St Martin’s, Isles of Scilly
For a true sense of escape bypass the Scilly’s Big Three (Tresco, Bryher and St Mary’s) and head to the most northerly island in the archipelago. Just two miles long, St Martin’s is home to some of the most glorious beaches in the UK, with heathery cliff walks and skies full of rare birds. There are just 120 permanent residents, but the island boasts its own vineyard, dive school, bakery and jewellery designer, along with holiday cottages, chalets and camping.
visitislesofscilly.com
Tiree, Inner Hebrides
The most westerly of the Inner Hebrides, Tiree is fringed 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 cycling – 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 the proximity of the Gulf Stream. Tiree is steeped in tradition, and there are two heritage centres on the island with stories, poems, relics and maps that keep its history alive. The island is dotted with self-catering cottages, and there are a couple of simple hotels.
isleoftiree.com
Osea Island, Essex
Situated in the estuary of Essex’s Blackwater river, Osea is a lush, 38-acre swathe of land, connected to the mainland at low tide by a Roman causeway. Only accessible to guests of the Osea Island Resort, this is a bolthole beloved of celebrities (it was rumoured Rihanna booked the entire island in 2019), who come for the unfussy luxury. There are walks through fruit orchards, long sandy beaches and bikes to borrow, while accommodation is in luxury beach cottages, apartments and village houses, available to book individually when the island isn’t hosting a wedding or events.
oseaisland.co.uk
Burgh Island, Devon
Getting to this dollop of land just off the Devon coast is an adventure in itself. At low tide it’s possible to walk across a sandy causeway, but when the water is up, a sea tractor rumbles to and from Bigbury-on-Sea. It is most famous for the art deco Burgh Island Hotel – beloved by Agatha Christie (who wrote two books there), the Beatles, and Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson – and non-residents can book lunch or afternoon tea, while an overnight stay requires black tie for the formal dinner dance. For something less upmarket, the Pilchard Inn is a whitewashed 14th-century pub with a sunswept terrace that has sea views.
burghisland.com
Inner Farne, Northumberland
Nature lovers flock to this rocky island off the Northumberland coast – one of the National Trust-owned Farne Islands (the others will not reopen until 2022) – famous for its puffin and seal colonies, and the 100,000 seabirds that make the islands their home each year. David Attenborough called the Farne Islands his favourite place in the UK to see “magnificent nature”, and every autumn the rocky landscape becomes a maternity ward for hundreds of seal pups. Access to Inner Farne is only possible through a pre-ticketed boat trip, bookable on the National Trust website.
Bardsey Island, Gwynedd
Two miles off the coast of the wild Llyn Peninsula, Bardsey is home to shearwaters, grey seals, puffins, 300 bird species, and just one permanent household. Day trips allow three or four hours to explore, or there are nine holiday cottages. There’s no electricity, houses have outside compost toilets and visitors should bring their food and drink, although evening meals can be booked at the farm. If peace is what you’re after, it delivers in spades.
bardsey.org
Brownsea Island, Dorset
The largest of the islands in Poole Harbour and a protected nature reserve, Brownsea is a world away (and a short ferry ride) from the bustling seaside resorts that surround it. The tranquil lagoon seethes with avocets, spoonbills and wildfowl. Between April and September it’s possible to camp, and the Villano Café is a great spot for lunch, with glorious views across to Sandbanks from its waterfront terrace.
nationaltrust.org.uk
Iona, Inner Hebrides
It may be small – just three by one and a half miles – but Iona is one of Scotland’s most legendary places, known as the country’s “Cradle of Christianity”. In AD563 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 Abbey and soak up Iona’s uniquely spiritual atmosphere. There are self-catering cottages, campsites and two hotels, and alongside the historic and religious sites, there are white-sand beaches, walking routes and one of the wildest golf courses on the planet.
welcometoiona.com
Monkey Island, Bray, Berkshire
This leafy slab of land in the middle of the Thames has been welcoming the great and the good for centuries –the Duke of Marlborough originally built the grandiose pavilion and temple in 1723 as a fishing retreat. It’s recent conversion to a luxury hotel has seen the island return to its halcyon days, when it welcomed Edward VIII, Siegfried Sassoon and HG Wells. It has 40 elegant rooms, a floating spa on a teal-blue narrowboat and an upmarket restaurant serving modern British cuisine. Non-residents can book for lunch, dinner, or a drink on the terrace.
monkeyislandestate.co.uk
Lindisfarne, Northumberland
