28 miles south west of Lands End, you will find the Isles of Scilly. On the map below, the scale is such that St Martin's is about 2 miles long. Click on the map for more information on individual islands:

St Martin's Tresco Bryher St Mary's St Agnes

• A mild year round climate, with temperatures in winter seldom below 50 F
• Sunshine hours average over 8 per day and it is often the sunniest place in Britain
• Flowers bloom early - narcissi flower in November
• Sub tropical plants and rare wild flowers grow in the hedgerows
• 80% of the island's income now comes from tourism 100,000 visitors come to the Scillies every year, 40% of them have been before
• Lack of urban stress and traffic have great appeal

The Geology

Low lying flat topped granite islands rarely rise above 100 feet above sea level. There are 200 or so named islands and rocks, but only 5 are inhabited. The islands are part of the same great granite mass that formed at the same time as Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor and Lands End.

Early Settlers

The islands first inhabitants were probably Bronze Age peoples from Europe, arriving around 2000 BC and settling on many of the islands. There are large numbers of prehistoric tombs left behind by these settlers Later the Phoenicians are believed to have found the Scillies while trading Cornish tin Interestingly, although the Romans never settled on the islands, they did use it as a convenient place to dump convicts The Vikings used the islands as a base from which to attack the Bristol Channel In the middle ages only smuggling prospered, and it was not until the early flower trade was developed in Victorian times that any commerce took place.

Legends

The Isles of Scilly are believed, in the legends, to be part of the "Lost Kingdom of Lyonesse" which disappeared under the sea as a retribution by the gods for the lax lives of the inhabitants. Geologically there is evidence that the islands may well once have been linked to the mainland - for example Treen Cliff near Lands End in Cornwall is very similar to Peninnis Head on St Mary's.