From those in the Know

A Local's Guide

Discover the Magic of the Isles of Scilly through our ambassadors and loyal visitors who share their top tips and insider knowledge, along with their enthused passion for our tiny corner of the world. So, whether it’s an inaugural trip, or you’re practically a local, start exploring Scilly through the eyes of others and their wondrous island-hopping voyages: walking the isles, dining in style, discovering a cosy bolthole, finding the perfect beach or whiling away the hours, learning something new.  

There’s always something alternative, fun and exciting to discover on this tiny archipelago, set in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Rat Bags and Sea Threads: A Canvas Tale from St. Mary’s

Living on an island for all or much of their lives, Keith Buchanan and his wife Carol have boating in the blood. They sail a 54-foot ketch, Carol used to row in one of St. Mary’s eight wooden gigs, and Keith has been crafting canvas sails on the part of the quay in Hugh Town on St. Mary’s known as…

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Liquid gold: the Story of Scilly Honey

“Try this,” says my companion, handing me a fairy-sized spoonful of velvety, slightly jelly-like, golden honey. “You taste the world.” I drop it slowly into my mouth. It’s spicy, complex yet soothing. Then a hint of eucalpytus gently strokes my palate. I’m with bee buff Jilly Halliday, whom I’ve…

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The Accidental Winemakers of the Isles of Scilly

It happened by delicious accident. In July 2018 Holly Robbins and James Faulconbridge made a day trip to St. Martin’s during their first ever visit to Scilly. Wine fans both, they dropped in to see the island’s tiny vineyard, run for the previous 22 years by Graham Thomas and his St. Martin’s-born…

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Spice, Sea, and Sugarcane: Rum-Making on the Edge of Britain

Stroll alongside the fields at Carron Farm on St. Martin's in spring and you may spot the first tender grassy shoots of a crop that at first glance looks like wheat. Actually, the plants are a lot more exotic - sugarcane. It’s cultivated by islander-farmer Andrew Walder, who has already been spicing…

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The Daily Rise: Loaves, Cakes, and Life by the Sea

Being a successful baker on a Scillonian island demands a well-stocked store-cupboard of skills. Not only do you have to know your flours and kneading techniques, but you need to be an expert on weather, tides and stock control too. And a cool head comes in pretty handy as well. So says…

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From Gorse to Glass: The Wild Wingletang Gin Story

When life hands you gorse flowers, make gin. So runs the motto infusing the Wild Wingletang gin crafted by Aiden Hicks at Westward Farm on St. Agnes. Venture onto the rugged heathlands of Wingletang Down, where the Hicks family graze their Red Ruby beef cattle, and you’ll see gorse bushes wearing…

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