Caldey Island, a historic holy island off the south Pembrokeshire coast near Tenby, has announced it will close for the remainder of the 2026 season due to a “particularly challenging” weather forecast for October.
The island’s team shared the news on social media on Wednesday, thanking visitors and noting that summer 2026 had been a record-breaking season.
Difficult decision to close early
The post read: “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,” it added.
The team also thanked everyone who visited, whether for a day trip, a retreat, through the online shop, or by following the island’s journey from afar.
Record-breaking season
The post highlighted that the island was open for 64 days in a row throughout July and August, described as “the longest consecutive run in Caldey’s history”.
It added: “As always we will keep you all updated on island life throughout the winter, along with some new social media content too! (Watch this space)”
“Thank you for a wonderful season. We look forward to seeing you all again in 2027.”
October weather outlook
According to the Met Office UK long range forecast for October 5 to October 14, southern parts of the UK will likely be under the influence of high pressure for the first few days, bringing dry weather with chilly nights and overnight and morning fog in places.
The forecast said: “Broadly changeable weather patterns look to continue through mid-month, with ridges of high pressure extending from the southwest, interspersed by Atlantic frontal systems.”
“These could be associated with quite deep and fast-moving depressions, bringing the potential for windy weather more widely, again most likely in the north. Temperatures probably near or slightly above normal overall, with day to day variations.”
For October 15 to October 29, the forecast stated that the second half of the month would maintain a “changeable pattern overall”, with the wettest and windiest weather “more likely in the west and northwest, and relatively drier conditions more likely towards the south and east”.
The forecast continued: “With a westerly type considered most likely, this would support temperatures remaining close to or a little above average overall. However, there is a chance that more slowly evolving weather patterns develop, which could either lead to longer drier spells more widely or rainfall accumulating in climatologically drier areas.”
