Ramsey Island

The island has a diverse geology for a relatively small area; it comprises sedimentary, volcanic and intrusive igneous rocks dating from the early Palaeozoic Era. The larger part of the north of the island is formed from mudstones of the Tetragraptus Mudstone Formation (also known as the 'Penmaen Dewi Shale Formation' and again as the 'Road Uchaf Formation' (sic) after the Rhod Uchaf locality on the island's east coast). However Carnysgubor stands proud to their west as it is formed from a more resistant microtonalite intrusion. In contrast the coastal cliffs between Trwyn-drain-du and Trwyn-Sion-Owen and also between Trwyn Ogof Hen and Rhod Uchaf are formed by sedimentary rocks, the mica-rich Lingula Flags and the sandstones and mudstones of the Ogof Hen Formation. The rock strata are typically steeply tilted and commonly faulted.

File:South end of Ramsey Island - geograph.org.uk - 525502.jpg

Running NW–SE across the centre of the island from Aber Mawr to the vicinity of The Bitches is a band of late Arenig age tuffs and 'pencil slates' assigned to the Aber Mawr Formation. Its boundary with the sediments to the north is a fault.

The south of the island is dominated by a rhyolite intrusion as are the islets off its southern coast. To the west of the Ramsey Fault which runs from Aber Mawr to Porth Lleuog, is Carnllundain which is formed from the tough rhyolitic tuffs of the Carn Llundain Formation. These tuffs arose as volcanic ash falls, ash flows and turbidite deposits. Smaller areas of dark grey mudstones interbedded with debris flows grouped together as the Porth Llauog Formation occur around the margins of the rhyolite. Part of the southern margin of the inlet of Aber Mawr is characterised by the mudstones and sandstones of the Trwyn Llundain Formation, a part of the Solva Group of Cambrian rocks.British Geological Survey 1992 1:50,000 scale provisional geological map sheet 209 (England and Wales) St David'sHowells, M.F. 2007 British Regional Geology: Wales (Keyworth, Nottingham, British Geological Survey) pp 45–51

Surveys in the 1990s and more recently discovered evidence of prehistoric cairns, field systems, barrows and other anomalies which suggest human activity on the island dates back up to 5,000 years.{{cite news|work=BBC News|title=Ramsey Island: New survey finds 'Bronze Age' site|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-43534578|date=26 March 2018|access-date=27 March 2018}} Mediaeval sites include a holy well and cemetery from the 9th century.{{cite web|title=Dyfed Archaeological Trust: Ramsey|url=http://www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/HLC/StDavids/area/area302.htm|access-date=27 March 2018}}

From 1082, the island was part of the cantref of Dewisland under the control of the bishops of St David's. In the 12th century, it was a place of pilgrimage; St Tyfanog's Chapel existed up to the 1600s, when it was described as "decayed", and there may also have been a chapel to St Justinian.{{Coflein|num=419235 |desc=St Tyfanog's Chapel, Chapel Site, Ramsey Island Farm |access-date=29 September 2021}}

In the 13th century, the island was reported to be fertile, producing beef, sheep, goats, wheat, barley and oats. In the 14th century, {{convert|100|acre|ha|abbr=off|sigfig=1}} of the island supported horses, cattle and sheep. Rabbits, rushes, heath and birds' eggs were harvested. A farmhouse, corn mill and lime kiln were recorded in the 16th century, but the farm building was a ruin by the early 19th century. The mill and kiln were in operation until the early 20th century, and in 1905 the island was sold into private hands and ceased being an ecclesiastical holding. A new farmhouse was built early in the 19th century, and was Grade II listed by Cadw in 1992.{{cite web|title=British Listed Buildings: The Farmhouse, Ramsey Island|url=https://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300012697-the-farmhouse-st-david39s-and-the-cathedral-close#.WrpmFSMrIl4|access-date=27 March 2018}}

Owned and managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB),Countryside Council for Wales, [http://www.ccw.gov.uk/landscape--wildlife/protecting-our-landscape/special-landscapes--sites/protected-landscapes/national-nature-reserves/ramsey-island.aspx National Nature Reserves|Ramsey] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126203801/http://www.ccw.gov.uk/landscape--wildlife/protecting-our-landscape/special-landscapes--sites/protected-landscapes/national-nature-reserves/ramsey-island.aspx |date=26 November 2010 }} (retrieved 2011-10-28). the island has spectacular bird cliffs, coastal scenery and heathland. It is one of the best sites in Wales to see choughs, which are attracted by an ample supply of dung beetles.

