An exotic holiday on our doorstep
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Air travel is becoming less and less attractive to British tourists. The size of their carbon footprint troubles the eco-conscious, while the rest of us are filled with dread at the prospect of being stuck in a British airport for any period of time (and rightly so, given the scenes at Heathrow Terminal 5 last week).
But how can you avoid the plane without having to spend days getting to your destination? Well, the Scilly Isles have plenty to offer a traveller, and all without going anywhere near a runway. With white, sandy beaches, a sub-tropical climate and great restaurants you could be mistaken for thinking you’re in the Caribbean, when you are in fact 28 miles west of Land’s End.
To get to the Scilly Isles you simply take a train to Penzance and then it’s a three-hour ferry crossing to St Mary’s – the largest island. A regular boat service operates between the five inhabited islands. With the largest island being just three miles by two miles, they are all best explored on foot.
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One of the real treats on the islands is the Tresco Abbey Gardens. These were created around the ruins of a 12th-century abbey and are now home to over 4,000 plant species. For a bit of history, visit Old Town Church in St Mary’s, where the former prime minister Harold Wilson is buried. There’s plenty to explore offshore as well. For a guided tour, head out to sea with Island Sea Safari (01720-422732) to “search for shipwrecks, seals and seabirds”, says Deborah King in The Daily Telegraph.
After an active day, Tean Restaurant on St Martin’s is a great place to unwind. In January it “became the most far-flung restaurant in the UK to hold a Michelin star”, reports The Guardian. If you plan on really exploring the menu, it might be worth booking a room in the attached St. Martin's on the Isle hotel (01720-422090). But be warned, given the restaurant’s recent glowing press coverage, “it would be wise to book when you arrange your holiday”, says Simon Heptinstall in The Mail on Sunday.
Another option is to stay in Hell. Don’t let the name put you off: this is “Hell Bay, to be precise – an elegant hotel on the island of Bryher, offering a real feeling of escape”, says Annabelle Thorpe in the Sunday Express. For an added touch of escapism, you can indulge your inner James Bond by arranging to arrive by helicopter (www.hellbay.co.uk; 01720-422947).
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