Despite the fact that we live on a relatively small island ourselves, we Brits still seem to have a rather sentimental place in our hearts for those little islands you see off the coastline as if we feel the urge to escape to somewhere small and intimate.
When we see the more interesting islands however there is always one complication – most need a boat to access them, or at least that’s we often imagine. It turns out however that there are plenty of intimate island communities that can be reached without sealegs being required…as long as you time the tides correctly.
1) Burgh Island off the Devon coast is one of the great surprises comprising of an accessible island with a stylish rather well-to-do Burgh Island hotel (tel: 01548 810514). The accommodation dates from the 1930s and is built in the then-fashionable style of Art Deco which has seem somewhat of an renascence in recent years. The hotel’s location gives it that extra edge when you want somewhere to truly escape. Along with the hotel there is a pub and a large variety of walks right across the island.
Access to Burgh Island is either on foot or by what the locals refer to as a sea-tractor – kindof like an open trailer set very high above the water, so no risk of getting your shoes wet. Cars can not access the island which makes it even more tranquil.
2) Isle of Sheppey in Kent is an all time favourite for birdwatchers (aka. twitchers) as well as families looking for the traditional bucket and spade holiday. The nearby RSPB reserve of Elmley Marshes offers a haven for birdlife such as avocets, owls, flocks of curlews and plovers. The shingle beaches are long and very shallow, making them ideal for kids of all ages to play on. The small towns of Sheerness and Queenborough are on the island and access is via the road from Sittingbourne. For those wanting to make a weekend of it, there is the Abbey Hotel in Sheerness.
3) Moving up the country we find another wildlife haven at Hilbre Island in Cheshire. This is a very small island compared to the two above and it completely cut off during high tide, but that also makes it even better for wildlife. The island is designated a local nature reserve with many seabirds and even Grey Seals seen on and around the coast. Hilbre Island is probably best for the more dedicated wildlife watchers who prefer to get out and about into the wilderness as there are no facilities on the island and visitors need to be very careful to keep track of the low and high tide times, but for those who brave it, this might be the ultimate in total wildlife immersion.
4) Walney Island by Barrow is a fully inhabited island just off the south coast of Cumbria in Morecambe Bay. It might not be the haven of tranquillity that perhaps Hilbre Island is but the island still has it’s charms. The island contrasts quite effortlessly with the more industrialised town of the Barrow, where amongst other vessels they build nuclear submarines. Walney Island is very popular with birdwatchers and butterfly enthusiasts as more than 250 types of bird and 400 species of moth and butterfly can be found around the island. With views across Morecambe Bay, this could be described as rather a secretive wildlife gem in north west England. Access to the island is across the bridge from Barrow and there are plenty of Walney Island hotels and other nearby Barrow visitor attractions.
5) If you were to look south from Walney Island on a clear day you might catch a glimpse of our next island – Anglesey. Situated off the north west coast of Wales, the island is in many ways not too dis-similar to Wallney in that it has been inhabited for many hundreds of years, although the area is possibly more well known for it’s foodie lifestyle and beaches. Combined with the dramatic medieval castle and spectacular views across to the mountains of Snowdonia, and it’s not hard to see why Anglesey attracts so many visitors every year. Holyhead is the largest town on the island with plenty of hotels in Holyhead and things to do on Anglesey.
6) Travelling north we arrive at the Isle of Skye just off the west coast of Scotland. Often described as one of the most picturesque islands off Scotland, it is certainly one of the most accessible thanks to the bridge which now allows free passage from the mainland at the Kyle of Lochalsh via the A87 (the bridge was a toll bridge from 1995 to 2004). Considering the size of the island, it contains a wealth interesting places but still retains the Scottish highland heritage with little crofts and vast expanses of wild countryside in between the small towns. There are plenty of visitor attractions on Skye and hotels on the Isle of Skye, and from a personal point of view I’d say Skye is one of my favourite parts of the UK.
7) We finish our run-down of islands accessible without a boat or ferry by looking at Holy Island off the Northumberland coastline. The island is steeped in history, mostly surrounding the 8th Century Lindisfarne monastery and priory, original home to the Lindisfarne Gospels – an illuminated religious manuscript created by the monks on the island in the 8th Century AD. Both the monastery and the surrounding beaches around the island draw thousands of visitors yearly to the islands. The islands can be accessed by car and on foot, although only at low tides. The Crown and Anchor is the only hotel on the island, but there are plenty nearby in Berwick and Seahouses.
