The islands that belong to Wales and their fascinating secrets
Some of the Welsh coast’s most defining features include the secretive islands dotted along the country, several of which look so mystical they could easily be mistaken for places much further away on some photographs, and lots which lots of us might not have researched - yet they hold a huge amount of insight into the world around us.
So if you live in Wales and don’t know some of their key names by heart yet, now’s the time to learn. Some are more well known than others, but looking at them all as a whole, they offer a rare glimpse into a quieter way of life that’s only a stone’s throw away from our modern world mainland Wales, as well offering us a deeper understanding of the planet we happen to live on.
The people who know them best are nearby locals, conservationists and historians who have pieced together as much information about them as possible. And as Wales has dozens of incredible islands which hold some fascinating secrets and pieces of history, we’ve put together our recommendations for some of the most jaw-dropping ones you can visit, as well as a list of all the ones you should know about. Love dreamy Welsh homes? Sign up to our newsletter here
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Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island)
Off the tip of the Llŷn Peninsula, Ynys Enlli, also known as Bardsey Island, has drawn pilgrims since the sixth century. It has a rich past and it was once believed that three visits to the island equalled one to Rome.
Today, it is home to Mari Huws, a warden who has written about her life on the island in her book, Our world is a rock in the middle of the sea. Describing life there, she wrote: "Two miles from the mainland, yet it feels like another planet."
In 2023, Enlli became Europe’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary, joining a small list of the darkest places on Earth. On a clear night, visitors can see the Milky Way stretching from horizon to horizon.
How to get there: You can get to Bardsey Island in North Wales by taking a boat trip from Aberdaron. Trips are available throughout the season, and take about 20 minutes.
Anglesey (Ynys Môn)
Wales’s largest island, Anglesey, is ancient, varied, and full of character. Connected to the mainland by the elegant Menai and Britannia bridges, Anglesey is famous not only for its striking beaches, but bustling, trendy towns and ancient monuments like Bryn Celli Ddu, a Neolithic burial chamber thought to date back to 3000 BC.
During the middle ages, Anglesey was also known as “Mam Cymru” (the Mother of Wales), thanks to its fertile land and cultural significance. Now, lots of people are drawn to its incredible coastline and beaches which are thought of as being some of the best in the UK - and has gone viral more than a few times on TikTok, with travel influencers capitalising on the breath-taking scenery.
From the cliffs of South Stack to the golden sands of Newborough, Anglesey is definitely a true bucket list location. And just off Anglesey’s coast also lies Ynys Llanddwyn, which is connected by a ribbon of sand.
Dedicated to St. Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers, this has got to be one of the most romantic places in Wales. Legend has it that Dwynwen fled here after a tragic love affair. It's easy to see why, as the island’s ruined chapel and picturesque lighthouse are views which make you feel like you're completely free and lost in nature.
How to get there: There are two bridges linking Anglesey to the mainland. The Britannia Bridge is closest to the cathedral city of Bangor, but just to the right of this bridge is a second one just a short detour away - the Menai Suspension Bridge.
Skomer Island
Skomer Island really is worlds apart from the hustle and bustle of modern life and is best known for the famous Pembrokeshire puffins which nest there between April and July. With nearly 350,000 breeding pairs of Manx Shearwaters, over 41,500 Puffins, thousands of Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes and hundreds of Fulmars, Skomer is an internationally important location.
Grey seals can also be spotted year round, but the best time to spot them is from late August until October which is pupping season. Visitors can take day trips to Skomer, but there is also a hostel there which offers a rare chance to experience the island without the crowds. As one guest described it on Tripadvisor: “It's fairly basic accommodation, but clean and with everything you need.
"It's the only accommodation on the island so only a few people each night have the privilege of staying and having the island to themselves, absolutely wonderful!”
How to get there: You can catch a 20 minute boat ride from Martins Haven where you can spend the day on the island, and catch a return boat in the afternoon.
Ramsey Island
Ramsey Island, or Ynys Dewi, is a small yet striking island just a mile off the coast of St. David’s in Pembrokeshire. It spans less than two miles in length but is significant because of its history. In medieval times, monks retreated to spend time here, seeking isolation, and traces of their chapel and other structures can still be seen. Later, farming families lived and worked on the island and today, Ramsey remains uninhabited.
It’s now managed by the RSPB, and acts as a key sanctuary for wildlife as its cliffs are among the highest in Wales and make perfect nesting sites for thousands of seabirds, including guillemots, razorbills, and fulmars.
