The exotic British island with shipwrecked treasure on its sandy beaches
THERE’S an exotic island in Britain that is home to crystal clear seas, sandy beaches and even treasure from shipwrecks.
The rising prices of foreign holidays have more people than ever before plotting a staycation this year.
However, there are still plenty of exciting holiday destinations to explore around the British Isles.
One such place is St Agnes in the Isles of Scilly, where visitors can discover amazing beaches, diverse wildlife and even lost treasure from the 1600s.
For years, people have visited one small cove called Beady pool, where they search for Venetian glass beads.
The beads are washed up onto the shores from neighbouring shipwrecks, giving the beach its unique name.
Cornwall Guide describe Beady Pool as “beautifully serene” and say that the beads are still there to be found, although not as easily as they used to be.
They said: “Beady Pool is a sheltered little beach on the southern shores of St Agnes in the Scilly Isles. It gets its name from the small ceramic beads that could be found there at one time.
“The beads came from a dutch cargo ship that was wrecked nearby in the 17th century. Whilst there are undoubtedly a few beads still to be found it is more of a challenge these days.
“The beach is beautifully serene spot which backs onto the heathland of Wingletang Down. It is one of the more remote spots on St Agnes but well worth the walk.”
However, Beady Pool is far from the only beach worth visiting on the island, with lots of other spots offering stunning places for people to go for a swim.
Cove Vean, Periglis Beach and The Bar beach are all excellent spots to go for a dip, or relax on the sand.
All have clear turquoise waters to enjoy, either as a swimmer, or by looking out for wildlife.
Dolphins frequently swim in the waters around the Isles of Scilly, including around St Agnes, where they have been spotted playfully leaping out of the sea.
Grey seals are also known to make a splash off the shores of the island, while seabirds like puffins, are among many other wild inhabitants.
Once visitors have finished exploring outside, they can visit the Turks Head, Britain’s most south westerly pub.
It serves real ales and offers a pub menu for lunchtimes and evenings, including home-cooked daily specials using local seasonal produce when available, locally caught fish and crab, and Cornish pasties.
A few other cafes and shops are available on the island too.
Getting to St Agnes is easier than it may first sound, with Discover Ferries running services between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly.
Fares for adults start at £76.25 one-way, while a day trip to St Agnes with St Mary’s Boatmen’s Association is £13 return per adult and £6.50 per child (under 15s).
There’s little in the way of accommodation on St Agnes, but a night in a B&B in St Mary’s can be booked from £40pp per night.
However, several campsites on the isles provide more affordable options.
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