The Island Shop
Over the years, Nigel the shop manager has become expert at anticipating the needs of both islanders and visitors alike. As a result the shop is well stocked with all essential items, similar to a village shop. These include fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen goods, toiletries, and soft drinks.
Although the shop does stock frozen veggie burgers and sausages, (locally made Bean Burgers plus Linda McCartney) neither are wheat free. It stocks no quorn or tofu, and only large packs of soya mince, which are not always available. Other basic items, such as rice (brown and white basmati, as well as easy cook and savoury), pasta and tinned beans (butter, kidney and chickpeas, plus organic cannellini and borlotti) are readily available, as well as fresh humous from the fridge. Rice and oat cakes are also available for those who are coeliac or intolerant to wheat. There is no wheat free pasta. Soya milk is also available (unsweetened).
When visitors book their accomodation, they are automatically sent a list detailing the shops stock and inviting them to complete an order form for any special items, such as baby requisitories and special dietary needs. The availability of these items cannot however be guaranteed. Those with special dietary needs are therefore strongly advised to bring basic supplies with them. It is always worth trying to order items (at least 2 weeks in advance), rather than bringing them with you, as Nigel will always ring you should he be unable to obtain these items.
Remember that those with special dietary needs can take provisions with them free of charge provided you let the Shore Office know, and that they are also packed in a seperate bag and clearly labelled.
Should you need to bring provisions with you, then there are branches of both
Tesco and
Sainsburys on the outskirts of Barnstaple, which I have found to be excellent and convenient places to stop and stock up en route. There is also a new, small branch of Tescos recently opened just outside Ilfracombe. Both stores do their own excellent wheat and dairy free range of products. These are not large branches, and may not have the full range of items available. Both Bideford and Ilfracombe have excellent health food stores, where a variety of wheat free and vegetarian items can be purchased.
For those wishing to bring chilled supplies with them, I recommend a product called Chillerz, obtainable from larger branches of Millets. These ice sheets remain frozen for anything up to 48 hours, meaning that you can if necessary store supplies overnight at your bed and breakfast hotel before transporting them to the island the following day, thus removing the need to travel through Barnstaple altogether. If staying in Ilfracombe, then the majority of rooms at the Laston House Hotel have small fridges that you can also store items in.
Keeping in Touch
The island's one and only pay phone is situated in the front room of the Tavern. Unfortunately it is unable to accept phone cards, or incoming calls, so ensure you bring adequate supplies of ten pence pieces. Extra change is always available from the shop or the bar.
Mobile phone coverage across the island varies, being better on the east side, facing the mainland than the west, although a reasonable signal can usually be obtained from the Old Light. Having recently changed my network from T Mobile to Vodafone, Vodafone seems to be far superior, I cannot though vouch for other networks.
Although the island does have email, this is not available for the use of visitors. If you ask, it will be refused, so I suggest that you don't! The island does though have its own wifi network set up in the office above the Marisco Tavern, so if you have outlook express on your laptop, or even on your mobile phone, then you may be able to access it from there.
Photography
Lundy is without a doubt one of the most picturesque islands I have ever visited, with spectacular cliff and inland scenery, and a fascinating variety of wildlife. The light changes in angle and intensity both with the seasons, and time of day, being particularly spectacular in the hour or so before sunset.
For general landscape photography, a wide angle zoom of around 28 - 70 mm will probably be all you need. If you hope to photograph birds, or seals though, a 200 - 300 mm lens will prove its worth.
Whichever type of photography you do, there are three things that are absolutely essential for any successful trip. Firstly, spare batteries, secondly adequate cleaning equipment to protect your valuable equipment from dust and grit, and thirdly a good set of polarising filters. These have the effect of absorbing stray UV light, and intensifying the blue skies.
Most first time visitors find that they have not bought nearly enough film with them, and for this reason, it is one of the shop's best selling items. Kodak negative film is however the only type stocked (there are no memory cards for digital cameras), so if you prefer slides or a different brand then you need to bring your own. The amount you bring will depend on what type of camera and photography you do, but for a first visit I would recommend a minimum of 1 to 1 ½ rolls per day.
Spiritual Matters
Energetically speaking Lundy is a very special place, forming a Lunar Triangle with Stone Henge and the Preseli Mountains in Wales (this is where the stones used in Stone Henge were mined). It forms part of the same Ley Line then that runs through these very special places. In addition to this, there is also a very important energy vortex located in the region of Beacon Hill, near the Old Light.
The main attraction though seems to be the total absence of pressures and distractions of mainland life. With this comes a gradual quieting of the mind, and constant internal babble, which I refer to as the ego. I usually find that it takes a couple of days for the babble to completely stop, and then after a day or two, if you are not careful it will do its best to start all over again. For this reason, whenever possible I try and stay for two weeks rather than just one.
Walking around the island seems to me almost a like a form of walking meditation, where it is difficult not to see and sense the divine presence everywhere around you. This naturally serves to heighten our own sense of Divinity, and gives us the opportunity to re-discover who we really are. There is no danger of becoming ungrounded here though, as all the walking and close proximity to nature keeps our feet very firmly on the ground!
