Ramsey Island sits just off the coast from St Davids, and getting out on the water to see it is one of the highlights of a stay here. Thousand Islands Expeditions has been running boat trips from St Davids since 1975, and it’s the only operator with landing rights on the island, which is an RSPB nature reserve.
There are a few ways to do it. The ferry takes you over to land on Ramsey for a few hours to walk the island, with its cliffs, seabirds and grey seals. If you’d rather stay on board, a cruise around the island on their traditional boat is a gentler option, or you can choose a faster RIB or jet boat trip to explore the caves, bays and rocky gorges up close. Keep an eye out for porpoise in Ramsey Sound, where the tide races between the island and the mainland.
You book at the office on Cross Square, a short walk from Tŷ Cosy, and boats leave from St Justinian’s, just west of the city. Trips depend on the tide and weather, so book a day or two ahead and keep your plans flexible.
Late spring and early summer are best for seabirds, while early autumn is when seal pups start to appear. Wrap up warm, as it’s always breezier out on the water.
Photo: Jeff Gogarty, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
