Now that the travel restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic are well behind us, people are again getting back into the swing of looking for luxurious holiday destinations and beautiful islands all over the world. But while the islands of Sardinia and Barbados look like paradise on Earth, there are actually islands not that far away which you could be forgiven for thinking belong in the Caribbean.
Of course, there are many beauty spots and beaches to enjoy within Wales itself (you can find our pick of the best beaches in Wales here and there's this tiny beach with a 'world class' pub well worth a visit) but if you want to go that bit further afield without travelling to the other side of the world, there are some real gems that could make for a perfect short break or summer holiday.
Scilly Isles
The Isles of Scilly are a cluster of islands lying 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall. One of those islands, St Agnes, is the most southerly point in Britain. The total population of the islands is around 2,200 people, and tourism makes up around 85% of the islands’ income.
One person called the islands “paradise” on Tripadvisor. They wrote: “The Scillies truly are idyllic. Quiet, ‘everyone-knows-everyone’ island life against a backdrop of Caribbean-coloured (but not temperature!) sea, white sandy beaches and tropical flowers.”
Featuring white sands, some of the UK's best beaches and an all-round slower pace of life, the Scilly Isles has loads of outdoor options for couples and families, including water sports and boat trips and a range of places to stay. Scilly is home to more than 35 beaches scattered across the archipelago. Pentle Bay, on the eastern coast of the island of Tresco, has been named one of Britain's (and the world's) most beautiful beaches, with its sand dunes and turquoise waters. You can find out more here.
Distance to Cardiff: 174 miles
Jersey
The largest of the Channel Islands, Jersey is 14 miles from the French coast and 85 miles south of the English coast. It’s full of pubs, landmarks and stunning beaches. One Tripadvisor reviewer said of St Brelade’s Bay on the island: “Better than the Caribbean. Without any doubt the best beach I’ve been to in years. The sand is so fine and picturesque.”
Distance to Cardiff: 230 miles
Sark
Referred to as the ‘crown jewel of the Channel Islands’, Sark is one of the smallest islands around the UK with a population of around 600 people. But according to travel website Holiday Extras, “what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in raw, rugged beauty as well as its unique historical standing”.
The island has its own parliament and its own laws, and is popular with cyclists because cars are in fact banned. It’s also popular with walkers and people who love flowers, who can enjoy the beauty on offer at La Seigneurie Gardens.
Distance to Cardiff: 146 miles
Hayling Island
Hayling Island sits off England’s south coast, just east of Portsmouth. According to the Visit Hampshire website, it “combines all the attractions of a traditional seaside holiday with excellent sporting and leisure facilities”, and has “miles of unspoilt coastline and countryside”. The island is home to an amusement park and holiday centres, and has been a popular resort for the best part of 100 years.
Distance to Cardiff: 158 miles
The Pembrokeshire Islands
Of course, if you fancy staying in Wales, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to islands. Skomer, Skokholm, and Grassholm are a trio of islands off the coast of southern Pembrokeshire. Skomer has a thriving puffin population, Skokholm is famous for its bird watching observatory and wildlife, while Grassholm is the westernmost point of Wales. One reviewer on Tripadvisor said of Skomer: “The island is absolutely beautiful. The bird life is spectacular, and the photo opps innumerable - particularly with the poser-puffins which are most co-operative and photogenic.”
Another visitor wrote: “Absolutely superb - add it to your bucket list!”
Distance from Cardiff: 93 miles
Read next:
- Weather set to change as Wales could be battered by winds in coming days
- Successful bid to save village pub after Hollywood backing
- The shoddy and shocking work carried out by a rogue trader
- I took a trip on Wales' most scenic train journey and it was an absolute bargain
- Closure of historic branch will leave Welsh community without a bank
