St. George's or Looe Island
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Sisters' island dream
Back in 1965 sisters Babs and Evelyn Atkins dreamed of owning their
own island and had the determination to achieve that dream. The island
in question lies about one mile off the south Cornwall coast near Looe
- it is of outstanding natural beauty, of 22.5 acres in area and one mile
in circumfrence. The highest point is 150 feet above sea level.. The island
has magnificent sea and coastal viewsstretching from Prawle Point in Devon
to the Lizard Peninsula. With frost and snow virtually unknown it has
an exceptionally mild climate. Daffodils bloom at Christmas and, unlike
most small islands, it is partly wooded. A natural sanctuary for sea and
woodland birds and one time haunt to smugglers, its known history includes
a Benedictine chapel built in 1139 of which only a few stones remain visible.
Legend has it that Joseph of Arimethea landed here with the child Christ.
The island is normally only accessible by boat but on just one or two
days a year there is usually a tide low enough for the journey to be made
by foot across the rocky sea floor - you need expert help to make the
journey by the shortest and easiest route and there's no time to linger
before the tide rushes in again.
Miss Evelyn Atkins wrote two books about the purchase of the island
and what it is like to live there (see below for details). She died in
1997 at the age of 87 but her sister Babs has continued to live on the
island.
The island is open to day visitors (landing fee payable) in the Summer.
This is a non-profit making venture, the landing fees and other income
being devoted to conserving the island's natural beauty and to providing
facilities for visitors without commercialising it in any way. There are
no roads, no shops and no traffic. There is safe bathing, fishing, two
beaches, a natural rock swimming pool, rocky coves, caves and woodland
walks. Island crafts and copies of the two books are on sale for the Island
Conservation Fund. The books are also obtainable by post (from: The Craft
Centre, St.George's Island, Looe, Cornwall, PL13 2AB).
In Summer, volunteers undertake projects on the island. These are encouraged
by the National Trust and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
and have been featured in various radio and television programmes and
in the regional and national Press. These voluntary working holidays are
self-catering and are suitable for families, students and active OAPs.
There is accommodation for up to four helpers in a chalet. Send S.A.E
for details and application form. This is an ideal and unique chance to
enjoy the simple life in beautiful surroundings AWAY FROM IT ALL. Many
regular visitors, helpers and children enjoy joining in with island life
and their help is very welcome. Obviously on a small island one cannot
expect the modern facilities of the mainland. The owner (Miss Atkins)
subsidises the project heavily and without this, the voluntary help and
donations from well-wishers from all parts of the World, it would not
be possible to open the island to visitors at all.
Our thanks to the late Miss Babs Atkins for the above
information
Looe Island's Future Secured
83 year old Miss Babs Atkins, owner of Looe Island, has announced that
she is to leave the island to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust which will preserve
it as a nature reserve. Miss Atkins and her sister Evelyn bought the 22
acre island which lies one mile off the Cornish coast in 1965. The island
has an exceptionally mild climate and in calm summer weather is an idyllic
paradise, but in winter it can be lashed by wild storms and cut-off from
the mainland for days or even weeks. Evelyn Atkins, who died in 1997 aged
87, wrote two books about their life on Looe Island (its proper name is
St.George's island) which are fascinating and inspiring accounts of island
life, its woes and rewards - We bought an Island (1976) and its
sequel Tales from our Cornish Island (1986 Harrap) have both been
reprinted recently and are readily available on sale from the Craft Centre
on the Island and from bookshops and souvenir shops in Looe and Polperro.
The doughty ladies lived full-time on the island ever since acquiring
it. In summer it can be a balmy paradise, but in winter things are very
different, with wild storms, sea spray sometimes going right over the
island. Sometimes the boatman who is the island's lifeline is unable to
approach the island or to land for days or even weeks. When the ladies
first moved to the island, one was a teacher in Looe and had to stay on
the mainland during the week and could only go to the island at weekends
- and sometimes not then. Her sister Babs lived entirely alone on the
island at these times and for some time there was no method of communicating
other than flags and hand-signals. These days the ubiquitous mobile phone
enables an ease of communication un-dreamt of in their early days.
| End
of an Era We are sad to say that at the age of 86 Miss Babs Atkins has died. She lived for 40 years on the small island she and her sister purchased as the fulfillment of a dream in the 1960s. In her later years especially she demonstrated how strong she was by continuing to live on the island even after her sister Evelyn had died. Living full time on an island on your own (though she often had visitors and volunteers in the summer months) requires exceptional will power and an ability to do without many of the luxuries and amenities that most of us take for granted. It is an indication of the uniqueness of the sisters' achievement that her passing should have been marked by an obituary in The Times. Bob Tarr, webmaster, April 2004 |
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The Looe Island Story
The Looe Island Story is the first fully illustrated history of
one of Cornwall’s most beautiful and mysterious islands. Once part
of a monastic settlement, St. George’s or Looe Island is today owned
by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Author Mike Dunn traces its history
from earliest times, delving into the mysterious stories of past inhabitants
and their smuggling activities in the 18th and 19th centuries. There
are chapters devoted to the famous Atkins sisters who owned the island
for nearly 40 years until recently, as well as shipwrecks, caves and
the island’s flora and fauna. In addition, there is a detailed guide
to the island for the many visitors who now come to enjoy its unique
setting and historic past. The book contains more than 50 illustrations,
many in colour, and Sir John Trelawny, whose family owned Looe Island
for many years, contributes a foreword. An Illustrated History of St. George’s Island by Mike Dunn Published March 2005 Price: £7.95 Paperback - Illustrated Available from local bookshops or online - click here (Also visit Polperro Heritage Press for more books of local interest) |
Visiting the Island
Now the island is run as a nature sanctuary by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust there is in the summer months only a ferry service, weather and tides permitting, by the vessel The Islander, acquired by the Trust for this purpose and which has a lowering ramp making landing on the island much easier than previously (we believe that depending on extent of a person's disabilty, the new vessel makes access to the island possible for some disabled people - please enquire and check before booking a trip). Please see the sign on West Looe town quay where The Islander is moored or ask at the Tourist Information Office in East Looe for times, fares, landing fees etc.
A souvenir of a visit to Looe Island
In late summer 2000 two visitors from Victoria, British Columbia, British emigrants Ken and Pat Andrews, visited the island. Here are their 'snaps' and impressions:
"We were so lucky to be able to get over to the island and really enjoyed every minute of our trip. The boat ride was smooth, the sun was shining and we were given a warm welcome. The island lived up to every thing we had hoped it would be. It is beautiful, wild, unspoiled and left us with a great feeling of calm and peace.
"Miss Atkins was delightful, telling us stories of things that had been washed up on the beach and some of the history of the island. The couple living there with her are a Mr. & Mrs. Ravine, (in their own cottage and with 3 little dogs). They greeted us on the beach and guided us up to Miss Atkins house. The little shop had many interesting things for sale, including both the books written by Evelyn. We were there a couple of hours and walked up to the top where the few remaining bricks of an old chapel were to be seen. It was a memorable trip, and enjoyed by us all."
All photographs below are by Ken and Pat Andrews ©2000
 Approaching the beach - landing stage being rolled out |
 Palms trees confirm island's mild climate |
 Pat Andrews meets Miss Atkins |
 Miss Babs Atkins in her garden |
 Island Boatman Dave Gardner tells visitors a story |
 Looe Island's unmistakable shape |
 Visitors Pat and Ken Andrews well pleased with their trip |
 Miss Babs Atkins - Mistress of Looe Island |
This information prepared for web page 25 September and 17 December 2000. Latest update - 29 June 2009.
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