Ramsey Island

Ramsey is a dramatic off-shore island, a mile off Pembrokeshire’s coast. The island covers approx 600 acres and features 400ft high cliffs, which teem with breeding seabirds. Over the years Ramsey had a succession of owners and caretakers who farmed the island, but it is now owned and managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Ramsey Island is accessible by a regular boat service from St Justinian’s, which crosses the spectacular Ramsey sound, with its infamous and treacherous reef, known as the Bitches.

The island is home to several thousand seabirds in the season, including razor-bills, kittiwakes, fulmers, chough, guilliemot, raven, peregrine and puffin.

The caves and beaches around Ramsey are breeding grounds for the largest concentration of grey seals who give birth to over 400 white coated pups during the Autumn.

Some Photographs of the seals and birds taken on a trip in a fast craft round the island.

Ramsey Island has over 1300 species that either nest there or use it as a migration "stop-over" The most common are: Chough, Guillemot, Raven, Razorbill

Visiting Ramsey Island

It is important to realise that there are only limited number of visitors allowed on the island each day.

The boat trip can be booked through the only company with landing rights. The boats depart from the jetty underneath the St Justinian's lifeboat station. They leave at 10.00am and 1.00pm and retun at 1.00pm and 4.00pm

One of the RSBB wardens will meet you and tell you about the islands birds and flower and gives you a map of the various footpaths.

An excerpt from the RSPB's web site: "There is a main trail of about 3.5 miles, which can be divided into two loops by taking the shortcut (closed March - July). The trail is steep and rugged in places so is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs"

Other Information

• The RSPB manage the island.(Tel: 07836 535 733)
• RSPB Visitors Information - Open every day, from 1 April or Easter (whichever is earlier) to 31 October, between 10 am and 4 pm
• RSPB Charges - Return boat crossing: adults £10, children £5. Landing: RSPB members free. Non-member adults £4, children £2
• Thousand Islands Expeditions - Granted the sole landing rights by the RSPB
• Voyages of Discovery - Trips around Ramsey Island

Getting to St. Justinians

From Cross Square in St Davids take Goat Street (see picture - left hand exit from the square, past the chemists) Goat street then forks right along Pitt Street. At the end, turn left along Feidr Treginnis. Follow that road for about a mile and a half to St Justinians. (It is signposted)

Amenities

• Refreshments and Snacks available
• Small Gift Shop &Toilets

Parking

• Car Parking layby at St Justinian (Free to Members)

Dogs

• No dogs - except registered assistance dogs