We plan to walk the six miles round trip to the northern point of the island today. We pack a picnic of home made sandwiches and biscuits, Pringles and chocolate from the shop.

Andrew and I take the track up the middle of the island as the lady in the shop tells me that the ponies were seen there early this morning by the farming lads. We find them about halfway across the island, they are really friendly and are being fed by a young girl and her 2 children. The bay in the photo is really naughty and is into nudging you fairly hard if you stop paying him attention. There are 2 pregnant ponies here a grey and another bay. We watch them all and fuss the bay who is beginning to be a nuisance, all of a sudden there is a tremendous noise as a helicopter flies low across the island, the ponies take fright and stampede. They are heading towards the far side of the island and I am concerned about the pregnant 2 as they all look terrified.

We continued our walk passing the Admiralty Lookout {I had a look in through the open front door as walked by, it does look cosy, but is too isolated] Eventually we reached the other side of the island and sat down to eat lunch with the sea and the lighthouse in front of us, not a bad spot for a picnic. Bernie, Jennifer, Jack and Nick followed the east coast route, the hardest walk as Nick puts it. They explored the Old hospital ruins and saw some seals bobbing around. They joined us at the top - Nick complaining of starving - should have carried his own dinner then I told him as I passed his over.

Jack is turning over every rock in the vicinity looking for insects and beasties, Nick goes to help while Jennifer and I light up again and just enjoy the view. From here at the top of the cliff we can see Milford haven docks, bringing back memories of the West Blockhouse near there, another Landmark Trust place we have stayed at.

Andrew and Jack descended the cliff path to the beach to explore and found some more seals only about 10 feet out, now I wish I'd gone with them!  Nick and Bernie went to the lighthouse to observe solar panels that Nick is obsessed by.  Jennifer and I lie and relax in the sun and let the world go by.

When the others rejoined us we started to make tracks for base, we found the ponies up by the Lookout and wander round the hospital ruins, there are lots of sheep on the island, probably why no dogs are allowed here, except the sheepdogs that live and work on the island. The rhododendrons are ablaze in the sunshine - huge clumps of them are scattered on the rock faces they really brighten up the place.

As we reached base Jenny and Bernie are fiddling with their amateur radio stuff, apparently trying to set up a station where they can chat to their friends in Cambridge, Nick trots off to help. For those of us not into these matters there is a wonderful sunset to watch, with a nice warm pub for dinner and beer.  Back to base to play Scruples, card games and drink a bit more it's amazing what fun you can have when you have to make your own entertainment instead of sitting in front of the box.