Ynys Bery

Ynys Bery is a small island in Pembrokeshire, Wales, lying south of Ramsey Island. Its name means ‘falcon’s island’ in Welsh, though an 1811 book by Richard Fenton calls it the ‘kite’s island’. The island rises to 71 metres at its highest point, making it the tallest of Wales’s islets. High craggy cliffs surround it, covered in thick matted grass mixed with scurvy-grass and sea pink. Sheep graze the slopes, while rabbits and seabirds live among the rocks. The island has a shipwreck story. In 1903 the steamship S.S. Graffoe struck Ramsey Island and sank at the northern end of Ynys Bery. The wreck lies fifteen metres below the surface and attracts divers exploring Pembrokeshire’s underwater sites. The cliffs also host breeding lesser black-backed gulls, and in spring pale blue squill flowers carpet the ground. These natural and historical features give the island its character. Visitors to the area see steep cliffs plunging to the sea and wide views across Ramsey Island. The thick grass and wildflowers cover the slopes, while seabirds circle overhead. The wreck of the S.S. Graffoe lies hidden beneath the waves nearby. The island’s height offers a clear vantage point over the surrounding waters. Its quiet shores and rugged scenery make it a place to observe wildlife and the sea.