The largest of the British Isles, at 147 square miles, the Isle of Wight is accessible by ferries crossing the Solent strait separating the island from the mainland. Red Funnel ferry service (redfunnel.co.uk) reaches the island in one hour, and Wightlink (wightlink.co.uk) arrives in 20 minutes, or you can arrive in 10 minutes via flying hovercraft (hovertravel.co.uk). The Isle of Wight is blessed with impeccable natural beauty, filled with gorgeous downs and cliffs alongside stellar coastline. Each June, the Isle of Wight Festival (isleofwightfestival.com) attracts music lovers for a weekend of entertainment. While hikers and runners frequent the numerous paths for rugged exploration, the Isle of White Walking Festival (isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk) celebrates this beloved activity by drawing in hordes of visitors.
Deep in the Irish Sea, halfway between England and Ireland, the 33-mile-long Isle of Man maintains semi-autonomy from the rest of the country. Despite its own government, currency and language, the landscape and culture ring synonymous with the rest of England. Visitors enter by sea at the port in the Isle of Man's capital, Douglas, via the Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. (steam-packet.com), or fly into the Isle of Man's airport (iom-airport.com) on the south of the island. Base yourself in Douglas, among pastel-painted row houses, downtown shopping and plenty of cafes and pubs. Explore the island's verdant landscape, rolling hills and cow pastures, sprinkled with medieval castles and dramatic cliffs overlooking the sea. The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy motorcycle race, or TT, dominates the island every summer.
With their smooth turquoise waters and moderate climate, the Isles of Scilly seem closer akin to the Mediterranean than the British Isles. Visitors arrive to the archipelago of Scilly, only 30 miles from the southwestern tip of England, via passenger ferry service or prop plane into the largest of the islands, St. Mary's. Inter-island ferry service runs from April through October, bringing travelers between St. Mary's and the four other inhabited islands -- Bryher, St. Martin's, St. Agnes and Tresco. Explore the islands on foot or bicycle, taking breaks to rest along the miles of scenic coastline. Make sure to visit Tresco's Abbey Gardens and Cromwell Castle. From the main port town of St. Mary's, called Hugh Town, visit the Garrison Castle and Isles of Scilly Museum.
Nature buffs flock to Lundy Island for bird-watching and hiking along the narrow strip of land that runs 3.5 miles long. During the summer months, adventurous snorkeling safaris delve into the island's surrounding marine park while landlubbers meander along the tranquil granite island. Visitors to Lundy arrive from Bideford or Ilfracombe in Devon, England, via the MS Oldenburg passenger ferry, which carries passengers into the Bristol Channel to Lundy in less than two hours.
