Let’s Visit the Idyllic Islands of England
England is of course an island in itself. And we also have the two large islands of the Isle of Wight and Isles of Scilly. Here are a few smaller islands to learn about, some you may not have even heard of!
Always follow the Countryside Code, to keep all creatures safe. If at the coast, read our post on keeping dogs safe at the seaside.
Farne Islands: England’s Marine Wildlife Haven
The Farne Islands are located just off the town of Seahouses, on the Northumbrian coast. People can take boats to view (from afar) what is Sir David Attenborough’s favourite wildlife-watching spot in England. But mostly nobody other than wildlife rangers are allowed on the island, to monitor populations and keep habitats safe.
The Farne islands are home to around 43,000 pairs of puffins during breeding season, and hosts England’s largest breeding colonies for Atlantic grey seals.
Along with being one of Europe’s most important seabird sanctuaries, with over 200,000 breeding pairs from over 20 species (including Arctic terns, guillemots, razorbills, and eider ducks.
Dogs (including assistance dogs) are not allowed on the Farne Islands, due to wildlife. A few ferry owners may let dogs stay with them, if you visit. Or enjoy local dog-friendly beaches (check for seasonal restrictions). Read more on keeping dogs safe by the seaside.
There are three lighthouses on the Farne Islands. Longstone Lighthouse is linked to the rescue by Grace Darling and her father Robert in 1838 (rowing out to save shipwreck survivors, in rough seas).
St Cuthbert was ‘the first environmental saint’ who campaigned for eider duck welfare. Legend has that otters would dry his skin with their fur, after he had gone for a swim! Many monks lived here in the days of hermits, often not seeing other people for years.
Nearby Smaller Islands
Less well-known is nearby Staple Island, which is a small rocky skerry on Outer Farne, also an important wildlife haven for birds and seals. This is not visited much by humans, due to Gun Reef (a dangerous ridge of rocks that extends from the southwestern point).
Coquet Island, a mile off Amble, is a haven for some of Britain’s rarest birds including roseate terns, sandwich terns, puffins and eiders. The RSPB manages the island as a nature reserve, using solar-powered cameras and remote monitoring to keep the birds safe.
The Holy Island of Lindisfarne (Northumberland)
Lindisfarne is a small island (just 3 by 1.5 miles) off Northumberland’s coast, with just 200 residents, but 650,000 yearly tourists. The island is surrounded by a nature reserve, home to many birds and native seals.
Always check the tide times, as it’s common for people to get stranded and have to be rescued from their cars, when the road to this island disappears. Read more on tidal causeways.
If you’re a fan of the TV detective drama Vera, although parts of it are filmed elsewhere (Newcastle, Hexham and Alnmouth), the main character’s home is filmed on Lindisfarne, which was featured in the episode The Rising Tide.
Many religious hermits would spent years here. Local boy St Cuthbert was regarded as the world’s first religious environmentalist. He guarded sheep, and campaigned for the welfare of eider ducks. It’s said that otters would dry his fur, after he’d gone for a swim!
It’s said that he became a monk, after witnessing angels carrying St Aidan’s body to heaven. Craving isolation, he returned to live on Inner Farne, after serving as Bishop of Lindisfarne. After he died, his body was taken back to Lindisfarne, where the many claimed miracles at people who prayed by his grave, led to him being declared a saint.
St Aidan of Lindisfarne is the religious hermit credited to bringing Christianity to pagan lands. He arrived here from the Scottish island of Iona, where he would walk the streets performing miracles, and converting people with his love.
The other two saints associated with this tiny island are St Eadberht (a bishop who is now buried in Durham cathedral) and St Eadfrith (who created the Latin manuscripts for the Lindisfarne Gospels).
Dorset Tiny Islands and Resorts
Isle of Purbeck, Maria Burns
Situated on and near the Jurassic Coast, Dorset is a large county that’s home to many well-known seaside resorts (like Bournemouth, which despite its income, has a big issue with homelessness). Next door is the pretty but less touristy town of Christchurch.
There are also a few little gems of tiny resorts and islands:
The Isle of Purbeck is not a true island, but a peninsula (and home to Jurassic coast landmarks like Lulworth Cove and Old Harry Rocks). Its key feature is Purbeck limestone, along with Corfe Castle and a major nature reserve.
Nearby Poole Harbour (one of the world’s largest natural harbours) forms the boundary. This is also the end point of the South West Coastal Path.
