Description
The island of Lundy lies at the mouth of the Bristol Channel, just north of the Devon coast. The island itself is only three miles long and half a mile wide, and has a permanent population of fewer than 20 people. Far outnumbering the human inhabitants are the birds of Lundy.
The name Lundy is an adaptation of the old Norse for "Puffin Island" and it is the puffin which is Lundy's most famous resident. Lundy is a magnet for Puffin watchers and a haven for bird-fanciers of any description. Dotterels, warblers, and firecrests are just some varieties of birds found here. Thirty-five bird species breed here each year, and over 280 unique species have been seen on the island.
The rocky pools along the coast of Lundy are blessed with a wide variety of sea life, such as anemones, crabs, and corals. Visitors can book snorkelling sessions in company with the warden of Lundy to view the marine life close at hand.
The island is now owned by the National Trust, but not long ago Lundy was a "kingdom". Eccentric Martin Harman proclaimed himself King of Lundy and issued his own currency and postage stamps, which are now collectables.
Accommodation on Lundy is as varied as the birdlife - visitors can stay in the 13th-century castle, a stone cottage, a fisherman's house, a Victorian villa, or even an old lighthouse! Regular ferries run to Lundy from Ilfracombe and Barnstaple in North Devon. The waters around Lundy are Britain's only Marine Nature Reserve.
Area Countryside attractions
Hartland Heritage Coast
This is a 60-mile long coast of startling, rugged cliffs pounded by the Atlantic waves which make the area popular with surfers. More ...
The South West Coast Path
Easily the longest and, in places, the most arduous, of England's National Trails. The path is actually the amalgamation of 4 paths; the Somerset & North Devon, Cornwall, South Devon, and Dorset Coastal paths. The route is quite popular, and it can be crowded in the summer months, though there are always long stretches where your only company will be a chorus of sea birds. More ...
North Devon AONB
This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty takes in the Devon portion of the Hartland Heritage Coast, and extends inland to include the plateau around Hartland itself. In contrast to the rugged coast of the Hartland Point area, the AONB also covers the extensive sand dunes of the Braunton Burrows, and the beaches around Westward Ho!
Lundy Shore Office
The Quay, Bideford
Devon, EX39 2LY
e-mail: info@lundyisland.co.uk
Accommodation booking for Lundy is through the Landmark Trust web site
