Your Say: Flat Holm

Have you ever been to Flat Holm? Share your views and photos of the island - whether you're a wildlife fan, a radio ham or just wanted to take a tour.

your comments

Carol McColm from Ayr, Scotland
After I graduated I was lucky to have been given the job of voluntary ranger on Flat Holm. I was there 4 months - that was 14 years ago and I still remember it fondly. Its wildlife, history and people were all amazing. Not forgetting the resident tortoise!

Rob Doc from Beddau
I loved the Victorian gun emplacements and the second world war works, very interesting - would love to go again!

Lois Collins, Australia
I have fond memories of my day on Flat Holm Island when I was visiting from Australia back in October 2006. We took the last boat across for the season. It was cold, windy and a rough crossing but this just added to the fun. The tour was very informative and the staff were so friendly and helpful. The island was beautiful. So hard to believe all this exists just a short boat trip away from bustling city life.

Pam from Barry
I have wonderful memories of being involved in taking parties of junior school (KS2) children on residential visits to Flat Holm. The wardens always organised a fantastic range of activities, from history tours to sketching to ghost stories as night was falling. My favourite memory was being on the beach early evening with four of the children as they noticed one of the seagull's eggs had a hole in it with a tiny beak peaking through as the chick tried to peck its way out. We watched for a few minutes but I suspected nothing was going to happen that evening. I promised them we could go back the next morning to see if the chick had made its way into the daylight. We went back to the beach after breakfast and there it was still in its shell, still pecking away (I beleive it's called 'pipping' - thanks Bill Oddie!). We joined the rest of the group for the morning activity and then returned to the beach at lunchtime to see a very exhausted and scrawny chick lying next to the shell, looking lifeless. The children were distraught but I said we'll come back later which we did late afternoon. There, at last, was a very perky, very fluffy little grey seagull chick. How much those children would have learnt from that experience, it was absolutely magical. I have great respect for the survival instincts of the seagulls and the way they fiercely protect their young. I even forgave the one who dive bombed me and got in a peck on the head while I was closing the gate and wasn't waving my stick in the air. They go for the highest point when dive bombing - hopefully they peck the stick rather than you! I really recommend a visit - when on land, you see the island sitting out in the channel but it is really another world when you get there.

Margret Butcher from Somerset
We went on a visit to Flat Holm first of all to visit the lighthouse. But we very quickly fell in love with this marvellous place. The nature and wild life was incredible. The gulls had just arrived and were very noisily busy pairing up and finding nest sites. (Not for nothing had we been advised to bring a hat). Some day I would love to spend more time on this magical island!!

Andy Surridge, Frome
When I used to drive to Weston on a Sunday with my mates, or later on in life taking my kids to Weston/Brean, I always wondered what these islands where called. Watching Countryfile on Sunday 17 Feb 08 about Flat Holme brought home to me what we have on our doorstep. Great place.

Terry Morgan, Cardiff
Born in Cardiff, I always intended to visit Flat Holm having seen it from afar for so many years. Well, after 61 years I finally took the plunge on October 19th 2007. I saw a beautiful sunrise over Cardiff - the Cardiff barrage lock gates in full operation - and the stunning rock formations of Penarth cliffs- and all this before terra firma at Flat Holm.What a day to remember. The peace and quiet, the wildlife, the unspoilt beauty of the island. What a jewel for Wales. Please do not spoil it with yet another barrage. Just like Cardiff Castle, so many visitors are from outside Wales. Come on people of Cardiff & Wales! Use it - or we may lose it.

Sue Myers, Yorkshire
I was extremely lucky a a child to spend six weeks holiday on Flat Holm with my mother, brother and sister. All I remember was being very happy and contented, playing unsupervised whereever we chose, feeding the goats which supplied us with fresh milk. Going up the light house, being able to go to the very top and walk round the dome ... there was a fog horn at that time - is it still there? Watching the sea rushing through Castel Rock as it was called then, and not liking the visitors that came in the afternoons as they took what I called my Island away from me. All of this took place in approx 1958/9 and I have never been back since. I wish my children had experienced what I did. I will never forget, and one day would really love to return.

