Saint Tudwal's Islands
Encyclopedia
Saint Tudwal's Islands (Welsh: Ynysoedd Tudwal) are a small archipelago
lying south of Abersoch
on the Llŷn peninsula
in North Wales
, at the western end of Tremadog Bay
. They were apparently referred to as the Studwells in the early 19th century.
There are two main islands: Saint Tudwal's Island West (Welsh: Ynys Tudwal Fawr)(52.7988°N 4.4718°W) and Saint Tudwal's Island East (Welsh: Ynys Tudwal Fach) (52.8053°N 4.4620°W), plus the Carreg y Trai rocks. The East island is currently owned by author Carla Lane
and the West island was recently purchased by adventurer Bear Grylls
and converted into a holiday home.
The islands are known for their seal population. The western island has a lighthouse
, and the eastern has the remains of a priory
.
The highest point on the island is 38 metres (124.7 ft) above sea level
. It is located just over 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) off the Llŷn peninsula
in Gwynedd
. The nearest settlement (apart from the lighthouse on Saint Tudwal's Island West) is Machroes. Small ships sail from the nearby town of Abersoch
to take passengers to view the wildlife. The island is believed to be the original hermit
age of Saint Tudwal
, which is presumably where its name comes from. The remains of a priory
, referred to in the 1291 tax
rolls, can be found on its eastern side.
, was purchased by Trinity House
(main lighthouse authority for England, Wales, the Channel islands and Gibraltar) in 1876 at the sum of £111 and the next year the stone building was complete. It is 10.7 metres (35.1 ft) tall, with its focal plane (height of light above high water) at 46 metres (150.9 ft). The main white light has a range of 14 nautical miles (25.9 km) and its red sector light has a shorter range of 10 nautical miles (18.5 km). It gives 1 white and red flash every 15 seconds, the intensity being 12,000 candelas (candle power).
Being automated 1n 1922, it was one of the earlier lights Trinity House automated. It was electrified in 1995. The lighthouse keeper
s' cottages are now privately owned and used as a holiday home.
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
lying south of Abersoch
Abersoch
Abersoch is a large village in the community of Llanengan in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a popular coastal seaside resort with approximately 1,000 inhabitants, on the east-facing south coast of the Llŷn Peninsula at the southern terminus of the A499. It is about south-west of Pwllheli and south-west of...
on the Llŷn peninsula
Llyn Peninsula
The Llŷn Peninsula extends into the Irish Sea from north west Wales, south west of the Isle of Anglesey. It is part of the modern county and historic region of Gwynedd. The name is thought to be of Irish origin, and to have the same root Laigin in Irish as the word Leinster...
in North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
, at the western end of Tremadog Bay
Tremadog Bay
Tremadog Bay is a large inlet of Cardigan Bay, defined by the north Cambrian Coast and the Llŷn peninsula of north Wales.The River Glaslyn flows into the north of bay and St Tudwal's Islands lie at the western end of the bay...
. They were apparently referred to as the Studwells in the early 19th century.
There are two main islands: Saint Tudwal's Island West (Welsh: Ynys Tudwal Fawr)(52.7988°N 4.4718°W) and Saint Tudwal's Island East (Welsh: Ynys Tudwal Fach) (52.8053°N 4.4620°W), plus the Carreg y Trai rocks. The East island is currently owned by author Carla Lane
Carla Lane
Carla Lane, OBE is an English television writer responsible for many successful sitcoms, including The Liver Birds , Butterflies , and Bread ....
and the West island was recently purchased by adventurer Bear Grylls
Bear Grylls
Edward Michael "Bear" Grylls is an English adventurer, writer and television presenter. He is best known for his television series Man vs. Wild, known as Born Survivor in the United Kingdom...
and converted into a holiday home.
The islands are known for their seal population. The western island has a lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
, and the eastern has the remains of a priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
.
Saint Tudwal's Island East
Saint Tudwal's Island East is a grass covered, privately owned, kidney-shaped island, about 500 metres (1,640.4 ft) in length and 200 metres (656.2 ft) in width.The highest point on the island is 38 metres (124.7 ft) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. It is located just over 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) off the Llŷn peninsula
Llyn Peninsula
The Llŷn Peninsula extends into the Irish Sea from north west Wales, south west of the Isle of Anglesey. It is part of the modern county and historic region of Gwynedd. The name is thought to be of Irish origin, and to have the same root Laigin in Irish as the word Leinster...
in Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
. The nearest settlement (apart from the lighthouse on Saint Tudwal's Island West) is Machroes. Small ships sail from the nearby town of Abersoch
Abersoch
Abersoch is a large village in the community of Llanengan in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a popular coastal seaside resort with approximately 1,000 inhabitants, on the east-facing south coast of the Llŷn Peninsula at the southern terminus of the A499. It is about south-west of Pwllheli and south-west of...
to take passengers to view the wildlife. The island is believed to be the original hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
age of Saint Tudwal
Saint Tudwal
Saint Tudwal was a Breton monk. He is considered one of the seven founder saints of Brittany. Tudwal was said to be a son of Hoel Mawr . Tudwal travelled to Ireland to learn the scriptures, then became a hermit on what is now called Saint Tudwal's Island East off North Wales...
, which is presumably where its name comes from. The remains of a priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
, referred to in the 1291 tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
rolls, can be found on its eastern side.
Lighthouse
The lighthouse on the western island remains active, but unstaffed. The site of the lighthouse, which marks the north end of Cardigan BayCardigan Bay
Cardigan Bay is a large inlet of the Irish Sea, indenting the west coast of Wales between Bardsey Island, Gwynedd in the north, and Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire at its southern end. It is the largest bay in Wales....
, was purchased by Trinity House
Trinity House
The Corporation of Trinity House of Deptford Strond is the official General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales and other British territorial waters...
(main lighthouse authority for England, Wales, the Channel islands and Gibraltar) in 1876 at the sum of £111 and the next year the stone building was complete. It is 10.7 metres (35.1 ft) tall, with its focal plane (height of light above high water) at 46 metres (150.9 ft). The main white light has a range of 14 nautical miles (25.9 km) and its red sector light has a shorter range of 10 nautical miles (18.5 km). It gives 1 white and red flash every 15 seconds, the intensity being 12,000 candelas (candle power).
Being automated 1n 1922, it was one of the earlier lights Trinity House automated. It was electrified in 1995. The lighthouse keeper
Lighthouse keeper
A lighthouse keeper is the person responsible for tending and caring for a lighthouse, particularly the light and lens in the days when oil lamps and clockwork mechanisms were used. Keepers were needed to trim the wicks, replenish fuel, wind clockworks and perform maintenance tasks such as cleaning...
s' cottages are now privately owned and used as a holiday home.