Tresco, Isles of Scilly – Part 3 - Orlando / Florida Guide
Florida Guide > Travelling
If you are looking for a more informed walking and wildlife spotting experience then join a guided walk with a Wildlife Trust ranger. This is free and is run weekly in high season you can find out the schedule on the ‘wildlifetrust’ web site. The birdwatching is good too, with many migrants using the archipelago as the last stop before heading across the Atlantic. Spring and autumn see the greatest avian diversity. For puffins, take a trip to nearby Annet where the birds nest from April to July.
Thirty sq km of inshore Scillonian waters have been designated a Marine Conservation Zone in order to protect the area’s exceptionally high diversity of species and habitats. One of the best ways to take in these special waters is to hire a kayak from the Scilly Sailing Centre, which rents out easy to use sit on top kayaks, some even come with ‘peekaboo’ glass panels in the hull these cost from £30/half-day. The sheltered bay provides possible grey seal sightings.
If the sea further out isn’t too choppy, paddle over to uninhabited St Helen’s. The island’s only 0. 2sq km but is a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to historical finds dating back to the Bronze Age. An easy climb to St Helen’s summit provides sweeping views back to Tresco, while the beach is a good picnicking spot. The Centre also offers sailing instruction, from one-hour tasters to multi-day courses, as well as windsurf and stand-up paddleboard hire.
Afterwards, retreat to the Ruin Beach Café, a veranda and big windows make the most of the views. The food is high quality: top picks include afternoon teas, pizzas from the wood-fired oven and the locally sourced seafood.
The local pace is slow and you could lose weeks on Tresco if you are not careful. This is especially so if you time your trip to coincide with some local events such as; the Beer Festival in May, Tresco Fête in Aug and the Tresco & Bryher Food Festival in Sept. It would be a shame not to visit some of the other Scillies islands while you are there.
There are five inhabited islands and around 120 islets and outcrops. Regular boat services link the main islands, though times and departure points vary daily due to the big tides; timetables are posted on noticeboards. Bryher Boats runs daily services between Tresco and rugged Bryher, the smallest of the inhabited islands for £5 return. If you make the trip here do a circuit of its wild coast on foot, take a craft workshop at the studio of local artist Richard Pearce and sink a pint of Scilly Ale in the Fraggle Rock Bar. Bryher Boats also connects Tresco to St Martin’s for £9 return; and St Agnes £9 return; Sunday.
If you do head over to St Martin’s make sure you taste a tipple at the island vineyard.
So next time you are in South West England think about taking a trip to Tresco.
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