Lundy Island
Lundy Island lies in the Bristol Channel approximately 18 kilometres off the North Devon coast and is one of the most distinctive and rewarding island destinations in Britain. Three miles long and about half a mile wide, the island rises to granite cliffs some 120 metres above the sea on its western side while the eastern shore slopes more gently to a small beach and landing beach. Its very remoteness, enforced by the channel crossing and the absence of cars on the island, makes Lundy genuinely unlike anywhere else on the British coast. The island's name comes from the Old Norse for puffin, and seabirds remain one of the principal reasons visitors make the journey. Puffins, razorbills, guillemots, kittiwakes and Manx shearwaters all nest on the island's cliffs and ledges, while peregrine falcons hunt along the clifftops. The waters surrounding Lundy were designated as England's first statutory Marine Conservation Zone in 2010, and the exceptional quality of the underwater environment supports populations of grey seals, reef fish, sponges, anemones and cold-water corals that make it one of the finest snorkelling and diving locations in the country. The island's human history is appropriately colourful. It was used as a base for pirates and smugglers throughout the medieval and early modern periods, and the cave-riddled cliffs provided excellent hiding places for contraband. The Marisco family, who held the island during the thirteenth century, were eventually hanged for piracy and treachery against the crown. Later inhabitants included eccentric Victorian squire William Heaven, who managed the island with such absolute authority that he became known as the King of Lundy. The island even issued its own stamps, which are still collected by philatelists worldwide. The island is managed today by the Landmark Trust, which maintains 23 properties available for holiday rental ranging from the Castle to converted lighthouse cottages. Day visitors arrive by ferry from Bideford or Ilfracombe during the summer season and are free to explore the island's farms, footpaths and wildlife habitats. The Marisco Tavern, the island's only pub, provides food, accommodation and the social centre for both residents and visitors.