Is Lundy just a familiar name on the shipping forecast? Board the M.S. Oldenburg at Ilfracombe or Bideford, voyage over the Bristol Channel and you will discover this tranquil and beautiful place.

The sea trip is a thoroughly enjoyable adventure in itself. MS Oldenburg, Lundy's own 300 ton passenger ship, is a fine vessel with refreshments available on board. The trip takes a little over two hours.

Once you arrive you will have time to explore the island. There is no harbour on Lundy and landing is by launch onto a landing stage. Check sailing times as they may vary during the season and are obviously dependent on the times of high water.

There is a steep climb from the landing place to the island plateau, where most of the main buildings, including the church and the Marisco Tavern, are to be found. For the more vigorous visitors, there is time to walk right round the island, peering down into rocky inlets where seals play and where many ships have been wrecked over the centuries. To appreciate the landscape properly wear walking shoes and some warm and weatherproof clothing if the forecast suggests changeable weather.

There are many acres of rhododendrons on the east side which provide an impressive bank of colour in early summer and in which the shy Sika deer can sometimes be spotted. Lundy has its own breed of ponies - you will see them grazing around the island.

It is not only on land that the wildlife is so rich, in fact the wealth of wildlife beneath the waves actually exceeds that above. One single square metre of seabed supports up to 80 different types of animal which can number up to 2,500 individuals. So, it is no wonder that so many divers visit Lundy to experience this underwater wonderland first hand.

Three miles long, Lundy commands magnificent views of the mainland on a clear day. It enjoys a milder climate and its rainfall, like most of the western islands, is lower than on the mainland. The name Lundy is derived from two Norse words: ‘lund’ meaning a puffin and ‘ey’ an island.

It is on the western migratory route and is famous for its bird life so bring some binoculars. It is sometimes possible to see puffins nesting in rocky crevices in Jenny's Cove from May to July. The puffin has come to symbolise Lundy, and appears on the island's own postage stamps. Like the mainland post office, the island does issue commemorative sets of stamps, and illustrated on this page is a set issued in 1972 to mark the 75th anniversary of the island church of St Helena.

In the tiny village there is a shop selling groceries, souvenirs and books. There you can mail a postcard to friends and family using Lundy's own special stamps. The Marisco Tavern, named after the infamous island family of Norman times, serves meals and offers friendly shelter. Further on is the Linhay where there is a display describing the island's history and its wild life. Spend some time here then walk around the island and see everything for yourself.

If you've enjoyed a day-trip to Lundy, you may want to return again for a holiday in one of the delightful self-catering island properties. You can stay in the Old Light House at the island's highest point, or the mediaeval castle built in the 13th century. Larger parties may be interested in renting one of the bigger properties, sleeping up to 14 people. Whichever you choose you will enjoy the unique experience that only Lundy can offer.

We are grateful to the island's administrators, the Landmark Trust, for permission to use the drawings on this page, which originally featured in the island's own magazine, The Illustrated Lundy News.