A TINY island off the coast of the UK has closed earlier than expected amid fears of incoming bad weather conditions.
Caldey Island is a short, 20-minute boat ride from Tenby in Wales, with just 40 people living there.
However, in the summer months, tourists flock to the island when it reopens from Easter to the end of October.
Yet the island has since stopped boats almost a month early, citing upcoming weather concerns including high pressure and fog.
The island, owned by a group on monks, explained on social media: “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close Caldey Island for the remainder of the 2026 season.
“With the weather forecast for October looking particularly challenging, we feel it is the right decision to bring the season to a close a little earlier than usual.”
They added that it had been a “record-breaking season,” having been open for 64 days in a row from July to August.
The island will now stay closed until next year, likely opening in spring 2027.
But if you are planning your trip there next year, there is lots to do for a day trip to the ‘paradise’ island.
It is one of the UK’s holy islands, having been owned by monks for more than 1,500 years.
Priory Bay is the beach that is open to tourists, with the golden sands often devoid of crowds.
The island also has a chocolate factory to explore, along with a cafe, tea garden and gift shop.
Along with five walking trails (where you can spot rare red squirrels), a playground and a lighthouse attraction, a new Visitor Centre is also set to open.
If you want to stay, there are three options – St Philomena’s, with full-board stays costing £75pp and St Teilo’s cottage which is £65 a night.
Otherwise there are some rooms in the Monastic Guesthouse, which is only for men, and must work with assisting the monks.
To visit the island, it costs £24.95 for adults and £12.95 for kids, with reduced rates for seniors and families.