This presentation describes a beautiful archipelago of over 100 islands which lie twenty eight miles south west of Land's End in clear blue Atlantic waters. A world away from everyday life, the five inhabited islands of St. Mary's, Tresco, St. Martin's, Bryher and St. Agnes offer a peaceful and magical getaway, with magnificent seascapes, glorious unpolluted sandy beaches, rocky coves and abundant flora and fauna. With a fascinating history including many famous shipwrecks off the Western Rocks, Scilly has much to offer the visitor.

The Isles of Scilly are linked to many ancient legends, including once being part of the lost land of Lyonnesse. At low tide, and with a keen eye, Bronze Age hut circles and field boundaries can be seen which are compelling evidence that the present day islands once formed a single land mass. They have gradually become separated by changes in sea level which has been rising since the end of the Ice Age. Today there are five inhabited islands with a population of about 2,000 and more than 100 smaller uninhabited islands and rocky islets.

The name Scilly is thought to derive from the Roman name for the islands which was Sulli, or "sun isles". The climate today appears to have changed little and the islands are well named. The air is pollution free providing spectacular lighting for photography and painting. But being exposed to the Atlantic, ferocious storms have always been a part of life - and death. The coasts and the offshore reefs have claimed many hundreds of shipwrecks and many thousands of lives and numerous tales of disaster, tragedy and stirring acts of heroism survive to this day. A magnificent collection of figureheads and other artefacts are displayed in the Valhalla exhibition on Tresco and the Museum on St. Mary's. Today, four lighthouses and one daymark protect shipping, and their stories contribute to a rich and fascinating maritime history.

The islands have been an important outpost from the earliest days of sailing but reaching Scilly today is easy via one of three options. The Scillonian passenger ferry sails daily from Penzance to St. Mary's. Skybus operates planes between south-west airports and St. Mary's. British International flies helicopters between Penzance and St. Mary's and Tresco. Once there, each of the inhabited islands are connected by regular inter-island ferry services which provide a quick and fun way to get around.

Each island has its own unique character with breathtaking scenery in all directions. The three smaller inhabited islands of St. Agnes, Bryher and St. Martin's are the most tranquil. Here the only traffic on the small concrete roads is the occasional tractor. Bryher feels the most rugged and appeals to the romantic. St. Agnes is more self contained and appeals to the independent minded. St. Martin's with its lush crescent bays and long beaches has a serene feel to it.

Tresco is home to the world-famous Abbey Gardens which contain species from over 80 countries and, thanks to the mild climate, many hundreds of plants will be found in flower even on Christmas Day! The largest island in the group, St. Mary's, is busier than the other islands with "proper" traffic and more visitors, yet retains the Scilly charm.

Shelter given by the islands provides endless opportunities for sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, bathing and diving in the crystal clear, shallow waters, and at certain times you can walk between some of the islands. On the islands themselves you can also enjoy many other sports including golf, tennis, squash, cycling and even join in a cricket match against one of the island teams. The annual marathon on Tresco is now an established event in the calendar attracting runners from all over the UK. But easily the best spectator sport is to watch one of the fiercely competitive gig races which take place every week through the summer. To see a dozen gigs, each with a cox and six oarsman cutting through the water in the late evening light, followed by a flotilla of brightly coloured boats crammed with supporters, is a memorable sight.

The combination of location and climate has produced a unique mixture of plants and animals, some of which are found almost nowhere else. Pure white sandy beaches fringe many of the islands and wild flowers grow in profusion down to the shoreline. Scilly is a haven for "twitchers" being an important staging post for migrating birds and sometimes rare species which have been blown off course. The islands are also home to many breeding seabirds including the storm petrel, gannets, terns, razorbills, black-backed gulls and puffins. A regular boat service takes visitors around the Western and Eastern Isles on bird-watching trips and to see seals sunbathing on exposed rocks. Above-average winter temperatures and fine soil have allowed the bulb and flower industry to flourish on Scilly. From November through to May, many millions of blooms of narcissi and daffodils are sent to Covent Garden and provincial markets.

Wherever you go, history surrounds you, and there are new and surprising delights around almost every corner. The pace of life is relaxing and there is always more to do and see than can be achieved in just one visit. In today's frantic world, the Isles of Scilly represent that rare place where going back time and again is not a mistake but something to be relished.

For more information about the Isles of Scilly, see:
the Isles of Scilly Tourist Board website