Steep Holm

Steep Holm is a small island in the Bristol Channel, part of North Somerset. It lies near Flat Holm, which belongs to Wales, and covers about 20 hectares at high tide. The island is made of Carboniferous Limestone and rises to 78 metres above sea level. Its steep cliffs shelter many caves and pot holes in the seabed. The tidal range around the island reaches 13 metres, one of the largest in the world. The island has a long history of human use. Roman remains suggest a signal station once stood there, and later it became home to Saint Gildas in the 6th century. A small Augustinian priory was built in the 12th and 13th centuries, though it was abandoned by 1265. In the 19th century, an inn was used for holidays, and during wartime it was fortified with guns and searchlights. Today Steep Holm is a nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest. Gulls nest on its cliffs, and rare wild peonies grow on the plateau. The island’s red soil, rich in iron, supports plants like golden samphire and wild leeks. Visitors find quiet paths, dramatic cliffs, and views across the Bristol Channel. The only buildings are the wardens’ quarters and remnants of its military past.