049:57.725 N

006:19.774 W

Tresco

The plan is to spend a few days in the Isles of Scilly; it is calm now and then a northerly wind arrives early next week so we will head north once the wind turns to a kinder direction. This meant one thing; time ashore to explore Tresco.

Climbing a hill on the south of the Island gave an awesome panoramic view of St Martin’s, St Mary’s and Bryher. We could see the Gigs lining up for their races in the distance and all around us the birdsong was exquisite. 

Aerial displays of swallows filled the air and we also watched them flying about 1ft above the beach and realised they were feeding off the flies that buzzed over the seaweed of the high water mark, back and forth they went, filling their bellies. Another usual sight was seeing pheasants on the beach, they looked very out of place.

We had a lovely afternoon losing track of time in the Abbey Gardens; founded in the 19th century around the ruins of a Benedictine Abbey, we wandered amongst over 2,000 exotic species from all around the world, an incredible collection. We even spotted an oriental pheasant in the undergrowth, and loads of red squirrels which was fun.

A collection of figureheads rescued from ship wrecks was a sobering sight, each one representing 10-20 crew lives lost, there are now six lighthouses around these Islands, we are so lucky to be sailing these waters nowadays.

Another quiet day weatherwise tomorrow so planning to visit another Island.