Steep Holm

Steep Holm is a privately owned island in the Bristol Channel, in Somerset, England. It is formed of carboniferous limestone, often described as geolocgically an extension of the Mendip Hills at Brean Down. It is now unpopulated, with the exception of the wardens, and is protected as a nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest for its amazing, May flowering, wild peony. A bird sanctuary was settled in 1931 and since 1951 has been hired to charitable trusts. Now it is hold by the Kenneth Allsop Memorial Trust. In spite of its isolation, the island is a rewarding place to visit, with peace and quiet panoramic views of the Bristol Channel and the Somerset and Welsh sides.