Located just off St David’s Peninsular in Pembrokeshire, Ramsey Island is an island nature reserve and site of special scientific interest. The rocky sea cliffs of Ramsey Island are home to many special species including choughs, razorbills, manx shearwaters, and the largest grey seal colony in Wales.
Visiting the island is one of the best things to do whilst in St David's, something I recently tried out for myself. In this article, I’ll break down all the different options so you can plan your visit too.
How To Visit Ramsey Island
There are three ways to visit Ramsey Island; a landing tour, a sightseeing tour around the island, and by kayaking to the island yourself. The latter is not for beginners as the tidal flow can be very high here.
Keep reading to find out more about each of these methods.
1. Visiting Ramsey Island with a Landing Tour
A landing tour is when you'll be dropped off on the island in order to explore it by yourself. There is only one tour operator that has a permit to land on Ramsey Island which is Thousand Islands. They operate from April to October.
There are two departures per day at 10am and 12noon. Return trips are at 4pm so you can decide whether to have 4 hours or 6 hours on the island. Personally, I think 4 hours is plenty to explore the island.
The cost is £27 per adult and £14.50 per child which includes ferry and island landing. As the island is owned by the RSPB, you get a discounted price if you’re a member. Find out more about visiting the island below.
2. Visiting Ramsey Island with a Sightseeing Tour
If you don’t want to land on the island, you can take a shorter 1.5 hour sightseeing trip around the island.
Three main companies offer Ramsey Island sightseeing tours, these are Thousand Islands, Falcon, and Voyages of Discovery.
Here’s a brief comparison of the three:
Thousand Islands
Thousand Islands is the same company that offered the landing trips above. They are the only company that use a high-sided vessel which means dogs are welcome onboard and you don’t need to wear a lifejacket. They also have a separate price for under 14’s whereas the others do not.
| Boat Type: | High Sided |
| Journey Time: | 1hr 15 minutes |
| Departures Per Day: | 4 |
| Prices: | Adult: £32 Under 14’s: £19 Under 4’s: £10 |
Falcon
The Ramsey Island sightseeing trip with Falcon is the most expensive but it’s also the longest at 1hr 30 minutes. They also offer evening trips and a combined Ramsey Island and Skomer Island trip.
| Boat Type: | RIB |
| Journey Time: | 1hr 30 minutes. |
| Departures Per Day: | 3 |
| Prices: | Adults: £33 Under 14’s: £20 |
Voyages of Discovery
Voyages of Discovery is one of the more popular options which is why they have 8 departures daily giving you more flexibility with the time you choose. It is one of the cheaper options but only lasts 1 hour so it’s also one of the shorter trips.
| Boat Type: | RIB |
| Journey Time: | 1 hour |
| Departures Per Day: | 8 |
| Prices: | Adults: £30 Under 5’s: £15 |
Where to Meet? If you’re travelling with Voyages of Discovery, the meeting point is at the end of the road just before the food truck. For the others, head down the steps to meet by the old lifeboat station.
Note: There is also an operator called Aquaphobia offering Ramsey Island tours but there is no online booking so you need to book these in person or call up. They offer a free minibus from their office in St David’s rather than you having to drive to St Justinians yourself. This is great if you are travelling without your own transport.
3. Kayaking to Ramsey Island
It is possible to kayak to Ramsey Island and people regularly do, however, this is not for beginners and you’ll need to plan accordingly.
I repeat, THIS IS NOT FOR BEGINNERS. You’ll have to paddle through an area of rocks known as ‘The Bitc*es’ in English or which translates from Welsh as ‘Bridge of Ghosts’ due to the number of shipwrecks that have been caught in these rocks.
You’ll need to time your visit right according to the weather conditions and the tide. Read this for more information.
Kayakers can land at the harbour of Ramsey Island and are welcome between April to October, 7 days per week, 10am to 4pm
Landing at the harbour is free if you remain in the vicinity and you are welcome to use the toilets, however, you’ll need to pay a landing fee if you want to leave the harbour to the walking trails. This is currently £10 or free for RSPB members
Note: There is nowhere to hire a kayak on the St David’s Peninsular so you’ll need to bring your own gear.