Other breeding species include ravens, common buzzards, peregrines, northern wheatears, gulls, auks, Manx shearwaters, razorbills and guillemots.

Ramsey has the most important grey seal breeding colony in southern Britain, with over 400 seal pups born each autumn. In October 2017 the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia were responsible for some 90 seal pup deaths.{{cite news|work=BBC News|date=18 October 2017|title=About 90 Ramsey Island seal pups lost to Storm Ophelia|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-41667081|access-date=25 October 2017}}

With a permanent population of just two human residents, the RSPB Warden and Assistant Warden who live in a farmhouse there, the island is otherwise uninhabited. Tourist boats sail around the island and a ferry service run by Thousand Islands Expeditions operates from Easter to 31 October from St Davids Lifeboat Station on the mainland.{{cite web|title=Pembrokeshire County Council: Visit Pembrokeshire: Ramsey Island|url=http://www.visitpembrokeshire.com/explore-pembrokeshire/wildlife-and-nature/ramsey-island/|access-date=6 January 2019}}

File:The Bitches, Ramsey Sound - geograph.org.uk - 479270.jpg

File:Ynys Cantwr.png

File:Ynys Eilun and Pont yr Eilun- left - from Ramsey Island - on the right the solpes of Ynys Cantwr.png

File:Ynys_Gwelltog.jpg

The waters around the island have significant tidal effects, and tidal waterfalls occur between The Bitches.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/swales/bitches.htm|title=Bitches tidal rapid - South - Wales - Rivers - The UK Rivers Guidebook|work=ukriversguidebook.co.uk}}"[http://www.ramseyisland.co.uk/ramsey-and-the-outer-islands/the-bitches-rocks/ Bitches and Tides]" The asymmetrical underwater flow can be {{convert|3.8|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}} northward (flood) and {{convert|1.9|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}} southward (ebb), with some turbulence.

The sound reaches some {{convert|66|m|ft fathom|abbr=off}} deep, although a tidal island called Horse Rock protrudes from the water at low tide;Evans, Paul Stephen (2014). [http://orca.cf.ac.uk/70531/ Hydrodynamic characteristics of macrotidal straits and implications for tidal stream turbine deployment] pages 107-109, 169. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University the name of the rock was recorded as early as 1583, on an Elizabethan map.{{cite web|title= Penbrok comitat |publisher= British Library |url= http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/unvbrit/p/001map00000c7c1u00035000.html |access-date= 24 August 2019 }}

A 400 kW tidal power turbine project was planned from 2014Macalister, Terry. "[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/sep/25/tidal-power-electricity-edf-energy-marine-pembrokeshire Tidal power firm signs deal to sell electricity to EDF Energy]" The Guardian, 25 September 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/deltastream-tidal-energy-device-further-9474350|title=DeltaStream tidal energy device further delayed as company seeks new funding|author=Chris Kelsey|date=17 June 2015|work=walesonline}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tidalenergyltd.com/?p=2301|title=Tidal Energy Ltd » Talking Tides: Martin Murphy of Tidal Energy|work=tidalenergyltd.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eurekamagazine.co.uk/design-engineering-features/technology/turbine-design-turns-the-tide-for-renewables/108203/|title=Turbine design turns the tide for renewables|work=eurekamagazine.co.uk|date=8 October 2015 }} and the first turbine of three was installed in December 2015.{{cite news|publisher=BBC|title=Giant tidal turbine placed on seabed off Pembrokeshire|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-35087510|date=14 December 2015|access-date=14 December 2015}} Unfortunately the turbine developed faults shortly after installation, and the developer Tidal Energy Ltd was placed into administration in October 2016.{{Cite news |date=2016-10-24 |title=Administrators seek buyer for Tidal Energy Ltd |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-37752750 |access-date=2024-02-03 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

Ramsey Island is surrounded by a number of smaller islands, islets and rock clusters, including:

