Cool Places
Lundy Island
Lundy Shore Office The Quay Bideford EX39 2LY
This timeless wind-blown island 25 miles off Ilfracombe in the Bristol Channel is the ultimate escape from the crowds. Just be prepared to share it with its own brand of locals – tens of thousands of sea birds, most famously the puffins (after which the island is named in old Norse), plus seals, dolphins and basking sharks (July–Aug). Take the paths that criss-cross the island, just 31⁄2 miles by half wide, and finish in a pub near 13th-century Marisco Castle. One of only 25 full-time residents, the island warden leads themed nature rambles from Easter to October.
