Description

Sky’s the limit with this incredible flying opportunity!

The two Holms in the Bristol Channel, Flat Holm and Steep Holm, are the only islands of significant size in the area, until you come to Lundy. Half the fun is getting to them, and both are of communications interest. There is also the romance of their nature reserve and smuggling associations.

There aren’t many experiences that combined the feeling that comes with the freedom of flight, combined this with a close look at both of these wonderful islands.

The islands have been fortified since Napoleonic times, with hundreds of personnel being stationed in barracks. This cannon is on Steep Holm, with “Balmoral” below. The Mendip Hills, Brean Down, and the Holms, are all part of the same undulating formation. To complement the fortifications,  Brean Down also had gun positions. In WW2, these were to protect waiting convoys and deal with  aircraft raiding towns & cities in the area.

Recent publicity has drawn fresh attention to the 60cm railway line. Together with rolling stock, captured in WW1, it was brought out in WW2, and laid to facilitate construction of new fortifications on Steep Holm & Flat Holm, including bringing in more guns. The unusual gauge, 1′ 11½”, is considered to be due to it’s German origin. Here on Steep Holm, the trucks had to climb a 1 in 2/3 gradient, with the aid of a winch – this is now the path used by visitors, to reach the top.

As the two islands have to be visited from different shores, it was no surprise to learn that the the current warden on Flat Holm, had never been  to Steep Holm. Differences and comparisons abound.

Radar and GPS rendered the huge foghorn on the island unnecessary, but the lighthouse has been upgraded with solar power! It is a staggering thought, that Marconi’s visit to this island in 1897 kick-started the world-wide telecommunications revolution.