Isles Of Scilly

The Isles of Scilly form an archipelago of five inhabited islands and numerous other small rocky islets lying off Land's End at the south-western tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. The Isles of Scilly have been inhabited since the Stone Age, surviving on farming and fishing that continue today. In 1975 the islands were designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with wildlife flourishing here. The islands of Annet and Samson have large terneries and the islands are well populated by seals. This is the only place in Britain to find the Lesser White-toothed Shrew. Rare birds come from across the world, closely followed by the bird-watching tourists.

The peak time of year for this is generally in October when some of the rarest birds in Europe come to share this archipelago. The islands have a unique climate and geography that is full of contrast and there is rarely frost or snow; allowing local farmers to grow flowers ahead of those on the mainland. The majority of visitors to the Isles of Scilly stay on St Mary's with its excellent amenities and attractions. The other islands consist of Tresco which is run as a timeshare resort, Bryher and St Martin's are unspoilt islands and although each offers accommodation to the visitor, they remain virtually unchanged by tourism; finally, St Agnes the least developed of the inhabited islands and the only one without tourist accommodation.