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.
About Nornour
Nornour is an amazing island to explore for its incredible ancient ruins and outer edge feel. The whole island is a bracken-covered hill joined to Great Ganilly by a low-tide boulder tombolo. The views from its high point reach across most of the Scilly archipelago and back to mainland England and below in the sea seals can be spotted swimming in the kelp forest of the sheltered west coast.
The island tells an incredible story of Romans re-using an Iron Age settlement for religious activity; which is a very rare occurrence. Uncovered in 1962 by a violent storm, an extensive settlement of ancient hut circles and a shrine to the goddess Sillina, who is linked to Sulis of Bath, were found along with Roman brooches, coins, glass beads, jewellery, spoons, and clay figurines. It is thought that the Romans built this shrine to a local sea goddess so that Roman traders could assure their safe travel between mainland Europe and the British Isles by leaving an offering en route.
Today, individual dwellings can be easily distinguished with room divisions, floors, hearth, entrance and courtyards clearly visible in these very atmospheric ruins. Great Ganilly consists of two hills joined together by a low sandy neck. The northern of the two hills is the high point at thirty-four metres. It has a ruined Bronze Age entrance grave on the summit, the stones of which have been used to make a navigational marker.
How to get to Nornour
Nornour and Great Ganilly can be visited as part of a boat tour from St Mary’s; landing trips are available as part of organised tours and by private boat. There are landing restrictions on the wildlife-sensitive parts of Great Ganilly from April until September.
