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Caldey Island

2.49 miles (4 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Follow the walking trails around this fascinating and beautiful island off the Pembrokeshire coast, near Tenby.
You can catch a boat from Tenby Harbour to the island. A short stroll from the jetty takes you to the attractive monastery, village green and pretty cottages of the inhabitants. There is also the fascinating Old Priory and two medieval churches to explore. Caldey is one of the Holy Islands of Britain and has a history stretching back 1500 years.
There are good footpaths to follow to the south of the island where you will find a lighthouse and wonderful views of the Pembrokeshire Coast. There is also a lovely beach at Priory bay on the north of the island.
Caldey is also rich in interesting flora and fauna. The country's largest colony of cormorants is located at St Margaret's Island at the western end of Caldey. It is also covered in pretty, rare flowers.

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Caldey Island OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Caldey Island Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

To continue your walking in the area you could pick up the Tenby to Lydstep Walk, the Circular Walk around Tenby or the popular Tenby to Saundersfoot Walk. This will take you to the beautiful harbour and beach in Saundersfoot.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Pembrokeshire Coast Walks page.

Photos

Fishpond, Caldey Island (Ynys Bŷr) - geograph.org.uk - 958120

Fishpond, Caldey Island (Ynys Bŷr). The fishpond of the Priory, later an ornamental pond for the house that was built from the ruins of the priory buildings.

High Cliff, Caldey Island (Ynys Bŷr) - geograph.org.uk - 958214

High Cliff, Caldey Island. Taken from the ferry boat.

The post office, Caldey Island (Ynys Bŷr) - geograph.org.uk - 958203

The post office, Caldey Island (Ynys Bŷr). The post office. Built in 1909-10, with an odd double hipped dormer roof. Part of the abbey buildings to the left, with fairy-tale round towers.

The priory buildings, Caldey Island (Ynys Bŷr) - geograph.org.uk - 958181

The priory buildings. On the right, the tower of the church, then a wing to the north is a farmhouse made out of the priory buildings c.1800. On the left, various ivy-clad ruins.

Farmland, Caldey Island (Ynys Bŷr) - geograph.org.uk - 958195

Farmland. Farming is not intense on the island, concentrating on beef cattle. This field is being invaded by bracken.

Access road to the lighthouse, Caldey Island (Ynys Bŷr) - geograph.org.uk - 958138

Access road to the lighthouse. The building was an oil storage tank. The date was presumably 1875.

Amenity block and lighthouse, Caldey Island (Ynys Bŷr) - geograph.org.uk - 958150

Amenity block and lighthouse. I am assuming that the single-storey building provided a wash house, toilet, coal house etc for one of the keeper's houses. There is a similar block at the other end, next to the other house.

Red Berry Bay, Caldey Island (Ynys Bŷr) - geograph.org.uk - 958084

Red Berry Bay. The rock strata can be seen both in the cliffs and in the 'pavement' across the bay.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Caldey Island.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Caldey Island.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)