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: Near Abercastle, Pembrokeshire
- Size: >5 ha
- Highpoint: 26m
- Terrain: rocky scramble onto island; free-range grass paths
- Access: tidal, 2hrs either side of low tide
- Map: OS Explorer 35
- Starting point: Abercastle car park (charges), SA62 5AF. Grid ref. SM 852336; What3Words relatives.restore.crumple
A craggy islet at the mouth of family-friendly Abercastle Bay, Ynys y Castell is a fun island to reach at low tide along a wide, rock causeway. A promontory fort crowns the island’s high point of twenty-six metres, and an indentation south of the enclosure is the ‘Grave of Sampson’s Finger’.
The plateau is covered in a thick blanket of tussock grass. Access to the island is by a short, easy rock scramble and a steep path from the south-west side. There’s a great view from the top of the long, narrow picturesque inlet dotted with kayakers and boats of every sort. It is also fun to swim in the sheltered waters around the south of the island and explore the sea cave. To the north-west of Ynys y Castell, Ynys Deullyn sits just a few metres off the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. It can be reached by a moderate, slippery scramble at low tide after dropping down to sea level from the nearby mainland cliffs.
A further island to explore, four kilometres south-west of Ynys Deullyn along this stretch of coast path, is Ynys-fach. For the committed island bagger, it is possible to scramble down the mainland cliffs on to the island at low tide. The island can also be readily viewed on a circular walk from the tiny, picturesque fishing hamlet of Porthgain. Access tidal crossing
Read more about the best things to do on Ynys y Castell – link to activities tab
Where to stay in Abercastle
There are a number of self-catering cottages in Abercastle, but no hotel or pub. Abercastle camping options include Trellyn Woodland Camping, and Garn Isaf.
Food near Abercastle
The closest Abercastle pub is the welcoming and traditional Ship Inn for great beer and pub grub in nearby Trefin, SA62 5AX, tel. 01348 831798.
How to get to Ynys y Castell
From Abercastle Beach walk towards the island and scramble up the island’s southwest tip.