When is the Best Time to Visit Ramsey Island?
The best time to visit Ramsey Island depends upon what you want to see. From April to mid-July, you can see razorbills and guillemots which breed on the island. In summer, the island is packed with chough which feed on the plentiful heather.
Later in the season towards the end of September, seals breed on the island so the beaches will be busy with cute seal pups.
If you're planning a trip to Wales, you might want to consider other factors too. For example, June to August are the best months to visit Wales for the weather, however, March, April, May, and September are the shoulder months when the weather will be okay but there will be fewer crowds at the hotspots.
Frequent Visitor Questions
Here are some of the regular questions I am asked about visiting Ramsey Island:
Where To Park For Ramsey Island?
There is parking at St Justinians for people visiting Ramsey Island. There are two sections with free parking by the roadside and during peak months, there are paid pop-up car parks in nearby fields costing £3 for the day. The below image shows the free and paid parking.
Is There a Toilet On Ramsey Island?
Yes, there is a toilet on Ramsey Island. However, keep in mind that this is a compost toilet. There are no hand washing facilities but hand gel is provided.
Are Dogs Allowed on Ramsey Island?
No, dogs are not allowed on Ramsey Island. This is a nature reserve with some birds that burrow under the ground. However, dogs are welcome on some of the sightseeing trips which don’t land on the island such as the one from Thousand Islands.
What is There To Do On Ramsey Island?
You can go onto Ramsey Island where the main activity is to walk the island trail which is a 3.5 mile (5.6km) route around the island where you’ll be able to spot plenty of wildlife on your way around. You’ll be given a briefing on the best spots and what wildlife you can expect to see.
There is a small visitor centre on Ramsey Island with information about the island where you can purchase light snacks, but it’s best to take your own food if possible as the choice is limited.
About Ramsey Island
Who Owns Ramsey Island?
Ramsey Island is owned and managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) who purchased the island in 1992. A few years later in 1996, it officially became a National Nature Reserve.
Who Lives on Ramsey Island?
Ramsey Island doesn’t have any permanent inhabitants. However, the wardens (Greg and Nia) who work for the RSPB live on the island for around 9 or 10 months per year.
Are There Puffins on Ramsey Island?
No, there are no puffins on Ramsey Island. Puffins have been absent from the island for over a century after a shipwreck introduced rats to the island which feed on their eggs and chicks.
Cats were subsequently introduced to the island to try and control the rat infestation. The rats have now been eradicated and seabirds are returning to breed during the summer. However, puffins have still not returned.
What Wildlife Can Be Found on Ramsey Island?
Ramsey Island is best known for its choughs and peregrine falcons which are rare birds that live on the island. You can also find ravens and buzzards there year-round as well as gannets, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars, kittiwakes, shags, and lots of gulls during the summer months
Aside from birds, Ramsey Island is also home to seals which occupy many of the beaches as well as porpoises and whales in the surrounding seas.
Ramsey Island is a Natura 2000 site along with much of the mainland coastline from Strumble Head up to the St David’s peninsular. This means that it’s also a haven for plants with a reported 20 rare plant species on the island
Related Questions
How Do I Get To Ramsey Island?
To get to Ramsey Island, you’ll need to book a landing trip with Thousand Islands who are the only operator with a permit to allow passengers to land on the island. Between April and October, there are two trips to drop passengers off at 10am and 12 noon with the return boat at 4pm.
Why Does Ramsey Island Have a Different Name in Welsh?
In Welsh, Ramsey Island is known as Ynys Dewi which translates as David’s Island, in reference to St David, the patron saint of Wales. However, the origin of the English name is unclear.
One school of thought is that it is related to the Vikings. In Old Norse (an old Scandinavian language), Ramsey is the equivalent to Hrafn, a Viking name that also means Raven. This could refer to the ravens that can be seen on the island. Another thought is that it just means wild garlic
Published: 13 August 2022