Photo by flickr user gribso
With their wonderful colourings, lush tropical plants, peerless beaches and uninhabited islands, the Scillies, officially part of Cornwall, but with their own clear identity, have a timeless appeal. Life here is calm and happy: doors are left unlocked, the police have little to do, and everyone knows everyone. You may prefer to stay on upmarket, privately owned Tresco and Bryher, or on St Mary's, the islands' hub with the main town and harbour of St Hugh's. To keep you occupied: boat trips to see seals and puffins, or simply to take you to deserted beaches, the famous gardens at Tresco, traditional gig racing at Hugh Town, plus plenty of fine walking and cycling. As for hotels, there aren't many and all accommodation on the islands are expensive compared to the mainland due to the high cost of operating them. Bryher, Tresco and St Martins each have a hotel, as well as a pub with rooms, the New Inn, on Tresco. There are a greater number of hotels on St Mary's, of which the two we list below stand out. The order by which the hotels are listed bears no reflection on our preference.
Written by Fiona Duncan
