During the summer months, the West Country is teeming with tourists flocking to our area's stunning coastline. However, some destinations offer visitors more than others, and that's definitely the case with the Scilly Isles.
The archipelago is adorned with beautiful beaches, captivating wildlife, and fascinating historic buildings. The isles are home to around 2,153 people who reside on five inhabited islands: St Mary's, Tresco, St Martin's, Bryher, and St Agnes, with clusters of other uninhabited rocks scattered around these population centers.
The beautiful Isles of Scilly - which has been dubbed the mini-Maldives - can be reached by taking a train from Temple Meads to Exeter and then a short flight from the city. Described as outstandingly beautiful, uncrowded, and unspoiled by the official Isles of Scilly tourism website, the area truly lives up to its reputation.
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While Councillor Steve Simms, the lead member for Economy, Transport & Tourism on the Isles of Scilly Council has said "looks like the Caribbean until you put your toes in the water".
He told the Express that those who visit often become "besotted", by their stunning scenery, with an "awful lot of variation" between each island landscape.
Boasting white sandy beaches, the area also is renowned for its wildlife including: seals, dolphins and, most notably, a Walrus named Wally that occupied a Scilly harbour in 2021.
St. Mary's Island is the largest of the Isles of Scilly and offers a range of accommodation options, from B&Bs to luxury hotels. There is also a castle and ancient burial ground, which walkers love to explore.
One reviewer said: "Hidden away is this beautiful history of the island. It’s a good walk but well worth a visit, there are plenty of signs to all the sites and plenty of lovely locals who will point you in the right direction."
Tresco Island is famous for its stunning gardens, which are home to a range of exotic plants and flowers from around the world. The gardens are open to visitors all year round and are a must-see attraction.
One reviewer wrote: "Beautiful grounds, lots to see. The plants and views are amazing, a definite must see if you travel to tresco. Amazing climate."
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The gardens also host figureheads from local shipwrecks, as well as an 18-pounder cannon from the warship Association, whose loss in 1707 with three other ships and hundreds of lives after a navigation error led to the race to discover a way of measuring longitude.
Across the five islands, there are also rocky cliff faces where a variety of birds make their homes, with Mr Simms touting the isles' reputation for puffins, hundreds of which breed in the region every year.
Travel vlogger When Adventure Knox described the area as a 'small slice of paradise' during her TikTok.
She said: "The wildlife is remarkable, from the golden pheasants through to these super cute red squirrels that can be difficult to spot in many other regions of the UK
"There's delicious local foods served with tables with a view. The white sand found on pathways leads to dazzling beaches with turquoise waters and these are a dream."
