First Ministers magical day (From Western Telegraph)

First Ministers magical day

A MAGICAL corner of Wales was First Minister Rhodri Morgans verdict on Pembrokeshire, following a visit to Skomer Island, Carew Castle and a traditional Italian ice-cream parlour in Tenby last week.

Mr Morgan, who spends his holidays in West Wales every year, was in Pembrokeshire to promote Welsh tourism and to urge people to visit Welsh visitor attractions over the bank holiday.

My visit to Pembrokeshire highlighted the wonderful combination of attractions Wales has to offer visitors - spectacular coastal scenery, wildlife in abundance, historic castles and traditional seaside resorts, he said.

Skomer is a wildlife wonderland - within a couple of minutes of leaving the mainland we had seen grey seals, puffins and porpoises. It is something every child should experience and I hope that many thousands of visitors will make the trip this summer.

The crossing to Skomer was provided by Dale Sailing in its new, high-speed 30 foot RIB which, when not ferrying First Ministers, is used for excursions around the islands and out to Grassholm Island, embarking at Dale.

In choppy seas, John Reynolds, managing director of Dale Sailing, put the boat through its paces on its way out to the island. Dereck Moore, chief executive of the South and West Wales Wildlife Trust, and David Worrel, of the Countryside Council for Wales, showed Rhodri Morgan, together with his private secretary, Lawrence Conway, and press secretary, Moira Tresaith, around the island.

They were accompanied by Tim Brace, chairman of Pembrokeshire Tourism, and David Reed, a director of Pembrokeshire Tourism, who were able to explain the objectives of this organisation of bringing the whole industry together to speak with one voice.

Mr Morgan spent three hours on Skomer - home to thousands of puffins, razorbills and guillemots and the largest population in the world of manx shearwaters. Other species include kittiwakes, oystercatchers, choughs, fulmars and gulls.

Mr Morgans visit was organised by Pembrokeshire Tourism, along with the Countryside Council for Wales and the South and West Wales Wildlife Trust.

Later, he visited the dramatic ruins of Carew Castle and enjoyed an ice-cream at the famous Feccis Icecream Parlour in Tenby.