Had a really great week away with Mr H in the Scilly Isles. Yes, a slight faff to get to (train Paddington to Penzance, a night there, 3 hour ferry to St Mary's, shuttle boat to Bryher) but just so lovely when you get there.
Stayed in the brilliant Hell Bay hotel on Bryher to begin with, great cliff walks round the island, huge agapanthus flowers everywhere, seem to be the islands floral mascot. The island had one shop (yep, small food store), one pub, Fraggle Rock and a seafood tea room – there really isn't a lot anywhere there. You can walk at low tide over to Tresco, though we hired a sail boat then a speedboat, so got around for a couple of days, including across to pretty St Agnes on those. Went out one eve to watch a Gig race – wide open rowing boats, each of the islands has a team, and to 'mix it up' they swap boats sometimes and then race a bloody long way. Much calmer from the support boats, all yelling for their boat of choice.
Then on to St Martins for one night only, so we would be in the right place for the ideal snorkelling (previous post). Just bloody brilliant. And here we discovered a handy bakery – pasty time! – a couple of galleries, a social hall (with loos, hurrah) and a couple of pubs, truly a metropolis. Our hotel had a locals wedding on that eve – blimey, that was an eye opener. Who knew that yellow silk-look was a bridal colour of choice??
Loads of empty beaches, which was such a relief, this being our first ever holiday within school hols time. And finally we headed on to the main island, St Mary's where there was, woo hoo, a clothing shop, so Mr H and I – and every single other tourist – got kitted out in IoS fleeces, plus a t-shirt for him. And there were at least 5 pubs, plus a tad more to do once you'd paid the obligatory visit to the one cashpoint on the island.
Amazing turquoise waters everywhere, gorgeous to look at, even if not exactly Caribbean in temperature.
Scrumpy had a total ball, swimming in the sea every day and having literally be dragged up the beach to get her out of it. One salty sea dog slept rather well every night.. And of course it helped that the weather was fab. Apparently there is a reason Hell Bay is called that when the storms roll in..
xx