynys Feurig. During the breeding season the islands are wardened by the RSPB, which controls invasive plants and provides nestboxes to encourage terns. Visitors arrive by charter boat from Holyhead and walk between the islets when the tide is low. The lighthouse stands on the highest rock, offering views across the Irish Sea. Terns wheel overhead while gulls and puffins nest on the cliffs. The waters around the Skerries are also the planned site of a tidal stream array, harnessing the power of the tides.