The isles are located just 28 miles off the Cornish coast
A tiny island off the UK coast has been dubbed the ‘Hawaii of the UK’ by visitors thanks to its pristine beaches, breathtaking landscapes, and even wild dolphins and seals.
An increasing number of Brits are opting to holiday at home rather than abroad, and thankfully there’s a wealth of extraordinary spots across the UK just waiting to be explored. Cornwall is already one of the country’s most popular holiday spots, but there’s a little cluster of islands just a few miles off the coast that are certainly less well-visited.
The Wirths, a family of passionate travellers, regularly take to TikTok to share their adventures, recommending their most-loved family-friendly spots to their 69,900 followers. In one of their recent clips, the family set off to the destination that’s earned the title of the ‘Hawaii of the UK’, a location offering jaw-dropping scenery, white sandy shores and glorious sunshine that almost has a tropical feel.
The text alongside the video reads: “We thought getting to this tiny island was cool… we weren’t prepared for it to look like this.” The clip continued to document their trip to the island, which included catching a compact Skybus aircraft and flying above sparkling blue waters and islands fringed with pristine sandy shores before landing at the airport.
“BRB, mentally relocating to Tresco Island,” they wrote in the post’s caption. “Can you believe this is the UK? Welcome to the Isles of Scilly – a tranquil, subtropical archipelago located just 28 miles off the Cornish coast!”.
The Isles of Scilly are an unspoilt, subtropical archipelago positioned 28 miles from the Cornish shoreline. Known for their pristine white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters and exceptionally mild climate, the islands are often called the ‘Hawaii of the UK’, reports the Express.
Only five of the landmasses are inhabited – St. Mary’s, Tresco, St. Martin’s, Bryher, and St. Agnes.
Tresco is a privately owned, car-free island. Famous for its subtropical climate, immaculate sandy beaches and the world-renowned Abbey Garden, it offers a peaceful, luxury escape featuring fine dining, a spa and plentiful coastal wildlife.
While the islands are completely car-free, reaching them is simple – jump aboard a Skybus aircraft and arrive in just 20 minutes, or catch the Scillonian ferry and enjoy the sea breeze while watching for dolphins during the journey. The holidaymaker continued by revealing their favourite moments, which featured pedalling along the island’s sandy, car-free paths, spending leisurely days on the shore gathering shells and observing seals, alongside visiting historic castles and relaxing at the Tresco Spa and its pool.
The family additionally discovered the Tresco Abbey Gardens, housing flora from across every Mediterranean climate region. Established in the 19th century, the gardens have become a refuge for more than 2,000 exotic varieties from the southern hemisphere and subtropical zones – stretching from Brazil to New Zealand, Myanmar to South Africa.
They also mentioned there’s an exciting treasure hunt on offer for children to participate in.
As for the weather, the Isles of Scilly are lucky to have an almost tropical atmosphere thanks to the Gulf Stream, providing guests with the feeling of taking a foreign holiday while remaining on British soil.
Commenters were stunned to learn the location was in the UK. “I WANNA BE A LOCAL SO BAD,” said one viewer, while another posted: “literally found these islands scrolling on Google maps bored at work once… obsessed ever since.” “I need to visit a Tesco in Tresco just because I’m sad like that,” joked a third.
Londoners can reach the Isles of Scilly easily by taking a direct train from London Paddington to Penzance which takes five hours and 15 minutes, followed by the ferry or Skybus, which takes just 15 minutes to reach the islands.
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