Lundy Island Shopping

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My Island only has one shop but what a shop it is. Whether you need basic household necessities such as wine and beer (and even corkscrews) or more exotic stuff such as bread and milk you'll find it here. The saggingly-laden shelves don't hold a lot of anything, merely a bit of everything (and there's plenty more stock upstairs).

You can get Island souvenirs such as pewter beer mugs or Marisco Tavern T-shirts - "Lundy Pub Of The Year...Every Year Since 1868", wooden jigsaw puzzles, ornamental puffins, guidebooks and recipe books (yep there is a recipe book based on the shop's stock items), postcards and stamps (we issue our own "Puffin Stamps") and much, much more.

All the basic food items are here from cornflakes to crackers as well as a host of exotics such as basmati rice and naan breads, reggae reggae jerk sauce and coconut milk, Chinese noodles and soy sauce...the list is almost endless.

Fresh and frozen produce included my Island's own eggs, sausages and lamb plus localishly-sourced fresh vegetables and cheeses (some of the latter come from as far away as Somerset!) and yesterday saw the arrival of the first of the new potatoes from Cornwall.

Practical items include wind-up torches for when the lights go out, pens, pencils and stationery, soaps, shampoos and suntan lotion, kindling and furnacite for your stove (along with matches and lighters), Lundy-branded outdoor gear - guaranteed water and wind-proof...

Then there's my favourite corner with a decent selection of mineral waters from all over the globe and passed personally by Nigel, the slightly-eccentric (slightly?? HA!) shop manager who is ably assisted by the charming Patrizia and Reg the amiable Postmaster.

What to buy: If its not in stock and you're staying a while then Nigel will be more than happy to source it for you with one exception - shoelaces!! "Too many different types to hold in stock and I have to buy them in bulk." He explains, "But we do have string!"

Such is life - at least he holds a plentiful supply of Banrock Station Shiraz Matero and some bloody good coffee.

What to pay: Whatever you want and you don't even need cash - you simply put everything on a tab and swim to the mainland when you leave.

The island shop is the other hub of Lundy, selling groceries to residents and souvenirs to visitors. Souvenirs to look out for include Lundy stamps and coins, postcards and t-shirts. another popular thing to buy is a "letterboxing" pack...letterboxing is a unique Lundy activity mainly aimed at children, which involves hunting down a few dozen boxes hidden around the island with the help of a set of clues and a compass. You also buy a rubber stamp and an inkpad, so when you find the boxes, you can leave your mark in the logbook, as well as stamp your sheet with the box's special stamp. It sounds like a good way to see more of the island, as this gets you well off the main paths.

For those staying on the island, the grocery aisle is fairly small, but it is fairly well stocked with all the basics as well as a few more unusual items like Thai green curry paste and hummus that you wouldn't expect to necessarily find in a tiny shop on a tiny island. Once you've booked to stay on Lundy, you'll be sent an order form from the shop so they can arrange for whatever you want to be shipped in (within reason!)...it would be helpful if they also provided a list of what they do stock to give you an idea, but you can still bank on being able to buy enough for three meals a day by just turning up.

Look out for notices in the window about boat trips, guided walks, snorkel safaris and wildlife talks.

Shop opening hours change from day to day. It tends to stay open while daytrippers are here, but on other days, it will only open for a couple of hours in the morning, as well as an hour on a Saturday evening when new guests arrive.

What to pay: Prices are more expensive than on the mainland, because of course everything has to be shipped in and carried up the hill, but amazingly prices weren't ridiculous. In fact, the wine selection was better and cheaper than my local supermarket, with bottles from £4. You'll probably want to still go for a shop on the mainland before setting sail...there's a big Tesco in Ilfracombe, and a Safeway in Bideford...but don't get carried away, as luggage allowance is limited!

If you're staying on Lundy, you can set up a tab to avoid having to use cash on the island, paying by credit/debit card at the end of your stay. This is a separate tab to the one at the Marisco Tavern...don't forget that, or you'll have a nasty shock when you end up with two huge bills to pay instead of just one!