The small island where nature calls the shots

Lying exposed and weather-beaten across the water from the UK’s North Devon coastline, where the Atlantic Ocean and the Bristol Channel meet, is the granite outcrop of Lundy. Its name means ‘puffin island’, from the Old Norse Lund-ey, a moniker that’s believed to have come from Vikings in the ninth century. But archaeological evidence, such as Stone Age relics, suggests the island had been inhabited for many years before their arrival.

At just three miles in length and half a mile wide, Lundy sounds deceptively small on paper. But its varied topography, diverse wildlife and remote location make a big impression, to the point that it’s been tagged Britain’s Galápagos. A walk around the island soon reveals why. Its kelp forests, reefs, sandy sediments, sea caves and shipwrecks provide space, peace and nourishment for dolphins, spiny lobster, pink sea fans, sunset cup coral and Atlantic grey seals. Important seabird colonies, including Manx shearwaters, guillemots, as well as puffins, have also flourished following the eradication of rats on Lundy between 2003 and 2006.

Natural sanctuary

It’s an idyllic scene, made all the more attractive for those seeking an off-grid escape by virtue of its intermittent mobile phone signal, limited tourist numbers and only a single pub – the Marisco Tavern – and shop. Most visitors, however, are undoubtedly attracted by the island’s flora and fauna and its pioneering conservation work. Owned by the National Trust and managed by the Landmark Trust, Lundy is representative of a holy trinity as far as protection of marine life is concerned, with swathes of its surrounding waters classified as a Marine Nature Reserve (the UK’s first), a Marine Conservation Zone (also a UK first) and a No-Take Zone. The latter, of which there’s just a handful in the UK, prohibits fishing, dredging and lobster-potting within a designated area, a policy that has helped both to boost the numbers of commercial species and safeguard non-commercial ones.