Holiday idea – paradise islands within the UK

In the current pandemic, many people are looking to take a holiday in the UK.

One of the most beautiful places for a British vacation is the Isles of Scilly.

Just 28 miles off the south-western tip of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly are a collection of tiny islands, of which five are inhabited.

With a generally very mild climate, they offer stunning views, amazing wildlife and a chance to get away from it all – while still being in the British Isles.

I’ve just come back from my eighth trip there, and thoroughly recommend it.

How to get there

You can fly via helicopter from Penzance or plane from Exeter, Newquay or St Just (Land’s End). Or you can travel by the regular ferry from Penzance – which is a two hour trip.

Stay duration

Many people go to the Scilly Isles for a day trip, but you only get a few hours to enjoy what many people spend a week exploring.

Where to stay

There are many hotels, hostels and self-catering accommodation.

What to do once you get there

There are a whole host of attractions for the tourist. But one of the basic staples is to simply visit the main islands one-by-one. There is a superb boat service based on the largest island, St Mary’s. Each day, weather permitting, you can take the boat to a different island and enjoy roaming around, enjoying the views. Each island is different and offers many attractions for visitors. Tresco has a stunning tropical garden. St Martins has amazing long sandy beaches. St Agnes has incredible rock formations. Bryher is a wonderful small community island. St Mary’s offers many attractions and a lot of opportunities for nice walks.

The islands are particularly “dog friendly”. They are famous for bird watching, since many rare migrating birds stop here. There are plenty of opportunities for water-based hobbies such as fishing and kayaking.

Covid precautions

All the islands have adapted very quickly to the Covid crisis, and there were the full suite of precautions when we visited in September 2020.

A gentle word of warning

Being stuck out in the Atlantic, the islands are quite weather-dependent. When the weather is warm and sunny, there is nowhere better than the Scilly islands. But when it is rough and stormy, ferry crossings can be uncomfortable. Ships, planes and helicopters can get postponed for days. Staple provisions such as fresh milk, bread and newspapers can run out. However, most people see that as part of the fun – part of getting away from it all. Even when the waves are tossing and turning, the Isles of Scilly offer stunning views and a sense of being at the end of the country – next stop America!

I should mention that I received no benefits for writing this review. I paid entirely for my own holiday.

You can get full details about the Isles of Scilly from the “Visit Isles of Scilly” website by clicking on the link below:

https://www.visitislesofscilly.com