Jane Sharkey
Walking, island life and creative reflections from Lundy and beyond
From an Island in the Bristol Channel to Portugal and places in between. I write about the small things that make wild places unforgettable.
Welcome to Stories from Lundy and Beyond
Hi, I’m Jane. I live and work on Lundy, where walking, wildlife and island life inspire my writing. In this journal, I share stories from the island, alongside my adventures renovating a house in Portugal and exploring life as a walking artist. If you’re new here, start with my latest posts. Or you can check out my social media posts
When the Past Lingers: Ghosts, Spirits and an Island
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, Lundy is a place where stories linger. This Halloween, I’m exploring the island’s eerie atmosphere, from whispered tales in the Marisco Tavern and strange childhood memories to shipwrecks beneath the waves and place names that spark the imagination. I’ve never seen a ghost on Lundy, but the island certainly knows how to make you wonder.
Following the Birds South
Lying beside a cairn on Lundy, I watch aeroplanes and migrating birds crossing the October sky and start wondering where they are all heading. A week later, I’m heading south too, travelling by ferry and car to Portugal — although, as it turns out, a bird would be considerably faster.
In Search of Lundy Cairns
Inspired by Kathleen Jamie’s Cairn, I set out to find some of Lundy’s cairns. My search led me across Acland Moor, to a place to sit, some unexpected thoughts about the landscape and a reflection on my own borrowed time on Lundy.
Island inspired Crafting
ideas from island life drift into small pieces of work — baskets woven from ghost gear, linocuts of puffins and seals. A few of them live here.
Adapting to Island Life: Embracing Winter
A reflective account of coming back to Lundy as winter approaches, shaped by cold-water swimming, storms, harvest food, and the island’s changing pace.
Behind the Scenes of Lundy Island’s Filming Experience
A behind-the-scenes account of filming Channel 4’s Our Tiny Islands on Lundy, sharing island work, community life, and the experience of being on camera.
Lundy Seascape inspired crochet
The colours were inspired by the seascape and the many colours that the sea presents, on days when I swim off lundy.
Midsummer on Lundy
On Midsummer's evening we wandered between seven of Lundy's ancient standing stones. Along the way we read haikus written by previous visitors, imagined Bronze Age picnics, made tiny prints from the stones.
Round the Island trip
A great opportunity to take a trip on the Island RIB - seeing the island from the sea and experiencing the Races.
Jubilee Pool, Penzance
Enjoying some hot and cold therapy with the Pool temperature at 17 degrees
and the geo-thermal pool at 32 degrees.