9 of the best British Isles for a holiday
It's only a hop away, but these secluded and beautiful islands can feel like another world
1.Saint Martin, Isles of Scilly
For a real sense of escapism, bypass Celle's Big Three (Tresco, Bryher, and St. Marie) and head to the northernmost island in the archipelago. Just two miles long, St Martin's is home to some of the UK's finest beaches, with sheer desert cliffs and skies full of rare birds. There are only 120 permanent residents, but the island boasts its own vineyard, diving school, bakery, and jewelry designer, along with holiday cottages, chalets, and camping.
2.Terry, Inner Hebrides
Terry lies at the westernmost tip of the Inner Hebrides, surrounded by white-sand beaches that could have been transported straight from the Caribbean. Just 12 miles by three, the island is relatively flat, making for easy hiking or biking—and if you can manage 46 miles, you'll cover the entire coastline. It claims to be one of the sunniest places in the UK, thanks to its proximity to the Gulf Stream. Tiree is steeped in tradition, and there are two heritage centers on the island with stories, poems, monuments, and maps that keep its history alive. The island is dotted with self-catering cottages, and there are a couple of best hotels.
3.Osea Island, Essex
Located in the Blackwater estuary in Essex, Osea is a fertile 38-acre estate, connected to the mainland at low tide by a Roman causeway. Accessible only to guests of the Osea Island resort, it's a beloved haunt of celebrities (Rihanna was rumored to have booked the entire island in 2019), who come for the understated luxury. There are trails through orchids, long sandy beaches, and bikes to borrow, while accommodation is in luxury beach bungalows, apartments and village houses, available to book individually when the island isn't hosting a wedding or event.
4. Brownsea Island, Dorset
The largest of the islands in Poole Harbor and a protected nature reserve, Brownsea is a world away (and a short ferry ride away) from the bustling seaside resorts that surround it. The serene lake is teeming with avocets, spoonbills and wild birds. Between April and September it is possible to camp, and the Villano Café is a great place for lunch, with great views across the Sandbanks from the waterfront terrace.
5. Bardsey Island, Gwynedd
Two miles off the coast of the wild Llŷn Peninsula, Bardsey is home to shearwaters, gray seals, puffins, 300 species of birds, and one permanent family. Day trips allow three or four hours of exploration, or there are nine vacation cottages. There is no electricity, the houses have outside composting toilets and visitors must bring their own food and drink, although evening meals can be reserved at the farm. If peace is what you seek, it delivers to you in spades.
6. Iona, Inner Hebrides
It may be small - just three by a mile and a half - but Iona is one of the most legendary places in Scotland, known as the country's "cradle of Christianity". In AD 563, Saint Columba and 12 companions founded a monastery that became one of the most important in the British Isles, and pilgrims still come today to visit the Benedictine monastery and soak up the unique spiritual atmosphere of Iona. There are self-catering cottages, campsites, and two hotels, and along with the historic and religious sites, there are white-sand beaches, walking trails, and one of the wildest golf courses on the planet.
7. Lindisfarne, Northumberland
Cut off from the mainland by five hours every 12 years, Lindisfarne (aka Holy Island) is famous for its 16th-century castle perched dramatically on a rocky outcrop, and its 11th-century abbey where Christianity spread across northern England. . Stroll through Gertrude Jekyll's garden, sample locally produced mead at St. Aidan's Winery and visit the remote beaches in the north of the island, which remain serene even in summer. There are holiday cottages and guesthouses, and a few places to eat -advance reservations are recommended for dinner.
8.Burgh Island, Devon
Getting to this land off the coast of Devon is an adventure in itself. At low tide it's possible to walk across a sand embankment, but when the water rises, a sea tugboat runs to and from Bigbury-on-Sea. Famous for the Art Deco Burgh Island Hotel — beloved of Agatha Christie (who wrote two books there), The Beatles, and Edward VIII and Mrs. Simpson — non-residents can book lunch or afternoon tea, while an overnight stay requires a black tie for a formal dinner dance. For something less luxurious, the Pilchard Inn is a 14th-century whitewashed pub with a sun-drenched terrace with sea views.
9.Monkey Island, Bray, Berkshire
This leafy piece of land in the middle of the Thames has been welcoming the great and the good for centuries - the stately pavilion and pagoda were originally built by the Duke of Marlborough in 1723 as a fishing retreat. The island's recent transformation into a luxury hotel has seen the island return to its finer days, when it entertained Edward VIII, Siegfried Sassoon and HG Wells. It has 40 elegant rooms, a floating spa on a narrow teal boat, and an upscale restaurant serving modern British cuisine. Non-residents can book for lunch or dinner or a drink on the terrace.
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