The island also supports a thriving population of choughs, which are increasingly rare in the UK. In autumn, grey seals flock to the beaches and coves, with hundreds of pups born here each year.
Visitors can explore the island on foot during the summer months or take a boat trip to experience its dramatic coastline which is home to sea caves, reefs, and occasionally dolphins to get an insight into Ramsey’s natural world.
How to get there: From St David’s, the ferry boat to Ramsey Island departs at 10am and 12pm, returning back at 4pm so you can enjoy the day strolling around a completely different landscape and get a proper feel for the island.
Caldey Island
A short boat ride from Tenby, Caldey Island is home to a community of Cistercian monks who continue a tradition of prayer and self-sufficiency that dates back over a thousand years. The current monks of Caldey Abbey are classed as "Reformed Cistercians."
They came from Scourmont Abbey in Belgium in 1929, re-establishing the strong Cistercian tradition in Wales. Although it took time to establish themselves and adjust to the difficulties of farming an island, the development of the perfume industry and tourism was what brought them financial independence.
Visitors can tour the island’s abbey, visit the chocolate factory which also sits there, or simply enjoy its beaches and woodland walks.
How to get there: Caldey is a 20 minute boat trip from Tenby. Access to boats at High Tide is from Tenby Harbour Steps and at Low Tide from a mobile jetty on Tenby Castle Beach.
Ynys Gifftan
Ynys Gifftan is a tidal island located in the Dwyryd Estuary near Portmeirion in North Wales. Accessible on foot during low tide, it is one of 43 unbridged tidal islands in the UK.
Historically, the island was inhabited until the mid-1960s, with the last residents being the Roberts family. The Roberts family were the last inhabitants of Ynys Gifftan, moving there around 1900 to farm the island.
After Hugh Roberts, the father, lost his leg in a quarry accident, his wife Mary took charge of running the farm while raising their four children. The family remained on the island until the mid-1960s when the youngest son also named Hugh relocated to the mainland. Today the abandoned farmhouse and barn are the only traces of their time on Ynys Gifftan.
While there is a public footpath across the estuary to the island, visitors should be aware that the island itself is private property, and trespassing is not advised.
Grassholm Island
Far out in the Irish Sea, Grassholm is for the birds. This uninhabited island is home to one of the largest gannet colonies in the world, with over 39,000 pairs nesting here each summer. The island boasts some white-capped cliffs which visible from miles away so it’s easy to spot and is a huge staple of the Welsh coast.
The turbulent sea around the tiny island, which is eight miles off the Pembrokeshire coast also provides a feeding ground for porpoises and dolphins, so is definitely worth a visit for any nature lovers.
How to get there:
Visits to Grassholm are tightly controlled to protect its fragile ecosystem, but boat tours offer a chance to see this extraordinary colony up close. Trips from St Justinians, Martins Haven, or Neyland Marina take about 50 minutes to reach the island but can vary in length.
Flat Holm and Steep Holm
Sitting in the Bristol Channel, Flat Holm and Steep Holm are sister islands with very different identities. Flat Holm is home to remnants of Victorian military defences and a lighthouse, and Steep Holm is just across the border in England, rising sharply from the sea and offers fewer manmade touches, but some stunning views of the surrounding areas.
How to get there: Boat trips are available all year round to visit Flat Holm from Cardiff from day trips to longer stays, retreats and workshops. It takes around one hour to reach the island from Cardiff by boat.
The only way to visit Steep Holm is on organised trips run for the Trust by Bay Island Voyages.
Some other known islands in Wales:
Holy Island
Skokholm
St Catherine's Island
Sully Island
Worms Head
South Stack
Cardigan Island
Thorne Island
Church Island
Ynys Gifftan
Ynys Lochtyn
Cribinau
Salt Island
Middle Mouse
St Margaret's Island
Ynys y Bîg
Ynys Castell
Ynys Gwelltog
Sheep Island
Ynys Cantwr
Ynys Faelog
Ynys Dulas
Ynys Moelfre
Ynys Gaint
Denny Island
Emsger
Burry Holms
Ynys Gored Goch
St Tudwal's Island West
West Mouse
North Stack
East Mouse
Gateholm
Ynys Feurig
Tusker Rock
Middleholm
Carreg yr Halen
Strumble Head
Ynys Eilun
Ynys Bery
Ireland
St Tudwal's Island East
