Taking a breather on the Isles of Scilly

By Richard Down on Aug 5, 09 02:21 PM in

Yesterday was August 4 and marked the one month mark until the big day. I was going to write a post called The Final Countdown but Samantha said she'd already thought of that and would do unmentionable things to me (in a bad way) if I "stole" her headline.
Instead, I'll let you know about a brief trip we took to the Isles of Scilly as a breather before The Final ... run up to the wedding.

(photo on www.classic.co.uk)

Having survived without a break since last September, when we took a rain blighted trip to Cork in Eire, we were in desparate need of a holiday.
This was a four day, three night, trip to the Isles of Scilly 30 miles south of Penzance on the tip of Cornwall.
We flew from Bristol and managed to sit two rows behind Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex on board a Twin Otter propeller plane that held about 10 people.
No one else on the plane looked too bothered and it became clear that the Scillys really are quite posh.
It was also clear they were regulars as when the tiny dot of a runway, that hurtles into the sea on St Mary's, came into view and we plummeted towards it with alarming speed, it was only Samantha and me who looked in the slightest bit concerned.
The landing was, it turned out, fine - unlike my arm which Samantha had shredded in the moments before touchdown in sheer dread.

But on arrival at Tresco's superb Island Hotel we were given a bottle of bubbly and a suite and, with the fear of a spectacular death in the company of royalty fading, the tension of the last few months began to slip away.

The tranquil view out of the bedroom window helped soothe us further.

By breakfast, with the sun soaring above Carribean shallows outside the hotel dining rooms, we were in full holiday mode.

(Agapanthus with Foreman's Island in the background)

The Isles of Scilly are fragments of Cornwall tossed among azure waters normally found in the Mediterranean. The perfect break.

White sandy beaches yards from the hotel were dotted with sandcastles and jellyfish with tempting aquamarine lapping gently at the edges. Ok, when you began to paddle, the illusion shattered as did the frozen bones in your feet. While beautiful, the sea around Tesco and neighbours are icy.

We warmed up in the Flying Boat Hotel at the empty Spa and swimming pool and enjoyed a locally brewed pint at The New Inn. The Scilly Isles are like travelling without moving - slightly exotic but with moorland, pubs and castles in the background.

King Charles' Castle, where we took this self timed shot, and Cromwell's Castle below gave the island a bit of history and allowed us a bit more time pottering around before we headed to the beautiful Hell Bay hotel across the strait on Bryher.

Another soothing night in a tasteful hotel with sublime views out over the bay completed the experience.

We're now back, fit and mad for it. There are just 19 working days left and less than four weeks until the opening bars of Wagner wedding march announce Samantha's arrival at St Peter's Church and we're relaxed and happy.

If our honeymoon is this lovely and if our married life turns out to be this much fun then I can't wait.