Lundy Island is essentially a granite outcrop approximately three and a half miles long by half a miles wide, rising some four hundred feet out of the sea, 12 miles off the coast of Devon where the Bristol Channel meets the Atlantic. With its West Side being hit by the prevailing south-westerly winds and the East Side being much more sheltered, there is a profound difference between the flora that grows on the two opposite sides of Lundy.

But Lundy Island is a unique place for toher reasons, too. Visitors tend to come back for its clear seas, spectacular land and clarity of the night sky, a vision which remains clear and unobscured to all, since there are no city and street lights.

And visitors come to Lundy from all over the world: perhaps just to relax and enjoy the peace and tranquility; maybe to watch the wildlife, or to paint, or to take photographs, or even to ring the Church Bells. Then there are those active types who come to Lundy to expend a little more energy by walking, climbing, canoeing or diving.

To enhance your enjoyment of this beautiful place, there are various walks, talks and activities organised by the Island's warden. There are "rocky shore rambles", "Lundy by land and sea" lectures, wildlife and seabird walks and snorkeling trips.

The great thing is that all these events are free of charge and open to all (except snorkelling, which has a nominal charge to cover equipment hire and maintenance). Of course, donations to the Lundy Fund will always be very warmly welcomed! (As the island is privately owned.)!

The diverse flora and fauna on Lundy is so rich that the Island has been labelled as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Indeed Lundy is often referred to as one of Britain's greatest natural wonders, having gained this accolade in a BBC Radio Times vote in 2005. The clean seas around Lundy have led to Lundy being designated as England's only Marine Nature Reserve.

Whether you are bird spotting - puffins, without doubt being the most popular species to see - or whether you wish to see basking sharks, seals, the Lundy pony or even corals and seaweeds, then Lundy is where you're going to see them.

Lundy Island offers the visitor a variety of accommodation in which to stay - 23 properties in total - including a 13th century castle, a late Georgian gentleman's villa, a fisherman's chalet and even a lighthouse. There is also a campsite at the southern end of the island.

Most of the island's buildings have been built from the local, lightly-coloured granite, and many have been adapted from previous use, or made from stone reclaimed from redundant buildings. All properties offer heating: some have open fires as well. There are excellent facilities including: baths or showers, mains drains, and gas and electricity for heating or cooking. So that you need bring the minimum of equipment, most Lundy properties include sheets, pillowcases and towels in the rental price. And most unusually, each building comes with a library of relevant reference books.

You can travel to Lundy either by scheduled steamer (April to October only), a journey of approximately two hours, from Bideford and Ilfracombe, or by helicopter or light aircraft from Hartland Point.