Tresco

Tresco is the second-largest of the Isles of Scilly, a small archipelago off Cornwall’s south-west tip. The island measures about 3.5 kilometres by 1.75 kilometres and is known in Cornish as Enys Skaw, the ‘island of elder-trees’. Its landscape mixes rugged granite outcrops, windswept northern heath and sheltered southern beaches backed by sand dunes. The island’s geology was shaped by the last ice age, which left distinctive till deposits along its northern edge. Tresco has two main settlements, New Grimsby and Old Grimsby, which together provide a shop, post office, pub and two cafés. At the southern end stands Tresco Abbey Gardens, a subtropical haven, and Tresco Heliport, while to the north lie two Civil War forts. Tresco’s history is closely tied to Tavistock Abbey, which held the island from the 12th century until the Dissolution. The Dorrien-Smith family managed the island as a private estate for nearly a century after 1834, and today it operates as a holiday resort. The island has also hosted unusual events, including a marathon run from 2001 to 2009 to raise funds for cystic fibrosis research. Tresco is recognised for its ecological importance, with three Sites of Special Scientific Interest covering its heaths, freshwater pool and sand dunes. In 2012 and 2013, red squirrels were introduced to create a safe haven free from predators and grey squirrels. Visitors find a car-free island where electric vehicles and golf carts carry guests between the heliport and quays. The Abbey Gardens display subtropical plants collected from around the world, and the Valhalla Figurehead Collection shows carved ships’ figureheads. Two 17th-century forts, King Charles’s Castle and Cromwell’s Castle, overlook the northern coast. The island’s varied habitats attract rare birds, including vagrants recorded for the first time in Britain. A small primary school serves local children, while older pupils board on St Mary’s during the week. The combination of history, nature and tranquillity makes Tresco a distinctive destination.