Bryher ... information from the Official Tourism Website

Untamed Beauty

Beyond a rugged exterior hides a post office and grocery store, cafe, campsite, B&B's self-catering accommodation, a smart hotel and England's most westerly pub (Fraggle Rock Bar is a Jamie Oliver 'Best British Boozer' and every Fairtrade hot drink you purchase goes to support the local Wildlife Trust. fraggle@bryher-ios.co.uk).

The smallest of the inhabited islands, Bryher encapsulates both wild beauty and gentle tranquility. Admire the granite stacks of Shipman Head. or stand on the edge of of Hell Bay where the thundering ocean sends jets of spume bursting into the skies.

Green Bay
Head down to Rushy Bay where the sea licks fine white sands or launch a kayak of rowing boat from glassy Green Bay where there is rarely a ripple in the ocean. The islands roads are little more than tracks. One takes you past the vegetable and fudge stall while the other takes you across the middle of the island.

Bryher is a friendly island with a small working community and can offer the visitor a range of high-quality accommodation in the hotel, small guest houses, self-catering cottages and a campsite. There is a shop, post-office, cafe, a licenced restaurant and the smallest pub in the islands.

Local fish and vegetables are available throughout the summer and visitors may also buy fresh organic vegetables from roadside stalls.

Boating is an essential part of daily life and Bryher Boat Services offer a wide selection of trips each day from direct Fraggle trips to the other islands or circular sightseeing cruises to see seals and wildlife amongst the numerous uninhabited islands that make up the Isles of Scilly.

Small-boat hire is also available from Bennett's Boat Yard at Green Bay and the waters around Bryher, particularly in Tresco Channel, are very safe and clear and ideal for snorkelling and diving.

Visitors are always welcomed into all island activities that includes event at the new community hall, children's sport and the weekly church service in the Anglican Church of All Saints, built in 1750s and only fifty yards from the quay.

Musts:

- Hire a glass-bottomed punt and explore the shallows: Enjoy the beautiful clear azure waters, kelp forests and jewel anemones from the surface of the sea.
- Don't miss the view from Samson Hill: Pack a picnic and head for Samson Hill for one of the best views on Scilly, look over to uninhabited Samson, rocky islets and to Bishop Rock lighthouse.
- Storm watching at Hell Bay: If the wind is in the North, then there is no better place than Hell Bay to watch the waves pile in after their 3000-mile Atlantic journey and the briny spray frothing like scalded milk.
- Write messages in the sand with seashells or just laze in the marram grass above the beach with an audience of wading birds for company.
- Find a piece of Bryher to call your own: take home a painting on driftwood for a lasting memory of your favourite scene, or enjoy some delicious homemade fudge.

Staying on Bryher:
There are regular boat services to all the Off-Islands, every day of the week. They can take you to and from St. Mary's, and also offer trips to the other Off-Islands as well as scenic and wildlife excursions. If you are staying on an Off-Island (Bryher, St. Agnes, St. Martin's, Tresco) your local boatmen will be more than happy to ensure your transport from St. Mary's to the Off-Island of your choice. If you are staying on Bryher, you can contact Bryher Boats at www.bryherboats.co.uk .

Some of Bryher's Top Beaches...

Green Bay (Bryher): an idyllic spot, where you can launch Rushy Bay a kayak or rowing boat from ripple-free waters.

Rushy Bay (Bryher):
Bryher is an island of contrasts - with the menace of Hell Bay in the north and welcoming unfussy Rushy Bay in the south. Rushy Bay isn't merely a lovely beach but is also the place for very low water dinghy landings on Bryher. Well worth an afternoon's visit.