Sunday, 23 July 2006
Lundy Island - Setting The Scene
Over the next few days/weeks, I plan to tell you about the history of Lundy Island, particularly its pirate and smuggling connections. Before I do that, however, it is important that you know the setting of the events I will describe.
The name Lundy comes from the Norse word for "puffin" - for which the island is famous for, although the birds have been in decline, until recently (hopefully). It is a small island approx. 10 miles off the North Devon coast, where the Bristol Channel meets the Atlantic. It is approx. 3 1/2 miles long, and at its widest it is 1/2 mile. It rises approx 400 ft from the sea and is chiefly composed of granite. It is situated at 51.18°N and 4.67°W. I have found this aerial view of Lundy for you to see for yourselves. The nearest place on the mainland is Hartland Point, but the closest coastal town is Clovelly.
The island is owned by the National Trust, who leases it to the Landmark Trust. In fact, everyone who lives permanently on Lundy Island works for the Landmark Trust, all 18 or so of them. You heard right, there are only 18 people who live on the island all year round. This number swells to 25 in summer. The Landmark Trust rents out some properties to tourists.
Why there are so few people on the island in winter? Well, perhaps that's simply the number needed to take care of the island. Or, it might have something to do with the fact that for the rest of the year the island's boat, the MS Oldenburg, takes visitors and locals to and from the island, but in winter, you have to go by helicopter, which is a little more expensive (Adult Day Return on the MS Oldenburg = £29, Adult Period Return = £49.50. Adult Helicopter Journey = £85!). The helicopter is also less frequent than the MS Oldenburg, only making trips on Mondays and Fridays.
In 2005 Lundy Island was voted by Radio Times readers as the 10th Greatest Natural Wonder of the British Isles. And it is not hard to see why: Lundy Island is the only marine nature reserve in England, and is the biggest seabird colony in South East England. Among birds that can be spotted there are puffins (of course!), lesser black-backed gulls, kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemots, oystercatchers, and last year a manx shearwater was spotted in the area.
There are also around 150 wild sheep, 50 deer, 20 Lundy ponies and lots of goats and rabbits on the island. Plus, you can spot grey seals there, too.
Perhaps quite noteworthy is that Lundy has its own native plant species - the Lundy Cabbage, which has also led to the evolution of two kinds of beetle that are unique to the island. However, apparently the cabbage is not nice to eat, tasting worse than Brussels sprouts! I haven't personally tried it, so if you have, feel free to tell me if I am misinformed. :)
There is a wide variety of buildings on Lundy Island, many of which you can stay in during a visit there. There is a shop, a tavern, a church & a working farm, as well as a castle, three lighthouse (two of which are in use), and several houses and cottages (including a Georgian gentleman's villa).
For more info about the island, you should peruse the Lundy Island article on wikipedia.org and www.lundyisland.co.uk.
The island also has a very lively history, which I shall tell you about in the next Lundy post here!
