A small group of islands lying about twenty eight miles South West of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly are the UK's own little corner of paradise. There are around 200 islands and islets in total, from the smallest rocks with evocative names such as "Hellweathers Brow" to the five main islands of St. Mary's, Tresco, St. Martin's, Bryher and St. Agnes'.

With an enviably mild climate (average monthly temperature of 9ºC), the Isles of Scilly are a haven for wildlife. Wild flowers adorn the hedgerows in all seasons and rare migrant birds arrive to nest every Autumn, whilst the outlying rocks are home to grey Atlantic seals and a nesting ground for puffins in the Spring.

The islands attract artists and photographers, who come for the spectacular light, untainted by dust and industrial pollution, and the beautiful landscape, which earns the Isles of Scilly its designation as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The wealth of archaeological and historical monuments found on the Isles of Scilly suggests that the islands have been inhabited for over 4,000 years, although the evidence is unclear. There are more burial chambers per square mile than anywhere else in the UK, which has led to the islands being identified as the "Isles of the Blest", where the souls of dead heroes were brought to live on in an eternal paradise. Another enduring connection is with Tristan's kingdom of Lyonnesse, the lost land of Arthurian legend,

"that fair land, now so long lost and forgotten… upon which were seen no fewer than one hundred and forty stately churches, and whose beauty and fruitfulness have been the theme of many a romantic lay" (Rev. Whitfeld, "Isles of Scilly and its Legends"

According to legend, Lyonnesse was the scene of Arthur's last battle with Mordred's army, when Merlin summoned a great flood to drown Arthur's enemy.

What we know today as the Isles of Scilly are said to be the highest peaks of this ancient enchanted land, and the burial place of Arthur's few surviving faithful knights.

Many people have claimed to have heard bells under the sea on their way from the mainland to the islands and locals have called the area around Seven Stones reef "The City of Lions" for years.It is interesting that geologists too have suggested that the islands were originally part of a granite mass or "batholith" similar to Dartmoor and Exmoor, which would have stretched all the way from the Land's End on the Cornish coast.

Nowadays, the islands' working community of around 2,000 are mainly engaged in tourism, although the traditional industries of fishing and farming still prosper, supported by the Duchy of Cornwall, which has owned the Isles of Scilly since 1337.