The Isles of Scilly are a group
of islands off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula and
are designated an Area of Outstanding Beauty. There are 5 inhabited
islands and many other uninhabited islands. Life goes at a slower
pace here. White sandy beaches, natural landscapes, bird watching,
sailing, surfing, watersports and the gardens.
Travel to the Isles of Scilly by Sea or Air - http://www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk/
The Inhabited Islands:
St. Mary's Island
The largest and main island with air and sea links to and from the
mainland, shops, galleries, churches, beaches, walking. cycling,
sailing, boat trips, nature trails.
Isles of Scilly Museum – http://www.iosmuseum.org/
Material from shipwrecks, wild flower display (during the summer
months); Romano-British artefacts; stuffed birds; local art and
much more.
Bant's Carn
Bronze Age burial mound
Porth Hellick Down Burial Chamber
Bronze Age with visable burial chamber.
Innisidgen Burial Chambers
Two Bronze Age burial cairns.
Civil War Fortifications
Old Town Church
Former Prime Minister Harold Wilson is buried there.
Halangy Down Settlement
Iron Age village
Peninnis Lighthouse
Small automatic lighthouse dating from 1911.
Beaches on St. Mary's Island:
Pelistry Beach
Sandy beach, café five-minute walk away. Explore Toll's Island
at low water. (Swimming is not safe when the Bar is covered).
Porthcressa Beach
Sandy promenade with visitor facilities nearby. Safe cove for mooring,
windsurfing, swimming, paddling. Rocky outcrops for snorkelling.
Town Beach
Close to shops & services.
Porthlow
Good for rock pooling.
Tresco Island
Grocery store, deli, post office, pub, heliport, gallery, beaches
and Tresco Abbey Garden.
Old Blockhouse
Remains of a small 16th century gun tower.
King Charles' Castle
Ruins of a mid 16th century coastal artillery fort. Reached from
New Grimsby by footpath.
Tresco Abbey Garden - http://www.tresco.co.uk/see/abbey-garden/
The gardens and house were created in 1834 by Augustus Smith. Sub-tropical
gardens, approx. 20,000 plants and has the unique Valhalla collection
of shipwrecked figureheads.
Beaches on Tresco Island:
Rushy Porth Beach
Sandy beach, framed by the 16th Blockhouse and Lizard Point. Views
of St. Helens and Tean.
Appletree Bay
Fine sandy beach. Abbey Garden is close by, good for windsurfer's
if blowing a southerly wind.
Pentle Bay
Long sandy beach, safe for swimming.
St. Martins Island
The Island is approx. 2 miles long, with sandy beaches, the south
side of the island has many rock pools, the north side has steep
cliffs. There is a hotel, a bakery, gift shop, post office, general
store, cafes, arts and craft galleries and a pub.
Beaches on St. Martins Island:
Lawrence's Beach
Sandy beach ideal for families, at low tide there are rock pools.
St. Martin's Flats and soft dunes to protect you from the wind.
The beach stretches from Lower Town to Higher Town.
Par Beach
White sandy crescent beach at Higher Town. Good family beach with
safe swimming, long grasses
Great Bay Beach
Vast expanse of remote sandy beach on the north side of the island.
St. Agnes Island
Has a sea-front pub, fish restaurant, cafe's, post office and grocery
store. Farms sell milk, eggs, meat, organic vegetables.
Beaches on St. Agnes Island:
The Bar Beach
This sheltered beach separates St. Agnes from the Island of Gugh.
There is a café and pub nearby. (Swimming is not safe when
the Bar is covered).
Covean Beach
At the end of a green path is this cove, ideal for snorkelling
as it is teaming with marine life.
Periglis Beach
Fishermen still land their catch here, from here you can see Annet
Island, the Bishop Rock lighthouse, the old lifeboat slip (once
the longest in the UK).
Bryher Island
The smallest inhabited island, There is a shop, post-office, cafe,
a licenced restaurant and the smallest pub in the islands.
Beaches on Bryher Island:
Green Bay
Idyllic spot to relax or launch a boat from here in the calm waters.
Great Par Beach
Good sandy family beach.
Rushy Bay Beach
Beach, also good for very low water dinghy landings.
Some of the Uninhabited Islands:
Annet Island
Has a large bird community that include Puffin and Auk.
Bishop Rock
Bishop Rock Lighthouse - http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/
Completed in September 1858, the tower was later strengthen and
the elevation increased by 12m. in 1887. Converted to automatic
operation in 1991, the last keepers left in December 1992.
Tean
Remains of early Christian chapel.
St. Helen's
Remains of early Christian chapels
Round Island
The most northerly of the islands, 40m mass of granite has the
Round Island Lighthouse on it which was built in 1887, it was
automated in 1987.
Samson
The largest of these islands is a protected wildlife site
Eastern Isles
Seal and peregrine falcons can be found here.
Events on the Islands:
WalkScilly held in April
Folk Festival held in Aprill
World Pilot Gig Championships - http://www.worldgigs.co.uk/
3 day annual event held in May, crews from Cornwall and around
the world compete for the title of World Champions.
Isles of Scilly Tourist Information Office - http://www.simplyscilly.co.uk/
