Islands of the UK

The British Isles are blessed with many fascinating, beautiful islands that are easily accessible from the mainland, whether you’re looking for just a day out, a weekend bolt-hole or a longer break away.

For a day out, visit the peaceful Brownsea Island off Poole in Dorset, home to a variety of wildlife that live among the island’s woodland, heath and wetland, including red squirrels, deer and peacocks (nationaltrust.org.uk/brownsea). The Farne Islands lie 3 miles off the Northumberland coast. Boat trips take day visitors to see the sea birds on the cliff faces and visit Grey Seal colonies that live around the islands (farne-islands.com).

Lundy Island (above) off the coast of Devon is great place to go for a long weekend mini-adventure. It is England’s only marine reserve, set up to protect the huge variety of marine life in the waters around the island. Travelling there is all part of the fun – at Bideford or Ilfracombe board the board the MS Oldenburg for a two-hour trip across the Bristol Channel. Accommodation on Lundy is owned by the Landmark Trust, which has restored over 20 of properties, including stone cottages, a lighthouse and a 13th-century castle (landmarktrust.org.uk, 01628 825925). For boat tickets to the island contact the Lundy Shore Office (01271 863636).

The car-free island of Sark is the smallest of the four main Channel Islands. There are just a small number of hotels, self-catering apartments and a campsite so it never gets overcrowded. And though the island is only three miles long and a mile and a half wide there are reputedly 40 miles of coastline. My favourite walk is across the isthmus that connects the main island to Little Sark, down the steep steps to the glorious sandy beach at Le Grande Grêve. To travel to Sark, take the ferry from Weymouth to Guernsey then catch the small boat across to the island (sark.info).

Some of Britain’s most remote islands are off the west coast of Scotland. A great way to explore the stunning coastline is in a kayak where you can get up close the marine life at sea level. From April to September, Wilderness Scotland runs week-long kayaking trips to the Outer Hebrides and the Summer Isles where you'll paddle through the clear waters around these remote islands and camp out in the wild on glorious, sandy beaches. (wildernessscotland.com, 0131 625 6635).

An edited version of this article, by Richard Hammond, was first published in New Consumer magazine.