An empty beach that you can have all to yourself is a luxury few can achieve in Great Britain. It is possible if people are prepared to travel to the extremes of the British Isles, to the islands off the coasts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
These islands do not often appear in tourist literature or holiday brochures. We sometimes know them because of an association with something else. The Isles of Scilly off the south west coast of Great Britain are the final resting place of the former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson. He so much loved the Scilly Isles that he wanted to be buried there. The islands remain a bit of a mystery to most of us. Snippets of information are known; that masses of wild flowers grow there and they are a natural paradise for sea birds. But did you know that there 145 islands altogether, of which only five are inhabited?
Self-catering holidays in the Scilly Isles
Ferries interconnect the 5 inhabited Scilly Isles of Tresco, St Mary’s, St Agnes, St Martin’s and Bryher.
Holidaymakers arrive by small planes or passenger ferries from Exeter in Devon or Newquay, Penzance or Land’s End in Cornwall. It is a fair distance for most people to get to those points from their homes in Britain. However, the destination makes the longer journey worthwhile, especially if you are in search of serenity.
Camping in a corner of a quiet field in the Scilly Isles
Holiday accommodation in the Scilly Isles includes the self-catering options of camping and holiday cottages as well as hotels and B&Bs. The mild climate is suitable for camping and there are camp sites on four of the islands. The choice includes glamping which is a luxurious form of camping. Sharing a campsite may not be quite the ‘away from it all’ option that you have in mind but the camp sites are very spacious and it should be possible to pitch your tent in a quiet corner of a field, far from other campers.
A secluded holiday cottage in the Scilly Isles
A rented holiday cottage provides the best chance of escaping from the world, especially if you book a secluded detached house that stands in its own grounds away from other homes. Once you have arrived and settled in, the pleasure of exploring your particular island awaits. Island hopping is another possibility, especially for day trips. Boats at St. Mary’s Quay line up ready to take holidaymakers to islands of their choice.
Staying in a secluded holiday cottage in the Scilly Isles not only gives you somewhere to sleep but also a private ‘home from home’ where you can close your front door to shut the world out. Lots of people like to choose somewhere where they can be anonymous and it is not only people in the public eye. Anyone who needs to completely relax would find that some time alone with only the beauty of the Scillies to concentrate on will soon begin to feel refreshed and rejuvenated. There is nothing like nature and an absence of people to heal our minds.
Sun, small islands, thousands of sea birds, the occasional head of a seal popping out of the water soon enchants holidaymakers. Bliss is walking around the various islands, spotting wildlife and flowering succulents that only grow wild in the far southwest of England. If you take a packed lunch with you on your adventures, you can even avoid the few tea shops and cafes. A few days on holiday in the Scilly Isles will lift your spirits and have you feeling as free as a bird.
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The Scottish Highlands and Islands