In the Isles of Scilly life is governed by the tides. Low tide, on a fine sunny day, is so picturesque as to take your breath away – deep beaches of white sand, green sea over shallow sandbanks, each tiny island stretching out to meet another. Take a motor launch trip (scillyboating.co.uk) from St Mary’s to Tresco or Bryher in the morning when the tide is high but just turning; if you get your timing right, by late afternoon the water will be too low for the 20-minute direct trip back, and your skipper will take you on a fantastic voyage ‘around the back’ of Bryher and Samson, out between the shipwreck-strewn Northern Rocks, with waves and wash even on calm days, with seals and lobster-pot buoys bobbing - exhilerating. On your return to St. Mary's, go for a fine dinner with the best sunset view ever at The Boat Shed (the-boatshed.co.uk) in Porthmellon.

uk, scilly isles
Google map: tinyurl.com/35ulfqe

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If you didn’t know it was Scotland you might think you were in the tropics, with its white sandy beaches and azure blue sea. A perfect gem off the north-west coast of the Highlands, not far from Cape Wrath, Handa Island owned by the Scottish Wildlife Trust boasts 200,000 sea birds but much more than just that. You arrive after a ten minute boat trip from the tiny hamlet of Tarbet and are greeted by volunteer wardens who explain to you the history and wildlife of this tiny island. It’s a four mile hike around the island which takes in a gentle climb up to some spectacular Torridonian sandstone sea cliffs and stacks of over 100 metres high and where puffins, kittiwakes, fulmars, guillemots and razorbills nest in colonies. In the breeding season it’s a haven for wild-life enthusiasts and photographers. Arctic skuas and bonxies (great skuas) dive bomb you on the way up in defence of their nests. In May and June the flora is attractive too with orchids, bog asphodel, roseroot and thrift, to name just a few.
The way back is a cliff edge walk, passing boulder strewn bays, with dramatic views out to sea and the coast and the possibility of seeing basking sharks, whales, seals and otters. Finally you pass the ruins of a once thriving habitation, before the great potato famine emptied its occupants in 1847.
When you’ve completed your walk you just wait on the idyllic beach and a warden will radio for the boat to come a pick you up. What a service!
Handa Island is so remote that many people have never heard of it and consequently it is not over visited but well worth the experience. Take a pair of binoculars, a camera, a packed lunch and some walking gear and you will be just rewarded. Boat fare is £10 return (which includes £2 to the Scottish Wildlife Trust).

www.swt.org.uk/visit/reserves/HAI/Handa%20Island/
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Understated and under four hours by ferry from Oban calmac.co.uk), Tiree is the most westerly of the Inner Hebrides.The single-track roads which ribbon the Island will transport you to any number of magnificent beaches which are more often than not pretty deserted even in the height of summer.There you can observe basking sharks, dolphins, seals and vertically diving gannets. During the summer months the distinctive call of the elusive corncrake can be heard all over the island.Take an evening hike up Ceann a' Mhara, perch on the cliff's edge and with a setting sun to your right look directly out into the Atlantic and view the stunning sight of Skerryvore lighthouse. A daily flight from Glasgow (Flybe.com) usually arrives with the Guardian! Bliss.

Tiree, Inner Hebrides
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For a day or a stay the island of St Martin's in the Scilly Isles is a treat. The walking is delightful; coastal paths give ever-changing breathtaking views or you can criss-cross the island through heather-laden moorland. Great Bay hosts a stunning beach with clear waters and soft white sands. On a hot day you could almost be in the Caribbean until you test the chill of the water! Stick with it for a swim and your body will tingle. For adventure try St Mary's Dive School (scillydiving.com) for snorkelling with seals There is a choice of places to stay including a campsite and self-caterers can buy home-ground veg from a roadside stalls complete with an honesty box. Unwind with a bottle of wine from St Martin's Vineyard (stmartinsvineyard.co.uk).

Isles of Scilly, St Martin's
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Your own island to explore for the day! Speak to local boatmen about a trip to Calf of Eday and you will find Orkney in minature. You have wildlife to spot (very tame otters when we were there), great walking, archaeology, hill, and shore. Best of all is the knowledge that you are alone, there is a sense of exploring 'virgin' territory and instead of cut grass and interpretation boards the ancient monuments have moss, sheep skulls and proper fallen stones. It is a wonderful antidote to the twenty-first century with, of course, the reassuring thought that home-comforts are only a short boat ride away.
Nearest airport London (not that one), Eday, Orkney. Loganair flies in from Kirkwall (use Flybe to get to Kirkwall). Or regular ferries from Kirkwall on Orkney Ferries.

Scotland, Orkney

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