There are a number of small dwellings and fishing huts on the islets. It has been largely uninhabited except for an eccentric hermit who decided to live there back in the seventies but now the few houses are just used by their owners for weekend lunches and quiet solitude on balmy summer evenings.
Having checked the weather forecast and boat availability a few days ago, we found that we were in luck on both counts and made our way out to St Catherine's breakwater for a mid morning departure. We donned protective coats and life jackets and then our rib, with its dozen passengers and two crew set off at some speed for the 15 minute journey across the water creating spray and screams in equal measure!
We arrived at the reef just after high water and spent a couple of hours scrambling over the rocks, walking along the pebbley shoreline and exploring the narrow paths between the small, compact houses. A picnic lunch was taken in a warm sunny spot with a view of turquoise blue waters, the French Coast in the distance and only the calls of arctic tern and oystercatchers to interrupt the silence.
All too soon it was time to return to the mainland but not before our crew had taken us to a favourite haunt of a number of Atlantic grey seals which were duly spotted swimming amongst the rocks.
All in all, a fabulous day out.
