About Islandeering
Hi and welcome to Islandeering Islandeering is for people who want adventure in Britain’s wild blue spaces – our rivers, coast, lakes, canals and islands. You will find amazing walks, paddles and swims in the UK’s most special places, those recognised for outstanding natural beauty, incredible geology or special and abundant wildlife.
More About UsWe continuously find new islands, rivers, lochs, canals and coast to walk, SUP and swim in and meet plenty of great folks along the way. Join our community to get new routes and adventures, latest blogs and news by using the email box below. Tune in also to our Facebook and Instagram pages to see where we are going next.
Key Facts
- Location: South Wales
- Size: 6 hectares
- Terrain: Rock causeway; rocky foreshore; and grass paths
- Access: Tidal
- Height gain: 42 metres
- Map: OS Explorer 151
- Starting point: Carpark of the Captain’s Wife pub. Lat/Long 51.400286, -3.197754. GR ST 16775 67487
This uninhabited island, just 450 metres in length, is popular for people staying locally who enjoy exploring the rock pools of the causeway or like visit the remains of a Victorian ship. A former haven for pirates, including the feared mediaeval pirate Alfredo de Marisco who was known as ‘The Nighthawk’, Sully Island is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a place to feel free in the vastness and power of the Bristol Channel.
Highlights of Sully Island include:
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- A walk on the seafloor of the world’s second largest tidal range
- Fabulous sculptures and layers in the cliffs
- Panoramas of several counties and the Bristol Channel islands
- Getting away from it all a stones throw away from Cardiff
Read more about the Sully Island Walk in the Islandeering tab above.
Can you stay on Sully Island?
Sully Island is uninhabited and privately owned, although very much open to the public. Wild camping is not permitted in Wales unless permission is given by the landowner. That said many fisherman camp on Sully Island for night fishing.
Food on Sully Island
There are no facilities on Sully Islandsland but at the start of the walk across to the island The Captain’s Wife Inn offers good food
How to get to Sully Island
From Sully village, between Penarth and Barry, head towards Swanbridge and park in the car park of the Captain’s Wife Inn. On a green light from the RNLI-installed traffic lights the route crosses the slippery rock causeway to the island’s north coast. See Islandeering Route (link) for more on the Sully Island walk
Sully Island Tide Times
To successfully plan your walk to Sully Island, the tide times are key. The causeway can be walked safely two hours before and after low tide. The RNLI’s traffic lights at the start of the causeway give you extra comfort that you are walking across the causeway in a safe tide window. Do not cross on amber or red lights. Check BBC Tide Times (link https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast-and-sea/tide-tables ) for nearby Barry Island.
Walking around Sully Island
About Islandeering
Hi and welcome to Islandeering Islandeering is for people who want adventure in Britain’s wild blue spaces – our rivers, coast, lakes, canals and islands. You will find amazing walks, paddles and swims in the UK’s most special places, those recognised for outstanding natural beauty, incredible geology or special and abundant wildlife.
More About UsWe continuously find new islands, rivers, lochs, canals and coast to walk, SUP and swim in and meet plenty of great folks along the way. Join our community to get new routes and adventures, latest blogs and news by using the email box below. Tune in also to our Facebook and Instagram pages to see where we are going next.
Key Facts
- Location: South Wales
- Size: 6 hectares
- Terrain: Rock causeway; rocky foreshore; and grass paths
- Access: Tidal
- Height gain: 42 metres
- Map: OS Explorer 151
- Starting point: Carpark of the Captain’s Wife pub. Lat/Long 51.400286, -3.197754. GR ST 16775 67487
Cross the second highest tidal range in the world to discover a hidden beauty just a hop away from Cardiff. Only 400 metres from the mainland across a sometimes slippery causeway crossing, walk is around the rocky foreshore of the north and west coasts and climb onto the grass path of the island to complete the circumnavigation. There are great views across the Bristol Channel.
Look out for
-
- A walk on the seafloor of the world’s second largest tidal range
- Fabulous sculptures and layers in the cliffs
- Panoramas of several counties and the Bristol Channel islands
- Getting away from it all a stone’s throw away from Cardiff
The Sully Island walk crosses the second highest tidal range in the world to discover a hidden beauty just a hop away from Cardiff. Only 400 metres from the mainland across a sometimes slippery causeway crossing to walk is around the rocky foreshore of the north and west coasts and climb onto the grass path of the island to complete the circumnavigation.
The walk starts from the car park of the Captain’s Wife pub and, on a green light from the RNLI’s traffic lights, cross the causeway which is lined with shallow rock pools, full of seaweeds and shells. Once on the island’s north coast there are views back to the mainland with Barry Island to the west, the striking orange cliffs of Swanbridge to the north and the greys and creams of the Lavernock cliffs further east.
Once on the island, walking clockwise on the foreshore the black wooden veins of a boat hull partly submerged in the sand continues to intrigue local people. It could have been a ketch carrying coal, a smack carrying stone or a barge carrying sand and gravel. It could also have been one of the iconic Bristol Channel Pilot Cutters that guided ships through the dangerous and congested waters. Whatever its story its secret firmly remains in Davy Jones’ Locker.
The geology of the foreshore on the north coast is fascinating. There is a deposit of rocks made of angular fragments cemented together by mineral cement that sits strikingly on top of a limestone bed. The layered cliffs, again with their distinctive layers exposed, make a colourful backdrop for the walk along the foreshore.
Towards the north-east of the island a small plaque commemorates local Burt Peterson ‘who fished this island for more than 50 years, man and boy’. Well known for its rich catch of cod, whiting, dogfish, eel and bass these waters remain a firm favourite with fishermen who can be found perched on the precarious stone platforms around the island.
On the south coast the beauty of the overhanging red and cream sandstone cliffs layered on top of the grey limestone at their base is made for a geology fieldtrip. There are expansive views across to Exmoor and Brean Head in Somerset with the distinctive shapes of Flatholm and Steepholm sitting within the Bristol Channel in the foreground.
Walking around to the west coast, again a fabulous mix of layered rocks with the reds and creams laid down over different ages is found. On the return to the causeway a quick glance over the shoulder to the welcome sign reading ‘Warning, you are risking your life by visiting this island, avoid being caught on the way’ is a good reminder to look left and right for the incoming tide.
Directions for Sully Island Walk
Exit the Captain’s Wife car park and turn immediately left to cross the causeway. After 500 metres arrive at the island and walk clockwise on the foreshore to pass the decaying hull of the shipwreck. After a further 400 metres round the northeast headland and walk up the slabs of rocks and find the footpath that climbs onto the island’s scrubby interior.
Continue on the rough path, which may be overgrown later in the season, parallel to the east coast to the ‘high’ point on the island at the southeast corner. Walk along the top of the cliffs of the south side where it is possible to venture down to explore the colourful rocks and ledges.
Drop down to the foreshore on the west coast of the island to complete the circumnavigation and return across the causeway.
Getting to Sully Island
From Sully village, between Penarth and Barry, head towards Swanbridge and park in the car park of the Captain’s Wife Inn.
