"It's quite nice to be able to do the maintenance you can't usually do with all the day trippers.". It's managed by Cardiff Council as a nature reserve and SSSI, and has resident wardens all year round. Facilities include toilets and a very small pub (The Gull and Leek) with outdoor seating. "I kind of like not having all the creature comforts. In some ways though, the island is more luxurious than it's ever been. A role that typically saw him spend three weeks working followed by one week on the mainland has changed dramatically in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. Despite being used to the isolation that comes with living off grid, Mat said the best way to stave off feelings of it is by sticking to a routine. (The map may show the nearest postal address as the destination). "But it's great for us and we're really happy to be here. In the middle of nowhere, you can't park and the locals are a noisy bunch intent on pinching your sandwiches. The old farmhouse has been turned into an accommodation block and the fog horn master's cabin is being converted to a self-contained cottage. There's quite a bit to do.". We pass a ruined hospital, used as an isolation unit for victims of cholera and bubonic plague. Please enable Printing of Background Images in your Browser Print Settings to show this page correctly. Unless you happen to own a boat, there's no nipping over for a quick pint as a trip there takes a bit of forward planning. But, as Andy Gourlay found, a visit requires some planning, because it is on the nature reserve island of Flat Holm. 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But before we hit the bar, she gives us a tour of the island, starting with a rundown on Flat Holm's long and varied history. But, as .css-po6dm6-ItalicText{font-style:italic;}Andy Gourlay found, a visit requires some planning, because it is on the nature reserve island of Flat Holm. In the Dark Ages, it was a retreat for monks but over the centuries it has housed silver miners, smugglers and even cholera victims. Initially, the couple couldn't guess how long the pandemic would last. It's got a specially designed reinforced hull, which is just as well. "We were just in the process of recruiting all the new volunteers when this started," he said, referring to outbreak. .css-14iz86j-BoldText{font-weight:bold;}The Gull and Leek, one of the most unusual pubs in Wales, has opened. Listed as a public attraction venue run by Cardiff Council, the island can't welcome guests until the Welsh Government gives it the green light. It starts at Cardiff Bay where you board the Lewis Alexander, the Flat Holm Project's custom-made boat for the 50-minute journey, which also takes you through the giant sea lock at the Cardiff Bay barrage. "In those first few weeks, we were watching the daily briefings. But despite all that, the Gull and Leek, the new pub on the nature reserve at Flat Holm island is sure to be a hit with visitors who do manage to drop in. Vikings and Saxons, monks and silver miners have all occupied Flat Holm at some point, while brandy and tea smugglers used its rocky coves to store contraband. For more information or to book a trip please call 029 20877912 [email protected] www.flatholmisland.com Our. It also has running water, which is filtered and treated after being collected from rooftops across the island. "I expect we'll have a few drinks and we'll probably have a bonfire on the beach, beyond that I don't really know. "Everything's changing day by day. Visitors are ferried here by the boat each day to wander the nature reserve, marvel at its butterflies and other creatures and then have a drink at the Gull and Leek, Wales' most southerly pub. Since the Flat Holm Project started in the 80s, there have been significant upgrades to its infrastructure and facilities. "It's made everyone self reflect," Mat said. Bronze Age relics have been found here but the earliest known visitor was St Cadoc in the 6th Century, who came to the island to meditate. "Everyone we speak to says, 'Oh, you're in the best place, we're super jealous', but nobody was interested in living here before this," he said, joking. We might now only pick something up maybe once or twice a day. Our guide for the pub's grand opening is Flat Holm manager Natalie Taylor. The extended absence of visitors has given Mat time to tend to projects that may otherwise be overlooked during the busy season. The first pint here in 90 years is poured and we all toast the pub's success. "Then we all went into lockdown, so it was bad timing in that respect.". "It just sort of debilitates you a bit," he said. © 2020 BBC. Flat Holm lies a few miles off the south Wales coastline between Barry and Penarth, and is the most southern tip of Wales - neighbouring Steep Holm is just over the border in England. "Are you ready?" But he's mindful that people will be eager to return when lockdown is lifted. Coal Beach (above) and neighbouring East Beach are on the north-east corner, and are the arrival points for boats from the mainland. "It's just having food and water and a roof over your head," he said. The island of Flat Holm (Ynys Echni) lies about 2¾ miles off the south Wales coast in the murky waters of the Bristol Channel, and is the southernmost point in Wales. The Gull and Leek, one of the most unusual pubs in Wales, has opened. "When it first started, it was a bit like one of those end of the world disaster films," he said. Royal Ballet back on stage with social distancing. ", "We said we're probably safer if we're out here.". It's all just simple stuff, isnt it," he said. "We're very exposed to all the wind coming up the channel, everything takes a battering from all the weather so there's constant maintenance jobs that need doing," he said. But this time around, that hasn't gone to plan. And we get data signal from the mainland out here, so we were checking the news and headlines. "It's just taking everyday as it comes. On the face of it, it's not the most promising site for a new pub. A short day visit to Flat Holm provides up to three hours on the Island and offers a unique opportunity to see Flat Holm’s conservation, wildlife and historic buildings. The couple said the outbreak has made them think differently about their lifestyle. Solar panels now allow it to run on its own grid. "Jen's trying to plan a party. Sadly there's no sign of the exact spot where Marconi famously used the island to send the first wireless message across the water. The lighthouse, built in 1820, is still working, but these days it is solar powered. You can unsubscribe at any time. Mat Brown is the most isolated man in Wales during this global pandemic, THE BIGGEST STORIES ACROSS BRISTOL IN YOUR INBOX. Yes, it's a long way to go for a drink, but Wales' most southerly pub is well worth the trip. On very low tides it's possible to walk around the island along the shore, and the two small coves of Point Bay and Dripping Cove become accessible. "You get to the point, it just fills you with anxiety a bit. VideoHow history was made in the 2020 science Nobels, Mick Fleetwood surprises viral Dreams TikTok star. But this summer - at least for the time being - all of that is cancelled. There is no quay on the island and the boat has no option but to land by simply driving headlong up a ramp on the beach. "I like doing things a bit different and avoiding the usual lifestyle as much as possible," he said. Both consist of steeply sloping shingle (mostly mudstone, limestone and some flint), and access is down good paths with steps.

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