With its turquoise seas, white sandy beaches and palm trees, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in the Caribbean rather than an archipelago just off the coast of Britain
A group of uncrowded and unspoilt, subtropical islands only a 20 minute flight from the UK mainland offer tourists stunning beaches as well as water sports, abundant wildlife and archaeological sites.
There’s no need to travel a million miles to enjoy peace and tranquility on a sugar-fine, white sandy beach that stretches for miles with crystal clear, idyllic waters lapping onto shore. That’s because there’s an archipelago just off the British coast that can cater to holidaymakers in search of an unforgettable experience that has been dubbed the UK’s answer to the Maldives.
Although you won’t experience the scorching weather of the Caribbean, the Isles of Scilly, which lie just off the coast of Cornwall, are the mildest place in Britain thanks to the higher winter temperatures and there is rarely snow or frost. The summers are comfortable and well suited to families with small children and for enjoying activities like hiking.
The best time to visit for warmer weather is mid-May to September but the winters can make for a spectacular break too thanks to the awesome scenery and sedate pace of life the islands have to offer. They are easily reached all year round with a short 20 minute flight from Land’s End Airport. There are five main islands and some uninhabited ones to travel around and each offers something unique.
St Mary’s is the largest but is still only around six square miles in area. There is a small collection of shops, churches, cafés, galleries, restaurants and pubs to enjoy and beautiful deserted beaches, rocky coves as well as a nature reserve and breathtaking coastal walks. For history fans there are fascinating archaeological sites to explore and it’s also where former Prime Minister Sir Harold Wilson is buried.
Privately owned Tresco is the second largest and has secluded sandy beaches and dramatic rugged coastlines. It is also home to bronze age burial sites and romantic castle ruins. The famous Tresco Abbey Garden is located on this island and hosts a rare collection of over 20,000 exotic plants from all over the world, many of which can’t be grown anywhere else in the UK. Watersport fanatics can get their kicks at the sailing club and the accommodation and restaurants ooze sophistication.
The crystal clear waters of St Martin’s, which is just two miles long, is perfect for chilling on some of the best beaches in Britain, where you can also spot colonies of seals just off the shore. The dive school offers underwater adventures and snorkelling where you may just be joined by some of the curious sea creatures.
The outstandingly peaceful island of St Agnes is only around a mile wide but offers a completely unspoilt and untamed landscape on the most south-westerly edge of the islands. Bryher is similarly rugged with one side of the island thrashed by the Atlantic waters while the other has calm, sandy beaches. The award winning Hell Bay hotel is located here for those looking for pure luxury and it’s the setting of the film When the Whales Came, based on Michael Morpurgo's novel which was inspired by the island. It is also possible to visit some of the 140 or so uninhabited islands and have one all to yourself - the only companions being the wildlife and many seabirds which you can also marvel at from the sea on a boat trip.
With a population of just 2,300 as of 2023, the Isles of Scilly offer total tranquillity, with no danger of fighting for space as you try to relax on the white sand. The islanders are naturally laid back and life is lived at a much slower pace, with very few cars on the roads.
The Scilly tourist board sums the place up perfectly: "A natural wonder, like a cluster of precious ocean jewels, where nature thrives and the soul is inspired. Everything looks and feels quite different on Scilly - simpler, kinder, more innocent. Life moves at an easier pace."