Island Walks
There are a number of beautiful islands off the coast of Britain where you can enjoy wonderful coastal walks. Some are tidal islands where you can walk across the sands at low tide such as Hilbre Island in West Kirby. Most you can enjoy a nice boat trip from the mainland before exploring the island.
Please use the links below to view full route information including descriptions, elevation profiles, interactive maps and GPS downloads.
You can also view an overview map of all the routes in the using the Island Walk Map
| Route Name | Distance | Description |
| Brownsea Island | 3 miles (5.5 km) | This circular walk takes you on a tour of the beautiful Brownsea Island off the coast of Poole in Dorset. View Full Details>> |
| Burgh Island | 1 miles (1.5 km) | Visit this beautiful island off the south coast of Devon on this lovely coastal walk. Burgh Island is located just a few hundred metres from the small seaside village of Bigbury on Sea. You can walk to the island at low tide or catch the sea tractor which is run by the island's hotel. On the island you will find three private houses, a public house, the ruins of the former chapel and the restored 1920s Art Deco-style hotel. The island has a strong assocation with Agatha Christie, serving as the inspirational setting for both And Then There Were None and the Hercule Poirot mystery Evil Under the Sun with the 2002 TV adaptation of the book filmed here. This walk starts at the car park on the sea front in Bigbury-on-Sea and walks out across the sands to the island. There are lovely walking trails taking you around the island with its beautiful coves, rocky outcrops and beaches. The view of the Devon coast and countryside is also marvellous. Burgh Island is on the South West Coast Path so you can easily extend your walk by heading along this fantastic trail. Heading west will take you to the beautiful Erme Estuary where there's pretty beaches, coastal views and lots of wildlife to look out for. Just to the east you can pick up the Avon Estuary Walk. View Full Details>> |
| Caldey Island | 2 miles (4 km) | Follow the walking trails around this fascinating and beautiful island off the Pembrokeshire coast, near Tenby. View Full Details>> |
| Hayling Island | 10 miles (16 km) | Enjoy a coastal walk around the southern part of Hayling Island on this circular route. The walk visits Sinah Common, Ferry Point, South Hayling, Eaststoke Beach and the Sandy Point Nature Reserve. There's lovely views over Hayling Bay, sand dunes and a series of nice beaches to enjoy. Start the walk from the car park by the lake on Sinah Common. Follow the paths west past Sinah Lake to Ferry Point, the westernmost tip of Hayling Island. Here you can catch a passenger ferry to Eastney in Portsmouth. Elements of World War 2 gun batteries and pill boxes can be seen on the common and there are nice views to Portsdown Hill and Butser Hill from Ferry Point. The area also includes the Kench, a small bay which is also a designated nature reserve. View Full Details>> |
| Hilbre Island | 4 miles (7 km) | Visit this beautiful island and nature reserve off the coast of West Kirby and enjoy some fabulous coastal scenery. View Full Details>> |
| Holy Island Causeway Walk | 7 miles (11.2 km) | Cross the wonderful causeway across Holy Island Sands on this walk in Northumberland. The Pilgrims Causeway runs for about 3 miles providing fabulous views to the island and surrounding coast. It's a special and unique walk following a solid path alongside the causeway road. It's essential to check the tide times tide times before you go as the island is cut off twice daily by fast incoming tides. Start the walk from the car park, located on Holy Island Road on the western side of the causeway. Here you can see a table of the tide times on an information board. You can then pick up the St Cuthbert's Way and head east over the causeway to Lindisfarne Castle and Holy Island. As you are making your way across you can see Snook Tower and Snook House on your left. The route then enters the island and finishes at Holy Island village. View Full Details>> |
| Llanddwyn Island | 4 miles (6 km) | This walk explores Llanddwyn Island (Ynys Llanddwyn) on the Isle of Anglesey. The small tidal island is a stunningly beautiful location with rolling dunes, rocky outcrops, sandy beaches, lovely bays and the atmospheric ruins of St Dwynwen's Church. You can park at the Newborough Warren car park just to the north east of the island. Then follow the woodland trails through Newborough Forest to reach the island. Footpaths then head south toward the Twr Mawr lighthouse which marks the western entrance to the Menai Strait. The noteworthy structure is similar in style to the Anglesey windmills and stands at a height of 33 feet (10 m). From here there are fabulous views to Snowdonia and the Lleyn Peninsula. The island is attached to Newborough Forest where you can extend your walk if you have time. The large coastal forest forms part of the Newborough Warrent Nature Reserve where you can look out for wildlife including oystercatchers, lapwings, curlew, skylarks and meadow pipits. The long distance Anglesey Coast Path also passes the island. You can follow the trail north and visit the lovely Malltraeth Sands and the Afon Cefni on the Lon Las Cefni Cycle Trail. Following the path east will take you along the Menai Strait to Menai Bridge. View Full Details>> |
| Looe Island | 1 miles (1 km) | This delightful island of the Cornish coast is well worth a visit. You can catch a boat from East Looe during the summer months and then enjoy a 1km walk around the beautiful little island. It's a fantastic place for wildlife lovers with grey seals, cormorants, shags and oystercatchers to look out for. There's also wildflower meadows which attract different types of butterfly. Keep your eyes peeled for speckled wood, meadow brown and red admiral as you make your way across the meadows. The island also includes mix of grassland, scrub, woods and fabulous views back along the Cornish coast. The South West Coast Path runs through Looe so you could try the Looe to Polperro coastal walk to extend your walking in the area. View Full Details>> |
| Mersea Island | 13 miles (21 km) | Explore the coastline of the most easterly inhabited island in the United Kingdom island on this circular walk near Colchester. The route takes you along the coastline visiting beaches, Cudmore Grove Country Park and the settlements of West Mersea and East Mersea. Look out for wildlife including Marsh harriers, watervoles, red squirrels, and numerous wintering birds. View Full Details>> |
| Skomer Island | 4 miles (6 km) | Visit this beautiful Island on the Pembrokeshire Coast and enjoy wonderful coastal views and thousands of breeding seabirds. The island has lovely walking trails along the coast and down the centre of the island. You can visit the island from April to October by catching a boat from Martin's Haven near Marloes village (Click here for information on sailing times). The island is fantastic for wildlife watching with Puffins, Manx Shearwaters, Dolphins, Harbour Porpoises, Razorbills, Gannets and Fulmars to look out for. In April you can see the Atlantic Grey Seal as they gather to moult at North Haven. The island itself is lovely with fields, cliff tops and interesting coastal rock formations. In the spring and summer months it is covered with pretty flowers such as Bluebells and Campion. Look out for the Skomer Vole and the multitude of Rabbits as you make your way across the reserve. It's a special place and a must see if you are visiting the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. To continue your walking in the area you could explore the wonderful Marloes Peninsula on the Martin's Haven Walk. Also nearby is Marloes Sands and Marloes Mere. Here you'll find a bird hide where you can look out for a variety of birds visting the little lake. Near here you can also visit the lovely Dale Peninsula where you can visit St Ann's lighthouse and Dale Fort. View Full Details>> |
| Two Tree Island | 2 miles (3 km) | This expansive nature reserve in Leigh-on-Sea covers 257 hectares (640 acres). The site is located just a few miles along the coast from Southend and contains miles of nice walking trails. View Full Details>> |