Lundy Island faces potential closure due to record-breaking water shortages

The situation is dire

If you were planning a trip to Lundy Island, you might want to hold that thought. The iconic, puffin-filled getaway off the north Devon coast is lowkey at risk of shutting down entirely. After experiencing the hottest and driest summer on record, the island is running out of water, and the vibes are definitely off.

Since April, the island has received barely 20% of its expected rainfall. Managing Director Derek Green explained that reservoir levels hit a concerning low of 13% earlier this season. It’s giving “last resort,” as officials have even started pumping water from wildlife ponds into treatment works just to keep the island functional.

Drastic measures at play

It’s not just a small inconvenience—it’s a logistical nightmare. To keep the 28 residents and visiting tourists going, the island has been relying on emergency water shipments from the mainland via the MS Oldenberg ferry. However, that ferry service is ending later this month, leaving the community in a scramble.

At the local pub, The Tavern, Island Manager Matt Scantlebury has had to take extreme steps: they’ve removed all the bath plugs to prevent guests from soaking, and they’ve even closed the main pub toilets. Guests are now using buckets to shower and flush toilets to save every drop of water possible.

The struggle is real

Getting the shipped water to the top of the island is a whole mission on its own. Because a landslip closed the main track in June, workers have to use a fire hose to pump water up the hill. It’s been a massive effort, and Green admits that closing the island would be absolutely devastating.

Assistant Warden Tara McEvoy-Wilding noted that 2026 has been a major wake-up call, with the island’s landscape looking "brown, sad and crispy." As the climate continues to change, the team is already looking at ways to increase reservoir capacity for the future. For now, they’re just praying for rain to avoid a complete shutdown.

Why it matters

Lundy Island is a self-sufficient ecosystem, and its current crisis highlights how climate change is hitting remote locations first and hardest. With experts predicting even hotter years ahead, the island’s struggle serves as a harsh reality check on water security and adaptation.