Brownsea Island near Poole is home to wildflowers and seabirds. And due to being an island with the right kind of trees, it’s a good spot for red squirrels. Learn how to protect both red and grey squirrels.
Arne Nature Reserve is great for birdwatching, with heathland, woodland and saltmarsh all in one place. Head out early or at sunset for your best chance to see wildlife.
Studland Bay has unique dunes and heathland, a nature reserve that’s home to many native reptiles (including sand lizards) and endangered seahorses. Owned by the National Trust, the beach was used to train for the D-Day landings in World War II. Live ammunition is still occasionally found, so report it to National Trust immediately.
Never walk on sand dunes, to protect nesting birds and endangered wildlife.
One of England’s most expensive places to live, Sandbanks is the fourth most expensive place to live in the world (John Lennon bought a bungalow here for his Aunt Mimi in 1965). It used to be wild sand dunes, before turning into a mecca for millionaire shorefront homes.
There have been recent problems after a wooden fence was put up, which blocks off parts of the sandy beaches that run from some of the homes ‘back gardens’. Locals are saying ‘nobody owns the sand’ as they are having to walk different routes, sometimes with their dogs.
This is similar to Windsor (Berkshire) where locals are having to find different dog walks, after William and Kate put up a large perimeter around their new home. One local said ‘there are so many houses they could have chosen, why choose one where the public has to lose such a big chunk of the park, for their private benefit. It’s a selfish act’.
Back in Sandbanks, one resident (almost 80 years old) was walking her dog at night near the sand, then the security lights went on, CCTV started to film her, and a voice boomed out telling her to ‘go away’.
The best-known residents of Sandbanks for many years were Harry Redknapp and his wife, though they no longer live here (he is building a new mansion that will be more private, after becoming bothered by tourists).
The cheapest home on Right Move at Sandbanks is a 2-bedroom flat for £425,000. The most expensive property was is almost £6 million (a 5-bedroom house with 5 bathrooms, a pool, sauna, large lawn and a guest suite).
American writer Zoe Strimpel is mystified by the high prices in Sandbanks:
Sandbanks has none of what I would look for in a seaside home: no wildness, no seclusion, no sense of exposure to the full roar of the elements. Its naturalness has been manicured out of it, in accordance with the architectural and landscaping tastes of the football and entertainment elite who have carved it up.
Unique English Islands (just off the Kent coast)
You’ve likely heard of the Isle of Sheppey (just off the North Kent coast) which has seaside towns, a harbour and two nature reserves (home to oystercatchers, redshanks, lapwings and marsh harriers. It’s separated from Kent by the Swale (a narrow part of sea). Originally called ‘Sheep Island’ in Saxon times, this is the birthplace of aviation (good or bad, you decide).
Ian Crofton’s book on English islands has an extensive history of this island, which suffered heavy bombing during World War 2, resulting in unexploded bombs being left on the shoreline. The Elmley National Nature Reserve draws birdwatchers with its rare waders and sweeping views. The wild open skies and grazing cattle create a peaceful escape.
But there are other smaller islands off Kent’s coast, with very interesting and sometimes dramatic histories:
Burntwick Island lies in the Medway Estuary, close to the mainland but cut off by muddy creeks and tidal water. Unlike Sheppey, there’s no access by road. You can still see remains of a shepherd’s house (long left with his sheep, due to flooding) and still littered with Victorian glass and pottery.
The island is part of a protected nature reserve, so it sees few visitors. The saltmarsh is home to countless birds, including curlews and redshanks. Seals often haul out on its muddy banks.
Burntwick has a strange history. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was a hideout for smugglers running contraband up the Medway. Locals tell stories of secret meetings, hidden goods, and daring escapes.
Later, the island became more sinister, as it was used as a quarantine site during outbreaks of plague and cholera. Old gravestones are hidden in the grass, a reminder of those lost to disease long ago. Today, Burntwick’s wild landscape feels timeless, shaped by tides and history.
Deadman’s Island is named, due to the sad remains of 200 men and boys being found, likely dying on ‘floating prisons’ around 200 years ago. Storms and tides have uncovered human bones and wooden coffins, bringing new attention to its grim story. Archaeologists have found remains of children as well as adults.
Some say the island is haunted, and the bleak, windswept setting only adds to its reputation. Because it’s part of a protected wetland, only researchers may set foot there now. Deadman’s Island stands as a stark reminder of Kent’s sometimes-forgotten stories.
Let’s Visit Three Tiny Devon Islands!
Kittiwakes, Gill Wild
Devon is one of England’s largest counties, and also home to the longest coastline (surprisingly, the second longest coastline is Essex, which many mistakenly believe to be mostly urban).
