Dazzling Isles Of Scilly

Rising out of the Atlantic, nearly thirty miles southwest of Land's End, the Isles of Scilly (Latin for 'Sun Isles') consist of over 100 islands, of which only five are inhabited.

Bathed by the Gulf Stream, famed for its white sand beaches, translucent waters and sub-tropical vegetation, you'll find it hard to believe you're still in the UK.

Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and warmed by the North Atlantic Drift, Scilly has a milder climate than the mainland, creating a haven for many types of flora and fauna. Migrating birds also rest here during their travels, making this an ideal spot for bird watching.

An average of 8 hours of sunshine per day, as well as a lack of urban stress and traffic, give the islands an even greater appeal.

The first settlers arrived from the Cornish mainland over 4000 years ago, constructing settlements, burial chambers and monuments - many of which are still visible today. Must-see atmospheric sites includde 'Bant's Carn' and 'Halangy Down Bronze Age village' on St Mary's island and 'Chapel Down' on St Martin's.

Flower farming is the second largest industry on Scilly, behind tourism. The landscape is consequently home to many picturesque box fields, which are a blaze of colour prior to harvesting. The frost-free climate allows the Narcissi flower to be cultivated much earlier than is possible by mainland growers.

St Mary's

St Mary's is the largest island in the group, and because it's St. Mary's quay from which the Scillonian ferry travels to other islands in the summer season, it's a good starting point.

St Mary's only has nine miles of narrow roads, offering easy walking and cycling. Off the beaten track, there are many nature trails and coastal paths where you can discover the delights of our woodlands, heaths, wetlands, rocky headlands and sand-dunes thick with marram grasses and wild agapanthus flowers from Africa.

The beautiful curve of Old Town Bay with its sheltered beach, village shop, pub and cafes encompasses the tiny Old Church, still lit only by candles for its services.

Accommodation is available in various forms, from hotels in and around Hugh Town, to guest-houses, self-catering and camping - from the traditional to the modern.

Hugh Town, at the hub of daily life, offers the greatest choice, but there are guest-houses and self-catering properties all around the island and on farmland tucked away for those seeking that little extra peace and solitude.

St Martin's

An island of white sands and clear waters, St Martin's boasts some of the best beaches in the British Isles.

Coastal paths drop down to wide expanses of beach, with clear waters offering wonderful opportunities for swimming, snorkelling or simply relaxing. The Eastern Isles and the distant sight of Land's End, offer a dramatic backdrop, to Scilly's most Easterly inhabited island.

This is also a young, vibrant island with a growing reputaion for arts and crafts. There are several art galleries, with sketching, painting and paper making courses available. If cooking takes your fancy, there's an award winning bakery on the island which offers bread baking courses or for the more adventurous, why not try your hand at diving with the local diving school?

Visitors can also take a guided tour of the St Martin's Vineyard and taste some of the island produced wine. The local postal flower company at Churchtown Farm offers a chance to view their busy packing sheds and order gifts of local flowers.

Accommodation on St Martin's includes a first class hotel, which is also the only hotel on the islands which is approved for marriages, a guest house, camp site and self-catering cottages.

Tresco

Here can be found a fine collection of subtropical and exotic plants growing with a luxuriance unknown elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Beyond the garden, along the southward and eastern shoreline are some of the Island's magnificant beaches, and it is here that the visitor can find countless shells, amongst the silky, quartz-coloured sands.

Tresco is rich with evocative names such as Appletree Bay, Tobaccoman's Point and Racket Town. In the Shipwreck Museum at Valhalla in the Abbey Garden, are the figureheads and sternplates from some of the many wrecks around the island. The collection of nearly 60 relics includes brass signal guns, bronze cannons and magnificently restored busts and nameplates.

Tresco is served by a year-round helicopter link with Penzanze and has a sub-post office and general store, two hotels, self-catering and time-share cottages and an Anglican Church.

Bryher

Bryher is the smallest community of the Isles of Scilly and is a peaceful yet spectacular island.

To this island of contrasts, spring brings a profusion of colour with wild flowers such as daffodils and narcissi in every hedgerow and field corner.

In autumn, many migratory birds use Bryher as a resting place and gales frequently lash the western coast making Hell Bay an awe-inspiring sight. The east coast overlooks the sheltered waters of the channel between Bryher and Tresco, where both quays are situated.

At the northern tip, dramatic rock formations sharply punctuate the heathland of Shipman Head Downs, whilst at the southern-most point the small, but beautiful beach known as Rushy Bay looks out towards the uninhabited island of Samson.

One of the best views in all the islands can be found at the top of Watch Hill where islanders many years ago no doubt kept watch for ships in distress or requiring a pilot to guide them up the South Western Approaches often using the Bryher gig 'Czar' which can still be seen racing in the summer, over 120 years after it was built.

St Agnes

The most south-westerly community in the British Isles lies on this tranquil and beautiful island.

Visitors can enjoy a stress-free holiday with the silence only broken by the natural sounds of sea or birds. A footpath follows the deeply indented coastline, revealing beautiful sandy coves, rugged granite outcrops, heath, downland, meadow and a freshwater pool.

This habitat attracts butterflies and moths and is often the first landfall for American vagrants or migrating birds. There is a profusion of wild flowers and lichens, testament to the unpolluted atmosphere and the brilliance of the night stars can be enjoyed on safe and solitary strolls.

St Agnes boasts the most south westerly pub in Great Britain, the Turk's Head, situated right on the quay.

There is a variety of accommodation, in guest houses, self-catering cottages or on the campsite, with its outstanding views to the Bishop Rock Lighthouse and the Western Isles.

Web Links

www.simplyscilly.co.uk

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