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.
“ You can clearly see
“ You can clearly see Bryher across the azure waters - in fact, it is so close to Tresco that if you are lucky enough to visit during dramatic spring tides the channel between the islands becomes dry enough to cross on foot. ” There’s a luxe selection of island-inspired homeware, swimwear, jewellery and more - and I couldn’t resist buying a navy blue Tresco branded hoodie and Lobster embroidered cap. Back at our cottage it was time for dinner, a movie, and playing a family game of Catchphrase (the board game version) in front of the log burner before falling asleep to the sounds of the ocean. DAY TWO Tresco is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the British mainland - with no cars on the island you are not only filling your lungs with pure coastal air, instead of breathing in fumes, you are naturally exercising more, taking your bike or walking whenever you leave the front door. It doesn’t take very long before you feel the positive effects of this - and from the time spent outdoors connecting with the beautiful landscape. For me, this happened on day two. I woke up glowing and feeling more vitalised than usual. I had a Kundalini Back Therapy massage booked at the Island Spa and remember wondering if I even needed it! As it turned out it though, I did - I felt the tension in my computer tight shoulders being released and my body felt more balanced. It was wonderful - and thanks to Ila Spa the delightful scent stayed with me throughout the rest of the day. From the spa it is just a short walk to New Grimsby Quay - our departure point for visiting the neighbour island, Bryher. You can clearly see Bryher across the azure waters - in fact, it is so close to Tresco that if you are lucky enough to visit during dramatic spring tides, (when lunar forces combine) the channel between the islands can become dry enough to cross on foot. As such, every year the islanders (never ones to pass up an opportunity for a shindig!) prepare for a mid-channel mini-festival, low-tide event. This involves teams from Tresco and Hell Bay setting up benches, bar and firepits on a long sandbar between the islands - then as the water recedes further the celebrations begin with a 80 BritishTravelJournal.com
Pictured left: Jessica in Old Grimsby Harbour; Bryher. below: Island Fish café and fresh fish private orders and deliveries. host of impromptu games, live music, food and drink. Thankfully for the other 362 days of the year, regular services by Tresco Boat Services will get you there safely instead! Weather permitting of course. It was a very pleasant 10-minute inter-island boat trip across to Bryher. Remember to listen out to hear the scheduled return times on landing - and whether it is the new Anneka's Quay (named after Anneka Rice who managed to build it in less than 4 days) or Church Quay (inaccessible at low tide). We stepped out onto one of Bryher's white sandy beach bays. Although smaller, it very much resembled those on Tresco. The island is smaller in general, around one kilometer wide and two kilometers in length - home to 80 residents - you can easily walk it in a day or spend an afternoon enjoying the highlights. An island of dramatic contrast - Bryher is pounded by Atlantic waves on one side, yet blessed with calm sandy beaches on the other. You might recognise it from the movies as Bryher was also the setting of the film, "When the Whales Came", based on Michael Morpurgo's novel inspired by the island. (Samson Hill on the southern end of the island was the site of the birdman's cottage). We enjoyed meandering our way around, walking past the dotted stalls selling fresh produce including farm eggs, local vegetables, freshly-landed seafood and mouth-watering island fudge. It is all so pretty, a picture-perfect postcard at every turn - you do feel as though you are wandering through a movie set. Lending itself to a real ‘Swallows and Amazons’ style adventure you can choose to spend your time in Bryher exploring rocky coves, relaxing on white sandy beaches or hiking up one of its small granite hills for some great views. An absolute must for us was watching the Atlantic rollers thunder into Hell Bay (especially spectacular in the winter!) and we also enjoyed the calm tranquillity of Rushy Bay overlooking Samson. There are a number of restaurants, bars and cafés located around the island. Stepping off at Bryher Boatyard we first stumbled upon Island Fish, owned by the Penders - a traditional fishing family who go back generations on Scilly. You won’t find a better crab roll or lobster salad than here, and they have a great selection of coffee and cakes with the most picturesque immaculate lawn, where beautiful birds dart about, from which to enjoy it. Also, good to know is that while they supply to local hotels and pubs they also take private orders (delivered within 24 hours notice) so you can enjoy fresh shellfish while on holiday from the comfort of your own cottage. à BritishTravelJournal.com 81
