Ramsey Island

Ramsey Welsh: Ynys Dewi
Pembrokeshire
Ramsey Island from St David's Head
Location
Grid reference:	SM700232
Highest point:	446 feet
Data

Ramsey Island is an island about half a mile off the coast of the St David's peninsula in Pembrokeshire on the northern side of St Brides Bay. In Welsh the island is named after Saint David (Dewi Sant). It is said to have been the home of his confessor, Saint Justinian. The nearest town is the City of St David's.

Ramsey Island is less than 2 miles long and its highest point is 446 feet above sea level at Carnllundain. It is the largest island in Wales after Anglesey and Holy Island.

Nature Reserve

Owned and managed by the RSPB, the island has spectacular bird cliffs, coastal scenery and heathland. Ramsey has the most important Grey Seal breeding colony in southern Britain, with over 400 seal pups born each autumn. It is one of the best sites in to see Choughs.

Other breeding species include Ravens, Buzzards, Peregrine Falcons, Wheatears, gulls, auks, Manx Shearwaters, Razorbills and Guillemots.

With a permanent population of just two human residents (the RSPB warden and his wife who live in a farmhouse there), the island is otherwise uninhabited. Tourist boats sail to and around the island (7 days a week, Easter-31 October) from Saint Justinian's RNLI lifeboat station on the mainland.

Ramsey Island is surrounded by a number of smaller islands, islets and rock clusters, including:

Bancyn-ffald The Bitches tidal race The Bishops and Clerks group, including: Carreg Rhoson and Maen Rhoson Carreg-trai Cribog Daufraich and Maen Daufraich Emsger or South Bishop Llechau-isaf and Llechau-uchaf Moelyn North Bishop

Carreg-gwylan Meini Duon The Bitches Trwynmynachdy Ynys Bery Ynys Cantwr Ynys Eilun and Pont yr Eilun Ynys Gwelltog

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Ramsey Island)

• RSPB website
• RSPB ferry to Ramsey Island
• Ramsey Island RSPB Nature Reserve
• CPRW description
• JNCC description – includes map of GB showing location