Island 166 - Burry Holms, Gower, Wales

Burry Holms is a small tidal island at the north end of Rhossili Bay, which is at the western end of the Gower Peninsula in Wales.  It is accessible for about 3 hours either side of low tide and is approximately 500 metres x 250 metres.  I visited on a rainy day, so the views weren't great.  In fact I couldn't see as far as Worm's Head at the southern end of Rhossili Bay.  You can scramble over the rocks to the island or look for the easy rock-free path through the sand on the south east side of the island.  The island is located about 200 metres from the mainland.

The nearest parking is a mile and a half away at Hillend Burrows (fee) or Llangennith Burrows, Llangennith.  Alternatively you could park at Rhossili (fee) and walk north along the beach for 3 miles.   The sand is firm and therefore easy to walk on.

An Iron Age earthwork runs north-south across the island.  The ruins of a 14th century chapel dedicated to St Cenydd and a schoolroom can be seen at the eastern end of the island.

I visited on a Bank Holiday in June 2012 but had the island to myself apart from a lone fisherman on the rocks at the western end of the island, as it was pouring with rain and blowing a gale.  I don't know how the fisherman got down there and also don't know how he was managing to stand upright in the very strong winds.

The island is tree less and is covered with grass and wildflowers including thrift and birds foot trefoil.  I did see a lone orchid.  There are a few rocky outcrops on the island, which is crisscrossed by a number of paths.  I'm sure it is a lovely place to sit and stare or eat a picnic on a sunny day but as the weather was very inclement I didn't linger for long.

Iron Age Earthwork - looking north
 

 Remains of St Cenydd's Chapel

Burry Holms

 Remains of schoolhouse - looking north

 There is a lone fisherman on the far rock

Burry Holms from Rhossili Beach