The most northerly of the five inhabited islands on the Isles of Scilly, St Martin’s is often dubbed a favourite. It’s catch-your-breath stunning, from the towering blue sprouts of echium swaying in the summer breeze to the fields of dancing narcissi in winter, and the deserted white sandy beaches of Lawrence’s Bay. There might only be one main road going through it but this island is anything but sleepy, with a buzzing hub of entrepreneurs; from the island-founded organic skincare brand Phoenix & Providence, local artist Inga Drazniece, jeweller Fay Page and its own honesty shop-come- co-operative gallery, Middletown Barn. There’s a tea room, bakery and brilliant pub, The Seven Stones Inn, named after the treacherous reef seven miles off Scilly which has the finest view of any in Britain, with a terrace decked out in pretty fairy lights. The island’s vineyard, too, is a pretty idyllic spot for a self-guided tour and wine tasting session.
Must do: If you’re visiting from April to September, don’t miss out on Scilly Seal Snorkelling, where the curious creatures will swim right up to you. A visit to the St Martin’s Observatory, a community-funded facility set up by a group of the island’s amateur astronomers, is well worth a visit too.
The best hotels on St Martin’s, Scilly: Karma St Martin’s is the only hotel on the island but is an idyllic spot, overlooking the channel Sound across to Tean and Crump Islands, a bucket’s throw from the gentle, lapping waves, with understated ocean-facing rooms and a restaurant serving up just-caught St Martin’s lobster and proper Cornish teas. For couples, the stylish shepherd’s huts at the St Martin’s Vineyard are a stone’s throw from the beach and come with underfloor heating and ensuites, all within their own private meadows.
