Ynys Sili

Island in Glamorgan

Wales

Ynys Sili

St Mary's Well Bay just west of Lavernock Point The foreshore here is like layers of sloping pavement where the thin strata of Blue Lias limestone overlay one another.
St Mary's Well Bay just west of Lavernock Point Credit: Penny Mayes

Ynys Sili, also known as Sully Island, is a small tidal island located off the coast of Glamorgan, Wales. Situated at the mouth of the River Ely, it is accessible by foot during low tide, but becomes completely cut off from the mainland when the tide rises.

Covering an area of approximately 50 acres, Ynys Sili is a popular destination for beachgoers and nature enthusiasts. The island boasts a beautiful sandy beach, which stretches along its eastern coast and offers stunning views of the Bristol Channel. During low tide, visitors can explore the island's rocky outcrops and tidal pools, which are teeming with marine life.

Ynys Sili is also home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. The island's grassy dunes provide habitats for various species of plants and wildflowers, while the surrounding waters attract a variety of seabirds and waterfowl. The area is particularly known for its population of wading birds, such as curlews and oystercatchers.

In addition to its natural beauty, Ynys Sili also holds historical significance. It is believed that the island was once inhabited during the Iron Age, as evidenced by the discovery of ancient burial mounds. Furthermore, the remains of a medieval chapel can be found on the island, serving as a reminder of its past religious significance.

While Ynys Sili is a popular spot for day-trippers and beachcombers, it is important to note that visitors must be cautious of the tides and always check the tide times before venturing onto the island.

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Ynys Sili Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.3958/-3.1995 or Grid Reference ST1666. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

St Mary's Well Bay just west of Lavernock Point The foreshore here is like layers of sloping pavement where the thin strata of Blue Lias limestone overlay one another.
St Mary's Well Bay just west of Lavernock Point
The foreshore here is like layers of sloping pavement where the thin strata of Blue Lias limestone overlay one another.
Sully Island The west view taken from on top of this small island. The rock strata are gently inclining. The water is part of the Bristol Channel and is pretty muddy! In the distance lies Barry.
Sully Island
The west view taken from on top of this small island. The rock strata are gently inclining. The water is part of the Bristol Channel and is pretty muddy! In the distance lies Barry.
Sully Beach A midwinter view of Sully Beach. The island is in the mid distance.
Sully Beach
A midwinter view of Sully Beach. The island is in the mid distance.
Sully Houses An example of one of the residential streets of Sully. Just behind these houses lies the Bristol Channel.
Sully Houses
An example of one of the residential streets of Sully. Just behind these houses lies the Bristol Channel.
Sully High Street The high street is the main Penarth to Barry Road. On either side of this road lie the residential streets of the ribbon development that comprises a large part of Sully.
Sully High Street
The high street is the main Penarth to Barry Road. On either side of this road lie the residential streets of the ribbon development that comprises a large part of Sully.
The edge of Sully Looking back at Sully from a field near Cog.
The edge of Sully
Looking back at Sully from a field near Cog.
St. Mary's Well Bay Low tide at St. Mary's Well Bay, looking across to the caravan park above the bay
St. Mary's Well Bay
Low tide at St. Mary's Well Bay, looking across to the caravan park above the bay
The Sand Spit St Mary's Well Bay
The Sand Spit St Mary's Well Bay
Shingle spit reaching out to Sully Island View across from Swanbridge at half tide towards this small island composed of warm orange Triassic sandstone.  The mainland coast is undergoing active erosion.
Shingle spit reaching out to Sully Island
View across from Swanbridge at half tide towards this small island composed of warm orange Triassic sandstone. The mainland coast is undergoing active erosion.
Lower Lias cliffs west of Lavernock Point Tide and waves have generated a coastal rock platform from the mudstones and limestones of the Lower Lias whilst the cliff retreats inland at the expense of the S & W Wales Wildlife Trust nature reserve atop it.
Lower Lias cliffs west of Lavernock Point
Tide and waves have generated a coastal rock platform from the mudstones and limestones of the Lower Lias whilst the cliff retreats inland at the expense of the S & W Wales Wildlife Trust nature reserve atop it.
St Mary's Well Bay This truly is a bay of two halves - the west side (foreground) is carved from warm-coloured Triassic sandstones which dip moderately steeply southwards.  The far side (east) is backed by cliffs of the Lower Lias limestones and mudstones which have a 'cold' feel to them.  Ball Rock is seen in the middle foreground at high tide.
St Mary's Well Bay
This truly is a bay of two halves - the west side (foreground) is carved from warm-coloured Triassic sandstones which dip moderately steeply southwards. The far side (east) is backed by cliffs of the Lower Lias limestones and mudstones which have a 'cold' feel to them. Ball Rock is seen in the middle foreground at high tide.
Causeway revealed! You feel like Moses parting the red sea if you stand at the edge of the causeway to Sully Island as the tide rapidly recedes - within the space of a minute this transformed from a body of water to something that could be crossed using walking boots rather than wellingtons!  The picture was taken about half way through this transformation.