Sheryl Evans, Walsall
I took the tour of Flat Holm with my family about 7 years ago. It's a really interesting place, so much wildlife! I've never seen a slow worm before until then! It's also a seagull sanctuary. We had to walk with big sticks above our heads to stop them swooping down on us! It didn't stop one taking a peck at my daughter's head though! Luckily she wasn't hurt. It was interesting to see the collection of inedible junk the gulls bring back from the mainland to regurgitate for their chicks. Gulls apart, it's a lovely place and the staff there are very knowledgable and pleasant. The choppy ride back in the boat was exhilarating! I would recommend it to everyone. You must do it!

Matthew Lipton, Assistant Education Warden, Flat H
I have been working on Flat Holm since April 2007, first as a volunteer and now as a paid member of staff. It is one of the most amazing places I have ever worked and lived. The size of the island is deceptive and makes you wonder what could possibly be there to see. It is however jam packed with flora, fauna and an amazing wealth of history. I don't think I shall ever be bored of waking up to watch the Soay sheep grazing on light house common or sitting on the Victorian Water Catchment and gazing across at the many lights of Weston-super-mare on a clear night.

Charlotte Goodship
I spent 9 months working on Flat Holm back in 2004/2005. It was amazing, even pumping out the Klargister - well it always gets a laugh and still haunts me. Would love to go back at some point but its finding the time in between being a professional bum aka travelling. It truly is magical and if you get the chance to stay there go for it, or even just for the day trip.

Jonathan Sheldrake, London
I had the great fortune to see a seal when I was there. Otherwise it was interesting to learn that both Flat Holm and Steep Holm had inns when no drinking was allowed on Sundays in Wales.

Jeff Evans
I served as a lighthouse keeper on the Island during the 70's. Families weren't allowed, which was the only drawback. Walking from quarters to the jetty often meant running the gauntlet of the seagulls in breeding season. The three of us did a month on and a month off and, except in very weather, travelled by helicopter.

Anna Jones, Cardiff
I used to live in Barry and went to Flat Holm a number of times. On each occasion I learnt something new! I am surprised at the comment made by 'Brian from Penarth' - is he really so ignorant that he doesn't realise that hedgehogs would eat the unique slow worm population? They tried this on Steep Holm, and that is now suffering the ecological consequences. I am also familiar with Penarth, and think an invasion of gulls and guano could only be an improvement!

Richard Downer, from Beddau
Visiting Flat Holm yesterday was one of the most interesting local excursion I have done. What a little jewel right on our doorstep. The welcome from the warden and her fellow staff was excellent with a well managed and informative tour of the island included. Arranging a return visit for a weekend with a Troop of Scouts was very easily done. I hope they enjoy the whole experience as much as we did on our Recce. Visit!

Pearl Darlington, Toronto
On a visit to my home town Barry almost six years ago, my sister and I took the boat from Barry to Flat Holm, which we had been talking of doing for a long time. My sister isn't a keen sailor but it was a lovely day and, we thought, quite a short distance from Barry. We enjoyed the island tour and found everything very interesting. The weather turned windy and showery so the tour guide decided we should leave the island a bit earlier than planned. By now the sea was very rough, and we had quite a trip back to Barry. Probably at no time were we in danger, but were very thankful to reach terra firma! This is not meant to deter people from visiting Flat Holm, which is beautiful and has such historic interest. Just listen to the maritime forecast first!

Amanda Hanley, France
Flat Holm is a wondrous place, it's like stepping into another world which seems totally disconnected from our every day existence. I would have dearly loved to clamber around the different ruins but I can understand that this isn't reasonable. Magic!

Peter Hart, Stockton on Tees
My grandmother lived on Flat Holm as a child, and told many a story of keeping goats and funny tales on growing up there. She met my grandfather who was a lighthouse keeper - I'm sure through the fact that Trinity House has a lighthouse stationed there.

Brian from Penarth
Flat Holm is very interesting but please could someone smuggle some hedgehogs over there to get rid of the seagull eggs? The birds are a pest in the nearby towns and, when they come on dry land to breed, the noise and danger from attacks on people are an absolute nuisance. A few screeching and croaking near a nice little harbour when the trawlers come in is fine but in a modern town - no!

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