What to see on Ramsey Island

What to see on Ramsey Island

Why visit Ramsey Island? Just off St Davids Head across the notorious Ramsey Sound a visit to Ramsey Island is one of the top things to do in Pembrokeshire. Here we reveal the island’s hidden places, its spectacular wildlife, coastal walks and more. 

Ramsey Island Wildlife

Owned by the RSPB the island is famed for its birds and wildlife and what it lacks in puffins it certainly makes up for in its huge seal colonies and other characterful species. The island is full of colour from May to September with bluebells, pink thrift and purple heather bringing a heady scent of honey to the whole island. The heathlands of the southern end of the island are a special combination of heather, gorse and coastal plants that are home to stonechats, meadow pipits, linnets and skylarks. This area is also a favourite spot for red deer and five welsh mountain ponies.

Admire the ferocity of The Bitches

Ramsey Island boat trips across the tidal flow of The Bitches is an experience in itself. This reef of jagged rocks creates different heights of water on either side at certain states of the tide. On rough days there are big whirlpools, eddies and spectacularly chaotic water; while calmer days offer the opportunity to watch numerous porpoises feeding in the waters.

Walk the island circuit and traverse the three peaks

This seven-kilometre walk includes the island’s three heather-clad peaks of Carnllundain, the highest at 136 metres, Foel Fawr in the south and Carnysgubor in the north, where there are excellent views of the jagged teeth of the islets and the lighthouse of the Bishops and Clerks, 2.5 kilometres to the west – link

Spot hundreds of seal pups

The cove of Aber Mawr is home to one of the largest breeding colony of Atlantic grey seals in Britain. Their numbers peak in late August through to November when up to a thousand come to the island to breed. An average of 600 pups are born here every year. Towards the south end of the cliffs above the beach is a small wooden observatory where wildlife researchers study the colony and are sometimes available to tell you more about their work.

Birdlife of Ogof Glyma

The caves and cliffs of the west coast are a big draw for birdwatchers. From spring to early summer they are one of the premier sites in Wales to see nesting choughs. Other breeding birds on these cliffs include ravens, peregrines, gulls, Manx shearwaters, razorbills, kittiwakes, shags and guillemots.

Ramsey’s smaller islands

Off Ramsey’s dramatic southern tip lie three steep-sided islands: the tidal Ynys Gwelltog and Ynys Cantwr and the larger Ynys Bery (which has the high point of the group at seventy-one metres). The most spectacular views of these islands can be seen from the small hill of Foel Fawr at the southern tip of Ramsey Island. Ynys Cantwr translates to Chanter’s Island and it is said that St Justinian, a hermit who sought sanctuary and had a chapel on Ramsey, would send priests in need of punishment to the cave there. Tied to a large rock, they were obliged to chant their penance over a period of two high tides. Their survival was proof of God’s forgiveness but in reality few lived to tell the tale, which St Justinian put down to their not having chanted zealously enough. At some point the monks rebelled against such an extreme regime and cut off St Justinian’s head. Kittiwakes now rest in the cave.

If the wardens on Ramsey had one wish it would probably be for the return of puffins to the island. Eradicated by rats in the 1800’s they have not been spotted here since despite the large and overcrowded colonies on neighbouring islands. The wardens have mounted  ‘Project Puffin’ but the decoy birds and recorded calls have not worked to date. After a day spent on the island it would seem that the puffins are definitely missing out.