Our guest blog comes from Peter Naldrett, who has recently been travelling to our nation’s best-loved offshore havens for his book Treasured Islands.
The road to Lindisfarne – or Holy Island – should be crossed with caution.
Before you get to it, you’ll come across signs warning about how the sea covers the route at high tide, and there are pictures of abandoned cars floating in the North Sea to make sure you take the issue seriously.
There’s usually a bit of a rush on at the end of the working day to get back to the mainland, with tourists and workers wanting to beat the tide before the road becomes impassable. But that’s when Lindisfarne starts to shine, it’s when a quiet hush descends on the small village there, it’s when you have the place to yourself. Spending a night on this magical island when the sea is cutting you off from the mainland is just one of the incredible experiences I had when writing Treasured Islands – my new book that explores over 200 islands around Britain.
Getting on a boat and leaving mainland England is full of adventure and makes for great memories, and there’s certainly something for everyone on our offshore delights.
Nature lovers should head to Seahouses on the north east coast. From there, you can join a boat trip to the Farne Isles, where thousands of sea birds – including the delightful puffin – breed in the summer months. You’ll also learn about the remarkable story of Grace Darling, the daughter of a lighthouse keeper who helped save lives after spotting a shipwreck and went on to become one of the first Victorian celebrities as a result.
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For a taste of the tropical, take the Scillonian III as it leaves Penzance and heads for the Scilly Isles.
Leaving your car behind, stay over on Tresco to walk along incredibly picturesque beaches and visit the ornate gardens where the unique microclimate allows plants from all over the world to thrive.
Elsewhere off the Cornish coast, walk or take the boat over to historic St Michael’s Mount. Or maybe you’d like to head up the coast to Devon and get the boat over the Lundy, an idyllic island in the middle of the Bristol Channel where you can stay overnight, visit a pub that never shuts and write home with the help of one of the island’s special stamps.
The Lake District is well known for being a tourist trap, but did you know there is a group of islands just off Cumbria where you can enjoy the view of the mountains? Visit the Furness Islands and you can enjoy a pint in a remote pub and explore an old castle.
There are some fabulous islands to explore in Essex as well. If you’re looking for a wine tasting session, head to Mersea island and take a tour of the vineyards on an island that has a continental feel. Or spend time on Canvey Island for all the thrills of a grand day out at the seaside.
And who can leave out the Isle of Wight, where kids will love fossil hunting, playing with different colours of sand and experiencing the thrills of our oldest theme park.
Setting off from our coast and exploring the lands that lay just out to sea is a fabulous way to spend a holiday. There are plenty of ideas to discover and keep you busy in Treasured Islands.
You can buy Peter Naldrett's book, Treasured Islands, from Bloomsbury here.
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