Ramsey Island lies just off the Pembrokeshire coast of west Wales. It is separated from the mainland by the narrow and often turbulent Ramsey Sound. Shaped by strong winds and ahigh winter seas, its landscape feels raw and elemental.
The island’s cliffs rise sharply from the sea, layered with ancient rock and cut through by narrow inlets and caves. Views stretch across St Brides Bay. Inland, Ramsey has rolling fields, coastal paths, and patches of heather and wildflowers that bloom in summer. Stone farm buildings and an old lighthouse show only the most minimal human impact.
Ramsey Island is best known for its wildlife. It is an important haven for seabirds, including puffins, guillemots, razorbills, and kittiwakes, which nest on the cliffs in vast numbers. Grey seals are frequently seen hauled out on rocks or bobbing in the surrounding waters. Dolphins and porpoises sometimes appear offshore.
Remote yet accessible by boat, Ramsey Island offers visitors a powerful sense of place—one defined by sea, stone, and sky, where natural rhythms dominate and the modern world feels reassuringly distant.
The dramatic coastline around St Davids is home to a thriving seabird population, including large colonies of Guillemots. These seabirds, known for their sleek black-and-white plumage and long delicate bills. They are seen on the sea cliffs around Pembrokeshire. Particularly around the nearby Ramsey Island and Skomer Island. The rugged cliffs and remote ledges, provide the perfect breeding...
Carn Llidi is a prominent hill above Whitesands beach near St Davids. It stands at 181 meters (595 feet) above sea level. The hill is a well loved feature of the rugged North Pembrokeshire landscape. It's notable for its panoramic views over the surrounding coastline. Looking straight across at Ramsey Island and the rugged cliffs of St. David's Head. Carn Llidi is often referred to as a ‘tump’...
The Chough is a member of the crow family. It glossy black plumage like many other crows but is easily identified with its bright red beak and legs. They are similarly sized to a common crow at around 40 centimetres long with a wingspan of around 80 centimetres. Choughs make a distinctive two-part screech and are found nesting on sea cliffs. They eat small insects, berries and some grains...
There have been records of Ravens on Ramsey Island as far back as the time of the Vikings. The name Ramsey is said to be derived from a description of the Raven, Raven's Water. The birds and the island have a long intertwined history. The Raven is a part of the corvid or crow family and is the largest of this family. They weigh up to one and half kilos and have a wingspan of over one meter. They...
Whitesands is one of the premiere surfing beaches in Pembrokeshire and within easy reach of Galwad y Mor apartments. The beach is around half a mile of open sand with a rocky headland. To the North there is a small cove and then on to Porthmelgan beach. To the south is Porthselau facing North West and Ramsey Island is situated just off shore. With its car park, shop and surf life saving club...
The Peregrine Falcon is one of the rarest birds of prey in Britain and we are lucky to have a handful of breeding pairs in Pembrokeshire. Peregrine's like tall cliff and tall buildings so the sea cliffs of Ramsey Island make an excellent place for nesting. Numbers fell dangerously low during the 60's and 70's as a result of pesticides present in the food chain. Luckily with restrictions on...
Ramsey Island lies just off the coast of the St Davids headland in view of Whitesands beach. It’s surrounded by a network of smaller islands and islets. These including Bancyn-ffald Carreg-trai and the Bishops and Clerks group. The island is an RSPB bird reserve with the perfect habitat for breeding Choughs. Peregrine Falcons are also numerous on Ramsey with its 300 ft plus sea cliffs. Other...
