The Isles of Scilly is filled with deserted beaches and Bryher is home to one of the best
Sitting 30 miles from the coast of Cornwall, the island of Bryher sits at 49 degrees north of the equator – making it part of Britain’s sub-tropical tip. Home to 84 lucky people (and a group of Red Devon cattle used for conservation grazing), the island’s name means place of hills.
There’s plenty of debate with neighbouring St Agnes over which is the smallest populated island – and it all depends on the inclusion of tidal island of Gugh – but which ever one wins, Bryher is 1.2 miles by around one mile in size – which is a whole lot of coastline.
Choose between the brackish Great Pool overlooked by the Hell Bay Hotel (and the spot of many shipwrecks in the 18th and 19th centuries) and in the south are sandy beaches, including Rushy Bay. The island lies within the Isles of Scilly Heritage Coast, is part of the Isles of Scilly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – that all means the kind of unspoilt beaches we yearn but rarely find. And if that’s not deserted enough for you, the uninhabited island Samson can be walked to between the lowest spring tides (or you can head for Tresco instead). visitislesofscilly.com
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This article first appeared in Cornwall Life Magazine. Find out our latest subscription offers here