Lundy Island (just 4 miles long) is situated in the Bristol Channel. 12 miles off the North Devon coast, it’s now managed by the National Trust as a reserve, due to being a haven for grey seals and many seabirds (including kittiwakes and razorbills). It’s also visited by the migrating hoopoe bird.
Here you’ll also find pygmy shrews, Soay sheep (originally from St Kilda in Scotland, they have curly horns) and semi-feral ponies (who aside from vet care and hoof-trimming) are left alone to live in the wild.
Burgh Island can be walked to at low tide, the rest of the time people have to take a sea tractor to reach this tiny island, often featured in Agatha Christie films. The beach house at the hotel was built for the crime writer, who would often visit here to write her novels (and lived nearby).
Great Mew Stone is a rocky island off the coast a South Devon village, previously used as a prison, and now a bird sanctuary owned by the National Trust. In 1744, ‘Hermit Samuel’ chose to be sentenced here for 7 years for a minor crime, rather than being sent to Australia.
He liked it so much, he married here and raised three children – even offering boat trips from Wembury beach. Alas his dual life as a smuggler caught him out, and he had to leave the island. Apparently nobody has lived there since!
Unique (mostly unknown) Islands of Cornwall
Cornwall is quite a small county, but has quite a few islands off its wild coast. Let’s meet a few of Cornwall’s (mostly unknown) islands.
Many islands don’t allow dogs (St Michael’s Mount for instance does not allow them in warm weather for their safety, due to lack of shady areas). Many island have no lifeguards and beaches that disappear at high tide.
- St Michael’s Mount is a tidal island that rises from the sea, off the coast of Marazion. It offers centuries of history, sweeping views, and timeworn legends. Locals claim a giant called Cormoran once stalked the island. Others speak of the Archangel Michael appearing to fishermen in the 5th century, giving the island its name!
- St Clement’s Isle is a tiny rocky outcrop off the village of Mousehole, is a peaceful spot best viewed from the harbour. It’s uninhabited today, but old stories say a hermit once lived here.
- Looe Island lies just off the coast of Looe town. Wildlife thrives here, from rare plants to nesting seabirds. The island is a marine nature reserve, packed with history.
- Godrevy Island This sits at the end of St Ives Bay. Its lighthouse is a standout sight, warning ships away from dangerous rocks since the 19th century.
- Mullion Island sits just off the Lizard Peninsula. It’s a key spot for seabirds like cormorants and gulls, which nest here in large numbers. The National Trust cares for the island, keeping it wild and undisturbed.
- Asparagus Island in Kynance Cove takes its name from the wild asparagus that grows on its slopes. The island’s caves and rock pools attract explorers at low tide. Only reachable by foot at right tides. Read our post on tidal causeways and quicksand.
- Eddystone Rocks is a ‘group of rocks’ is a kind of mini-island, rising from the sea off Rame Head, with a lighthouse. Four different towers have stood here since the 1600s, guarding one of England’s busiest shipping lanes.
Learn About The Tiny Islands of Essex
Mersea Island, Geraldine Burles
You don’t really associate Essex with islands, do you? But with England’s second-longest coastline, there are quite a few of them. Not all are inhabited by humans, but a few are!
- A few miles outside Colchester is Mersea Island, which looks more like a Caribbean Island (this has no access at high tide, so check times before visiting). East Mersea is quieter than West Mersea, with wild beaches and the remains of a Roman villa.
- Bridgemarsh Island lies in the River Crouch, and supported a small community in the 19th century. After the flood of 1953, it was abandoned for good, and nature quickly took over.
- Cindery Island sits in the Blackwater Estuary, southeast of Osea. It’s a low-lying patch of saltmarsh, with waders and wildfowl feeding on the mud. You can only reach it by boat, and only at certain times.
- Foulness Island sits northeast of Southend, shielded by wide saltmarshes. It’s the second biggest island in Essex, and owned mostly by the MOD that uses it for weapons testing. Countless wading birds rest here on their journeys.
- Great Cob Island is a slim, sandy spit off the coast of Mersea, in the Blackwater Estuary. It’s surrounded by mudflats and saltmarsh, visited by birds and seals, and an important migratory route.
- Osea Island his not far from Maldon, an Edwardian retreat where you can still book self-catering cottages.
- Wallasea Island lies where the Crouch and Roach rivers meet. Home to Europe’s largest coastal wetlands restoration. Keep well away, due to sinking mud.
