The Isles of Scilly consists of five inhabited Islands and countless smaller islands, islets and rocks, home to a wide variety of wildlife. The islands are all that remain of a much bigger area that had forests, cornfields and marshes and which has disappeared under the sea in an inundation that began in 1700BC and continued into Celtic times.

Today, just five of the Islands are inhabited and each has its own character. These islands are - St.Mary's, Tresco, St.Martin's, Bryher and St.Agnes - homes to a vibrant, working community of around 2,000 residents. Most of the work on the Islands is now centred on tourism, but the ancient industries of fishing and farming continue.

The farms resemble the kind of smallholdings that flourished on mainland England at the end of the 19th century with small fields and high hedges - good protection for the cultivation of the heavily scented spring flowers that are exported each year. The fishermen still use traditional methods and lobster, crawfish and crab are caught in pots and supplied to local hotels, guest-houses and restaurants.

Each Island has it own individual features and atmosphere, but the underlying natural beauty is common to all - soft, white sand, clear water, sparkling air, rugged granite outcrops, springy turf and magnificent views.

Travel between the Islands is easy with regular launch services linking each of the Islands seven days a week from April to the end of October and through the winter although on a less regular basis.

 

(click on the map for information about each island)

 

 

map scanned from

OBSERVATIONS

ON THE

Ancient and Prefent State

OF THE

ISLANDS OF SCILLY

by William Borlase, MA FRS

published 1756