Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel
Lundy How to Get There, Where to Stay, What to Do
Lundy is only 12 miles (about 30 kms) from the North Devon coast but it feels like a thousand miles from anywhere. It sits at the confluence of the North Atlantic Ocean and the Bristol Channel and offers the peace of isolation of a remote sanctuary. Lundy is a small island just 3 and one-half miles (8 kms approx) long by one-half mile (1 km approx) wide.
Lundy's Name
There is some dispute about the origin of the name Lundy: some claim that it is a translation of the ancient Norse "Puffin Island" and others say that it came from Norman French and refers to a copse or wooded area, which must have disappeared many centuries ago.
Stone Age and Viking History
It has a fascinating history being first settled in the Stone Age however it seems that the settlements were fleeting. Viking invaders made use of Lundy as a refuge from the native Britons and as a resting place before continuing their invasion of the Welsh and English coasts. There is evidence of a medieval settlement in the form of four engraved graves dating from the 5th century. Habitation continued from the Marisco family in the 12th and 13th centuries through to the Victorian era and down to contemporary times.
Lundy has seen turbulent times, being used as a refuge by pirates, privateers and smugglers. But with the purchase of the island by William Heaven, peace finally came to Lundy. It was the Heaven family who built many of the island's buildings, the Marisco Tavern, St Helena's Church and an elegant Georgian-style mansion called Millcombe House.
Martin Coles Harman King of Lundy
But perhaps the most famous of "settlers" was Martin Coles Harman who bought the island in the early 20th century with the aim of turning it into a personal fiefdom and declared himself king.
Lundy Currency and Stamps
Martin Harman minted the island's currency called the "Puffin" the only two denominations being the ½ Puffin and the 1 Puffin, equivalent to the British ½ penny and 1 penny. He also produced the island's own stamps and established a post office there.
Unlike the local coinage which was declared illegal after a protracted court battle its stamps survived and even thrived. The stamps pay for the carriage of letters and parcels from the island to the mainland and Royal Mail stamps have to be affixed too.
The National Trust
Lundy was again sold to British millionaire Jack Hayward who promptly gave it to the National Trust who leased the island to the Landmark Trust in1969. The Trust has managed the island ever since
Lundy's wildlife is diverse and sometimes unique and the island is a Site of Scientific Interest and is the UK's only Nature Marine Reserve. The Lundy pony is a hardy animal found only on the island as is the Lundy Cabbage. Many seabirds make their home on the island particularly Puffins, Manx Shearwaters, Guillemots, gulls and Peregrine Falcons. Many more are seasonal visitors or strays blown off their usual migratory routes by storms and hurricanes.
Staying on Lundy
Weekend visitors, birdwatchers, divers, ramblers, nature lovers or just those who want to get away by renting a number of properties and rooms and a sojourn is an unforgettable experience that many repeat.
How to Get to Lundy
In the summer months either of the pleasure steamers Balmoral or the Waverly make regular sailings from many Bristol Channel ports to the island. A,lthough visits are brief.
Access to the island is by its own vessel the MV Oldenburg, details of which are available on the Lundy website.
Contact:
The Quay, Biddeford
Devon, EX39 2LY
Tel: +44 (0) 271 863636
Fax: +44 (0) 1237 477779
Email: info@lundyisland.co.uk
Marisco Castle
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Lundy
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