The Isles of Scilly September 2018

So, we parked the campervan for a week in Penzance with Isles of Scilly Parking who conveniently shuttled us back and forth from the Ferry to their secure parking area. We boarded the Scillonian III (what happened to I and II?) and set off on a 2.5 hour journey to Hugh Town on St Mary's, the larges of the Scillies. Sue had been paranoid about a rough crossing in this unstabilised ship but the sea remained like a millpond and the vomit bags remained unused. We stayed B&B at Westford House on Church Street which was a break with tradition for us.

There are 5 inhabited island in the Scillies, St Mary's, Tresco, St Martin's, St Agnes and Bryher. We visited them all and (£9 pp /trip) and walked around them. The west sides were quite rugged, they probably receive the worst weather and we took a ferry to an island most days. The weather was fine and apart for one shower which caught us out on St Agnes, we remained dry.

1. Unloading the luggage from The Scillonian III at Hugh Town, St Mary's, our bags are in there.
2. Main street Hugh Town. NB, none of the roads have names, despite them being on the map.
3. We circumnavigated St Mary's which was about 10 miles and visited the Halangy Down site of a prehistoric village and Bants Carn tomb.
4. Fishing floats.
5. The Loaded Camel rock St Mary's
6. More outcrops of granite
7. An inter-island ferry.

At Tresco we visited its famous gardens and despite it being September they were superb and probably the best we have ever visited though we have not been to Kew. After gardens and lunch in the cafe we completed our traditional circumnavigation, managing to catch the last ferry despite it leaving from a different slipway.

1. Tresco Abbey gardens
2. Tresco Abbey gardens, not much left of the original abbey though it has been replaced.
3. Tresco Abbey gardens museum
4. Circumnavigation, deserted beaches at every turn.
5. Cromwell's castle
6. Next day we visited St Agnes, the smallest and most southerly of the inhabited islands and which had some excellent coastal scenery.
7. St Agnes. At low tide it is possible to walk across the sand bar to adjacent Gugh island.

St Agnes distills it's own gin but at £38 for 70cl we declined the offer and instead went for a G&T in the local pub. A snip at £13.50 and that included a packet of crisps.

The little church of St Agnes on the island of St Agnes in the Scilly Isles. The first church was built here in the 16th century but was destroyed by a storm. A second church was built in the 18th century, but was again destroyed.

The current church dates back to the 19th century and was paid for with the proceeds from a shipwreck. The bell is in fact from the ship that was wrecked.

1. The west coast of St Agnes
2. Window in St Agnes church created by a local craftswoman.
3. We took the boat to the island of St martin's. This also had some great coastal scenery.
4. St Martin's also had miles of silver sand.
5. St Martin's rocky islets
6. St Martin's, figures in a landscape
7. St Martin's

1. View across a bay on St Martin's
2. St Martin's Church bell tower.
3. The Scillonian III
4. Cromwell's castle on Tresco viewed from the island of Bryher
5. The west side of Bryher is quite rugged
6. Circumnavigating
7. Distant enlargement of Bishop Rock lighthouse.

The Anglican church was built in 1683 by Thomas Ekin, the Godolphin Steward. Originally only 20 feet (6.1 m) long it was enlarged by Reverend George Woodley in 1821. It was rebuilt in 1866 by Augustus Smith, after having been considerably damaged by lightning. The bell in the turret belonged to a vessel wrecked on the islands. There is a 20th-century extension at the west end.

1. Droppy Nose Point, Bryher. Spot the nose.
2. St Mary's marina
3. St Mary's ladies gig team.

A fascinating week on the Scilly Isles but be warned, it is quite expensive. Add 50% on to mainland prices.

 

chris.jackson@zen.co.uk