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.
the freshest island
the freshest island produce. Islanders and visitors journey from across the islands to dine here. Think dishes like tender Hell Bay gin cured salmon, succulent roast partridge, pan roasted sea bass and Richard's sensational tangy lemon meringue pie. Order the oysters - they were by far the best I have ever had. By evening, you can dine in the contemporary yet intimate Czar restaurant - named after one of the islands historic island pilot gigs - and lap up the views as the sun sets over Gweal Hill and dips into the Atlantic. Following our lunch we continued south along the coast and stumbled upon Golden Eagle Studio - a gig shed transformed into a studio and gallery for local artist Richard Pearce. You can step out from the gallery and look out across the exact view of one of his paintings. His artwork is mostly of Tresco and Bryher and is incredibly beautiful, capturing the Scilly spirit so perfectly. From here you can choose to continue around the south of Bryher, passing Droppy Nose Point and watching seals swimming off the rocks while dipping your toes in the white sands of Rushy Bay. Take a walk Pictured above: Hell Bay Hotel. Left-right: Jessica visits Golden Eagle Studio; walking towards Droppy Nose Point; Byrher and Tresco from the water; views from Samson Hill. Next we made our way up the hill passing Olivia's Kitchen at the Vine, a small, family-run café situated in “the Town'' in what was originally a flower and bulb shed (previously Vine Café) serving sumptuous lunches and suppers, light snacks and cream teas. A must here is the Scillonian tattie cake - it is so good you might want to buy some to take home too! We passed the Bryher Shop and Post Office before taking Newton Road on our right. We followed this for a few hundred yards before reaching the luxurious Hell Bay Hotel - Scilly's highest-rated restaurant, with a 3 AA Rosette rating and open to non-residents to enjoy. HELL BAY HOTEL At the helm is Head Chef Richard Kearsley - known for serving the finest food on the islands, using only 82 BritishTravelJournal.com
“ Continue around the south of Bryher, passing Droppy Nose Point and watching seals swimming off the rocks while dipping your toes in the white sands of Rushy Bay. ” up to the summit of Samson Hill where the views are sensational – or head to the rugged north of the island towards Fraggle Rock, one of Britain's smallest bars, overlooking Hangman's Island, famous for their Friday Fish & Chip night. Feeling somewhat ambitious and in awe of the island we opted to take the later ferry back so we were (just about) able to experience all three. SCINTILLATING SCILLY Once you have stepped foot on the white sandy shores of the Isles of Scilly it has an incredible way of capturing your heart - offering a notion of escapism to rival that of any coastal destination on mainland Britain. I was so smitten three years ago I choose to get married on Scilly – and visiting for the second time, I was surprised to discover that there was yet even more to love. It is no surprise the same guests visit year after year – and Tresco’s successful Islandshares is testament to this. Often passed down from generation to generation the scheme offers families the chance to become owners of their very own week, in their favourite cottage, for up to 40 years. Closing my eyes to remember the views, I will regularly take myself back there – always dreaming about my next visit to this incredible destination – this is a holiday that just can’t come again soon enough. Now where did I put the Islandshares listings again? On the way to Fraggle Rock we passed Mike and Sue Pender’s honesty stall in front of their house, selling a broad range of herbs, fruits, eggs and vegetables. Our final stop was at Veronica Farm’s fudge stall for a bag of delicious homemade fudge. Jessica was a guest staying on Tresco Island tresco.co.uk Travel by train with Great Western Railway from London Paddington to Penzance Station with advance one-way tickets starting at £26.20 gwr.com. Flights with Penzance Helicopters start from £130 per person one-way penzancehelicopters.co.uk Prices to stay at Hell Bay Hotel, Bryher start at £95 per person per night (based on two sharing) on a bed and breakfast basis hellbay.co.uk BritishTravelJournal.com 83
