Middle Mouse
Encyclopedia
Middle Mouse is an uninhabited island
situated 1 kilometre off the north coast
of Anglesey
. It is notable as the northernmost point
of Wales
. The island measures a maximum of 207 metres by 110 metres, with a maximum area of 3.7 acres and has a maximum altitude of 16 metres above sea level. It is one of a chain of three islands off the north of Anglesey
, the others being West Mouse
and East Mouse
.
Local legend has it that St Patrick
was shipwrecked there, giving rise to its alternative name. He then swam ashore and eventually founded the nearby church of Llanbadrig
in about 440 AD, believed to be the oldest Christian site in Wales.
Middle Mouse is a favoured place for cormorants, guillemots and razorbills. For visiting scuba divers the attractions are steep underwater cliffs that drop away to 40 metres with abundant marine life. There is very little protection from the fierce tidal flow, so accurate timing for slack water
is required.
The S.S. Liverpool following a collision with a ship named 'Laplata' was shipwreck
ed near Middle Mouse in 1863. She had on board a shipment of tin ingots.
In 2005, the island was put up for sale as part of a 168 acre (0.67987248 km²) estate.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
situated 1 kilometre off the north coast
Coast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
of Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
. It is notable as the northernmost point
Extreme points of the United Kingdom
This is a list of the extreme points of the United Kingdom: the points that are farther north, south, east or west than any other location. Traditionally the extent of the island of Great Britain has stretched "from Land's End to John o' Groats" .This article does not include references to the...
of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The island measures a maximum of 207 metres by 110 metres, with a maximum area of 3.7 acres and has a maximum altitude of 16 metres above sea level. It is one of a chain of three islands off the north of Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
, the others being West Mouse
West Mouse
West Mouse is an islet lying off the north-east coast of Anglesey, Wales. Its maximum dimensions are , with an area of ....
and East Mouse
East Mouse
East Mouse is an islet found off the north coast of Anglesey, Wales. It is found just a few hundred metres away from the town of Amlwch. For this reason the island is known in Welsh as Ynys Amlwch, Amlwch Island. The islet is tiny with a maximum area of only , and void of any significant flora...
.
Local legend has it that St Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
was shipwrecked there, giving rise to its alternative name. He then swam ashore and eventually founded the nearby church of Llanbadrig
Llanbadrig
Llanbadrig is a parish in the cwmwd of Talybolion, on the island of Anglesey, north Wales. The parish includes the township of Clygyrog and the little port of Cemaes . The region has extensive quarries of limestone and marble....
in about 440 AD, believed to be the oldest Christian site in Wales.
Middle Mouse is a favoured place for cormorants, guillemots and razorbills. For visiting scuba divers the attractions are steep underwater cliffs that drop away to 40 metres with abundant marine life. There is very little protection from the fierce tidal flow, so accurate timing for slack water
Slack water
Slack water, which used to be known as 'The stand of the tide', is a short period in a body of tidal water either side of high water or low water essentially when the water is completely unstressed, and therefore with no rise or fall of the tide and no movement either way in the tidal stream, and...
is required.
The S.S. Liverpool following a collision with a ship named 'Laplata' was shipwreck
Shipwreck
A shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event: this explains why the two concepts are often overlapping in English....
ed near Middle Mouse in 1863. She had on board a shipment of tin ingots.
In 2005, the island was put up for sale as part of a 168 acre (0.67987248 km²) estate.