Peninnis Lighthouse
ISLES OF SCILLY
Outstandingly beautiful | Uncrowded and unspoilt | Gentle pace of life Great for island hopping | Fun on and in the water | Food , glorious food
There are few better places to escape than the enchanting Isles of Scilly which float just off the Cornish coast . Yes , this archipelago may be a hop , skip and a jump from the UK mainland , but it is a world apart in every way . Everything looks and feels quite different , simpler , kinder , more innocent . Life moves at an easier pace , so hop on over for a magical experience and the purist of island escapes .
With only five inhabited islands , the other 140 or so more are home to wildlife and seabirds . Some are popular day tripper haunts , while others rarely see a human footprint .
St Mary ’ s is the largest island and stepping stone to the rest . Hugh Town is its central hub with a cluster of shops , cafés , restaurants and pubs as well as a museum and three nearby beaches - Porthcressa , Town Beach and Porthmellon . Old Town is the other “ major ” settlement boasting a noteworthy beach , nature reserve , pub and cafés .
Subtropical Tresco has a little bit of everything - from dramatic rocky outcrops , Bronze Age burial sites and romantic castle ruins , to secluded sandy beaches and world-famous Abbey Garden .
Beach lovers should castaway to St Martin ’ s . Just two miles long , it has some of the finest stretches of sands in the British Isles , if not the world .
St Agnes , Britain ’ s most south-westerly outpost , is totally untamed and astonishingly peaceful . Strewn with paradise beaches and an inland patchwork of flower fields , it ’ s also joined to its closest neighbour , Gugh by a sand bar at low tide .
Bryher , the smallest of the inhabited islands , is a rugged island of vibrant contrasts . Explore its rocky coves , laze on white sandy beaches or hike up the small granite hills for far-reaching views .
From shipwreck treasure and burial chambers to deserted villages , these isles have bucket loads of history . Watersport enthusiasts can hire a kayak , SUP or boat and experience close-up the amazing aquatic environment , while landlubbers can comb the seashore , stroll coastal paths , hire a bike , and gaze at swooping seabirds or seals in the surf .
Tantalise your tastebuds with the catch of the day or tender islander beef , tuck into a handmade ice cream , sink a locally brewed ale and raise a glass of St Agnes gin or Scilly wine . It ’ s fair to say the local fare represents the ultimate in slow food and low food miles !
Whatever takes your fancy , you ’ ll relish this stunning location and the mildest climate in the UK .
BRYHER
5 Hell Bay
4
ST MARTIN ’ S
New Grimsby
Higher Town
5 TRESCO Abbey Garden
St Mary ’ s Isles of Scilly
Hugh Terminal
ST MARY ’ S Town Porthmellon Beach
Airport
2 3 1 Garrison Old Town
Town Beach
Porthcressa
Saint Agnes ST AGNES
1 Bell Rock , Crebinick House & St Mary ’ s Hall
2 Star Castle & Tregarthen ’ s 3 The Atlantic Inn & Schooners
Penzance 2 hour 40 mins
ISLES OF SCILLY
4 Karma 5 New Inn 6 Hell Bay
See page 7 for Travel information
76 ISLES OF SCILLY visit your local travel agent or call 08444 937 777