• Bancyn-ffald
• The Bitches
• The Bishops and Clerks group, including:
• Carreg Rhoson and Maen Rhoson
• Carreg-trai
• Cribog
• Daufraich and Maen Daufraich
• Emsger or South Bishop (37 metres, 121 feet)
• Llechau-isaf and Llechau-uchaf
• Moelyn
• North Bishop (44 metres, 144 feet)
• Carreg-gwylan
• Meini Duon (Black Rocks) is the name given to three sea rocks approximately {{convert|5/8|mi|km|abbr=off}} south of Ramsey Island,{{cite book|title=The Nautical Magazine: A Technical and Critical Journal for the Officers of the Mercantile Marine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DP4l7X0G0-kC|year=1840|publisher=James Brown & Son}} not far from the Bishops and Clerks. They are made of acid intrusive rock,{{cite web|url=https://www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/files/files/Dev%20Plans/AdoptedSPG/SCA18%20Ramsey%20Island%20coastal%20waters.pdf|title=SCA18 Ramsey Island Coastal Waters|publisher=Pembrokeshire Coast|access-date=31 December 2018}} and are the furthest south-west of the group of small islets and rocks off this coast.{{cite book|author=United States. Hydrographic Office|title=Sailing directions for the west coasts of England and Wales from the Scilly Isles to the Mull of Galloway: including the Isle of man|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0pYNAQAAIAAJ|year=1939|publisher=United States Government Print Office}}
• Trwynmynachdy
• Ynys Bery (Falcon Island) (71 metres, 233 feet)
• Ynys Cantwr (Precentor's Island; formerly owned by the precentors of St David's.{{cite book |title= A Dictionary of British Place-Names | pages = 517 |author= David Mills |publisher= Oxford University Press |year = 2011 | isbn = 9780199609086 }}), a small tidal island south of Ramsey Island. Its highest point is 54 metres.Ynys Cantwr on [http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?qu=S&rf=15573 www.hill-bagging.co.uk]
• Ynys Eilun ({{convert|5|acre|ha|0|abbr=off}},Richard Deacon, Islands of England and Wales, Osprey Publishing, 1974, p. 228 length {{convert|850|ft|m|abbr=off}}Ynys Eilun, [http://gb.geoview.info/ynys_eilun,55685539w gb.geoview.info]) and Pont yr Eilun are two islets about {{convert|1/4|mi|m|abbr=off}} east of Ynys Bery.{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lfE8Nm0fOMcC |title =The Geology of the South Wales Coal-field| publisher = Geological Survey of Great Britain | access-date = 2016-04-10 | page = 67 | year = 1914}} Visiting the island is not easy because of its difficult landing.{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=mPAyAQAAMAAJ&q=Ynys+Eilun |title =The Nautical Magazine and Naval Chronicle ... |year =1914 | publisher = Simpkin, Marshall & Company | access-date = 2016-04-10 | page = 397 }} The surrounding waters are swept by a northeast current caused by Ynys Eilun itself.{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=UrP6NB4ANmgC&dq=Ynys+Eilun&pg=PA179 |title =Welsh Sea Kayaking: Fifty Great Sea Kayak Voyages | author = Jim Krawiecki and Andy Biggs | publisher = Pesda Pres | access-date = 2016-04-10 | year = 2006 | page = 179 |isbn =9780954706180 }}
• Ynys Gwelltog (Grassy Island; 56 metres, 184 feet),Ynys Gwelltog on [http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/mountaindetails.php?rf=15576 www.hill-bagging.co.uk] a tidal island, in the past considered suitable for pasturing two sheep.{{cite book |title= The History and Antiquities of Saint David's | volume = 1 | pages = 18 |author= Will. Basil Jones and Edw. A. Freeman |publisher= Pickering. Parker and Petheram |year = 1852 }}

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{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Ramsey Island}}

• [http://www.rspb.org.uk/ RSPB website]
• [http://www.ramseyisland.com/ RSPB ferry to Ramsey Island]
• [http://www.stdavids.co.uk/nonprofit/ramsey/ Ramsey Island RSPB Nature Reserve]
• [http://www.jncc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=2063 JNCC description – includes map of GB showing location]
• [http://www.thousandislands.co.uk Guided Geology Walks on Ramsey Island]
• {{oscoor gbx|SM700232}}

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Category:Islands of Pembrokeshire

Category:National nature reserves in Wales

Category:Royal Society for the Protection of Birds reserves in Wales

Category:Special Protection Areas in Wales

Category:Nature Conservation Review sites

Category:Private islands of the United Kingdom