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30<br />
Island<br />
escapes<br />
in the UK<br />
Islands are synonymous with holidays. But did you know<br />
that you could get your dream island escape without<br />
needing to leave the UK? It’s time to discover some of our<br />
most beautiful islands.<br />
The UK is home to not hundreds but thousands of islands,<br />
big and small. From Scotland’s archipelago of rugged isles<br />
to sun-soaked islands off the south coast, these hidden<br />
gems could be perfect for your next escape. Here are<br />
three islands you won’t need your passport for.<br />
Isles of Scilly<br />
If you’re looking for somewhere off the beaten track, the<br />
Isles of Scilly are just the ticket, a peaceful pocket of paradise<br />
just 28 miles off the coast of Land’s End in Cornwall.<br />
With white-sand beaches, subtropical gardens and<br />
some of Britain’s best weather, you could be forgiven for<br />
thinking you’ve left the UK entirely. There are five main<br />
islands: St Mary’s is the largest, followed by Tresco, with<br />
very few people living on Bryher, St Martin’s and St Agnes.<br />
Visiting the Scillies is<br />
like stepping back in<br />
time. Quiet, beautiful<br />
and completely<br />
unspoilt, you’ll have<br />
almost every pristine<br />
beach to yourself.<br />
The walks are<br />
outstanding and the<br />
islands are popular<br />
with nature-lovers<br />
too, thanks to the<br />
Isle of Wight<br />
Atlantic grey seals<br />
that breed here, not to mention the flocks of rare seabirds.<br />
You can reach the islands by ferry or plane. Planes depart<br />
from Land’s End, Newquay and Exeter airports, or you can<br />
take the three-hour ferry crossing from Penzance to St<br />
Mary’s.<br />
Isle of Wight<br />
Easily accessible by ferry from Southampton, Lymington<br />
and Portsmouth, a mere two-hour journey from London,<br />
there’s no better place for a British bucket-and-spade<br />
break than the Isle of Wight.<br />
It may be our biggest island, but it’s still small enough<br />
to explore in a few days. Start in the west with a walk to<br />
the Needles, three stacks of chalk and a lighthouse rising<br />
impressively out of the ocean. Soak up the views across<br />
Tennyson Down before jumping on a speedboat at Alum<br />
Bay to see the Needles up close.<br />
Hugh Town Harbour, St. Mary’s, Scilly Isles
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