Jane Sharkey 

Walking, island life and creative reflections from Lundy and beyond

Three worlds

From an Island in the Bristol Channel to Portugal and places in between. I write about the small things that make wild places unforgettable.

Brazen ward Lundy
Jane Sharkey

Shakespeare, Turner and a Cave at Brazen Ward, Lundy

If you walk along the Lower East path, on the cliffs between Brazen Ward and Mousehole & Trap, you’ll find one of the island’s more mysteriously named places — Queen Mab’s Grotto, Lundy. The History of Queen Mab’s Grotto The cave is thought to have been formed naturally, thousands of years ago by the action of the sea. Early accounts suggest, shells had once been found on the cave floor – evidence perhaps of an ancient shoreline? A visit much later in 1967, by the

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Jane Sharkey

I think Teresa rather enjoys finding me new places to swim in Portugal. As a blogger, I feel I should write about them properly so other people can find them too – and get a feel for what it is actually like to swim there before they set off. A hot afternoon in Portugal On a hot afternoon, with the temperature reaching 32 degrees, being near the water was exactly what we needed. I had already been in the water earlier at a natural swimming

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Pilgrimage
Jane Sharkey

Walking the Saints Way, an ancient 30-mile pilgrim route from Padstow to Fowey, through standing stones, burial barrows and Cornish landscape

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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. Through 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, why not start with my latest posts?

September Arrives on Lundy

A lunchtime walk with no destination becomes a reflection on the changing season. From signal flags flying aboard the Oldenburg to fading yarrow and visitors catching the last days of summer, this is a story about September arriving on Lundy Island.

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World Letter Writing Day on Lundy: The Joy of Sending a Letter

Living on Lundy has made me rediscover the pleasure of letter writing. From choosing stationery and stamps to watching a letter begin its journey by boat or helicopter, sending mail from the island feels like a small act of connection in an increasingly digital world. For World Letter Writing Day, I reflect on correspondence, memory and why handwritten letters still matter.

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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.

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