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: Tenby, Pembrokeshire
- Access: tidal walk
- Map: OS Explorer OL36
- Highpoint: 30m
- Starting point: Castle Beach, Tenby. What3Words improve.fenced.cools; Grid ref. SN 137 004
This small tidal island on the fabulous Castle Beach is linked to Tenby and today is dominated by the ruins of a Palmerston fort. Throughout this island’s rich history it has been 13th century chapel, a Victorian fort built to protect the naval dockyard at Pembroke and Milford Haven from potential Napoleonic threat, luxury home, WW1 garrison, and a zoo full of monkeys that frequently escaped and wreaked havoc on the beach goers below. More recently St Catherine’s Island has been used as a filming location and is now visitor attraction.
Highlights of St Catherine’s Island
- Low tide walk to the island from Tenby Beach, a great adventure
- A great spot for observing local seabirds.
- Spectacular views of Tenby’s shoreline and the surrounding sea, perfect for photography enthusiasts.
- Exhibitions and special events
- A unique atmosphere
Getting to St Catherine’s Island is an adventure in itself with a short tidal beach crossing, 75 steps, a 10m bridge over a deep ditch and a few more steps before reaching the World War II gun emplacement. Visitors are rewarded with 360-degree views around Carmarthen Bay and the best view of Tenby. The main gun-deck of this Palmerston military fort is the centre of the attraction where visitors can enjoy a host of events including regular film shows, illustrated talks and theme events such as Titanic evenings where guests have to ‘scramble for the lifeboats’; there is also ballroom dancing on the ‘promenade deck’. The island was used as a film location for 2016’s ‘Final Problem’ episode of BBC’s Sherlock, which cements it as a venue for atmosphere and innovation in entertainment. Formed from an outcrop of limestone, the island is riddled with tidal caves. For opening times check out the St Catherine’s Island Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/StCatherinesIsland/?locale=en_GB
