Ah, the sweet smell of spring is finally here. Flowers are beginning to bloom, the sun has started to shine and there is hope on the horizon for a great British summer!
I’m sure you’ll agree that spending so many months at home has only made our adventurous, curious hearts grow fonder with a passion for travel and exploration.
I will appreciate my upcoming travel trips so much more, and it has only made my job as travel Editor, and the content in our latest issue, seem even more special than usual!
Lockdown might have put a stop to many things, but it certainly hasn’t stopped the travel industry preparing to ensure a super fun and warm welcome once it is safe for visitors to return. From new hotels and luxury spas, exciting holiday resorts full of adventure and off-grid activities, luxury boutique stays in acres of unspoilt countryside and coastline, brand new attractions to immersive one-of-a-kind experiences – it seems there has perhaps never been a better time to explore the British Isles!
With so much ‘British staycation’ wanderlust flying about we couldn’t resist compiling our Ultimate British Bucket List. Deep in the West Dorset countryside we Meet the Makers behind the world’s only vodka made from cows’ milk. We uncover 10 of the most wonderful places to visit in Yorkshire and discover that there’s much more than just Cheddar Cheese and ancient apple orchards to Somerset’s epicurean offering in The Rise of Food and Drink. In search of beautiful destinations where social distancing is made easy, you won’t find better than a remote Sea Garden Cottage on the white sandy shores of Tresco island, a luxury family stay in the heart of Suffolk’s rolling countryside at The Ickworth or a whisky tour around the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, Islay - the Lord of the Isles.
Wherever, and whenever, you next plan to take a holiday in the British Isles, we hope British Travel Journal continues to deliver as your indispensable travel magazine, and wish you a safe and seamless journey full of wonderful memories.
Pictured left-right:
Pictured left-right: Jessica's daughter (Daisy)flying to Tresco with Penzance Helicopters; aerial view over Tresco Island; Tresco Cows; Tresco Ruins; Old Grimsby Quay; Sea Garden Cottage. THE FORTUNATE ISLES Classed as part of Cornwall, The Isles of Scilly (to include Tresco, Bryher, St Mary’s, St Agnes and St Martin's) might feel more like you’re abroad, but they are in fact the UK’s largest group of islands - and quite surprisingly - still one of Britain’s best-kept secrets. Bathed by the warming influence of the Gulf Stream, the temperature rarely dips below 5°C, and this balmy climate not only means it feels warmer than on Britain’s mainland but that plants flower here all year round. Described sometimes as 'The Fortunate Isles', the islands are a kaleidoscope of colour in both flora and fauna - a myriad of wildflowers, abundant wildlife, and palm trees apparent in every landscaped vista. We're flying by helicopter from Penzance to Tresco on a new 28-mile direct flight, taking just 15 minutes to reach utopia. From the air, the 140 specks of land, five of which are inhabited, look more like the tropics than the south of England. Beautiful enough to rival anywhere in the Caribbean, Scilly is every bit as dreamy, yet without the cars, the hurricane season or the need for passport control! There’s a sense of magic on these tranquil lands - a place where simple pleasures and outdoor adventures invigorate feelings of contentment, relaxation and a profound sense of wellbeing. So whether you’re an international globe trotter considering your first British staycation, or a hardened British Isles adventurer, I hope this account of 48 hours spent in paradise will inspire you to visit these remarkable islands and experience the enchantment for yourself. 74 BritishTravelJournal.com
“ The Isles of Scilly are a kaleidoscope of colour in both flora and fauna - a myriad of wildflowers, abundant wildlife, and palm trees apparent in every landscaped vista. ” In 2020 yet more fortune came Tresco's way with the launch of the long-awaited return of the Penzance to Isles of Scilly helicopter service. Not a small feat when you consider this is one of very few scheduled helicopter services across the entire world! Penzance Helicopters, following many years of hard work, is now running a service of up to 17 flights per day, six days a week, over 313 days a year to both Tresco and St Mary’s.. There is no better way to travel to this luxurious private island than to ‘do it in style’ aboard a state-ofthe-art AW139 helicopter flight across the Atlantic. The bird’s eye view from the sky, from the legendary St Michael’s Mount on departure to your very first glimpse of the Isles of Scilly and watching your pilot master a grand crescendo of a flawless landing, makes the journey of getting to Tresco now every bit as special as staying there. ARRIVING ON TRESCO Tresco is the Isles of Scilly's second-largest island, and the only island to be privately-owned, leased from the Duchy of Cornwall to the Dorrien-Smith family since 1834. From the moment you step foot on the island, you feel an incredibly warm welcome. There is a true sense of this being a family-run estate - home-from-home - you barely even need to say who you are, your luggage is lifted into your transfer buggy and you’re benevolently escorted to your cottage. We stayed in Driftwood, one of the Sea Garden Cottages situated on the east side of the island, and I couldn’t have imagined a more beautiful property as our island holiday home. Light flooded through the open plan living space, with a modern kitchen, beachydesigned lounge with beautiful Scilly artwork, exposed beams and log fireplace and a huge dining area with painted lobsters and mackerel dinner plates and floor à BritishTravelJournal.com 75
