Western Rocks

The Western Rocks lie south-west of St Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly, a scattered group of granite skerries and low islands where no one lives. The largest include Rosevear, Rosevean and Daisy, while smaller outcrops such as Gorregan and Melledgan rise only a few metres above the sea. Thin soils and wind-blasted plants cling to the rocks, which are part of a granite mass formed in the late Carboniferous period. The islands sit on the edge of the Atlantic approaches, exposed to strong tides and swells that shape their jagged outlines. Their remoteness and the absence of permanent buildings give them a stark, unspoiled feel. The Bishop Rock lighthouse stands nearby, marking the western edge of the group. These rocks matter because they hold England’s only breeding colonies of European storm petrel, with eleven sites across the islands. Rosevear now holds the third largest colony in England, while Gorregan and Melledgan also support important numbers. Eleven seabird species nest here, including shag, kittiwake and puffin, and grey seals haul out on several islands to pup and rest. The Wildlife Trust manages the area as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, protecting both birds and marine mammals. The rocks also carry a heavy maritime history, with the Gilstone Reef responsible for many wrecks, including Admiral Shovell’s HMS Association in 1707. Visitors who reach the islands find little beyond rock, sea and birds. Daisy serves as a haul-out for grey seals, while Gorregan’s smooth fissured face contrasts with the jumble of other islands. Melledgan supports a small plant community fertilised by seal droppings and hosts a rare sea slug discovered in 2022. Rosevear, the largest, shows signs of past salvage camps and lighthouse work. The air carries the cries of kittiwakes and the occasional bark of a seal. Landing is discouraged, so most who come do so by boat, watching from the water as the rocks rise and fall with the tide.