For some strange reason the water flow was going in the opposite direction to the obvious local water flow at this point - I guess this was down to wind direction and wave flow at the minute or so we were there.
Causeway revealed!
You feel like Moses parting the red sea if you stand at the edge of the causeway to Sully Island as the tide rapidly recedes - within the space of a minute this transformed from a body of water to something that could be crossed using walking boots rather than wellingtons! The picture was taken about half way through this transformation. For some strange reason the water flow was going in the opposite direction to the obvious local water flow at this point - I guess this was down to wind direction and wave flow at the minute or so we were there.
Vivid changes in rock colour This area is a geologist's dream - and Sully Island is so in a microcosm - the island's western tip looks like a blancmange with the number of rock types that can be observed in such a small rock edge.
Vivid changes in rock colour
This area is a geologist's dream - and Sully Island is so in a microcosm - the island's western tip looks like a blancmange with the number of rock types that can be observed in such a small rock edge.
Victorian sea wreck You could be forgiven for ignoring this when visiting the island as a relatively modern sea wreck - but on closer inspection this is fascinating - the ship was wrecked over 100 years ago - yet the craft work of the builders can still be seen in detail if you examine what remains.
Victorian sea wreck
You could be forgiven for ignoring this when visiting the island as a relatively modern sea wreck - but on closer inspection this is fascinating - the ship was wrecked over 100 years ago - yet the craft work of the builders can still be seen in detail if you examine what remains.
Bow of a sunken Victorian vessel It's amazing how much can survive over 100 years of seas and the 2nd biggest tidal range in the world.

You can still run your fingers over timbers that were put in place by craftsmen and ship builders on this wreck that is submerged for most of the day, twice.
Bow of a sunken Victorian vessel
It's amazing how much can survive over 100 years of seas and the 2nd biggest tidal range in the world. You can still run your fingers over timbers that were put in place by craftsmen and ship builders on this wreck that is submerged for most of the day, twice.
Sully Bay View of Sully Bay from Hayes Point Barry
Sully Bay
View of Sully Bay from Hayes Point Barry
Fort Road Traditional stone buildings on the narrow road from Cosmeston to Lavernock Point.
Fort Road
Traditional stone buildings on the narrow road from Cosmeston to Lavernock Point.
Swanbridge - The Captain's Wife Formerly Sully House, now a popular pub overlooking Sully Island. It is reputed to be haunted by the wife of a sea captain who buried her, unannounced, in a nearby wood rather than admit she died aboard his ship. Having a female aboard a seagoing ship was supposed to be unlucky in days of yore.
Swanbridge - The Captain's Wife
Formerly Sully House, now a popular pub overlooking Sully Island. It is reputed to be haunted by the wife of a sea captain who buried her, unannounced, in a nearby wood rather than admit she died aboard his ship. Having a female aboard a seagoing ship was supposed to be unlucky in days of yore.
Show me another place!

Ynys Sili is located at Grid Ref: ST1666 (Lat: 51.3958, Lng: -3.1995)

Unitary Authority: The Vale of Glamorgan

Police Authority: South Wales

Also known as: Sully Island

What 3 Words

///hampers.deployed.mixes. Near Dinas Powys, Vale of Glamorgan

Related Wikis

Sully Island

Sully Island (Welsh: Ynys Sili) is a small tidal island of 14.5 acres (5.9 ha) by the hamlet of Swanbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan. It is located 400...

The Captain's Wife

The Captain's Wife is a public house in the former fishing hamlet of Swanbridge in Sully, between Barry and Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales. The...

Swanbridge railway station

Swanbridge railway station was located on the now disused railway line between Penarth and Cadoxton, which closed in the 1960s. == History and description... ==

Sully Centurions Cricket Club Ground

Sully Centurions Cricket Club Ground is a cricket ground in Sully, Glamorgan. The first recorded match on the ground was in 2002, when Wales Minor Counties...

Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 51.3958,-3.1995
Swanbridge Bay
Natural: bay
Source: OS_OpenData_StreetView
Lat/Long: 51.3988428/-3.1965492
Sully Island
Archaeological Site: fortification
Fortification Type: hill_fort
Historic: archaeological_site
Name Cy: Ynys Sili
Wikidata: Q20599192
Lat/Long: 51.3956979/-3.1959776
Barrier: entrance
Lat/Long: 51.3997665/-3.1969112
Restaurant
On The Rocks
Lat/Long: 51.4002306/-3.1995396
Waste Basket
Lat/Long: 51.3997316/-3.1968731
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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