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Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is an island and county five miles (8 km) off the southern coast of England. The island has long been an excellent place for an upmarket but traditional seaside holiday, with beaches and towns that were very popular in Victorian times. It has become a must-visit destination for young people seeking watersports and outdoor activities generally. Cowes is a famous yachting centre and attracts the 'London set' together with members of the worldwide sailing fraternity during Cowes Week in August.

The island has a similar atmosphere to Guernsey or Jersey yet is much closer to the mainland and is three times the size. Despite being only 6 miles (10 km) across the sea from Portsmouth and 15 miles (25 km) from Southampton it is a world apart in terms of scenery, culture and pace of life. Known as "England In Miniature" it offers an incredible variety with the landscape changing dramatically in the space of a few miles and each town and village offers something different. The beaches are fantastic and the water quality is good.

Towns

 * – the county town (administrative centre) in the centre of the island on the River Medina. On the outskirts is Carisbrooke Castle
 * – on the eastern tip
 * – two towns at the northern tip, separated by the River Medina
 * – in the west
 * – the largest town; on the north-east coast nearest to Portsmouth
 * – on the south-east coast
 * – at the south end
 * – in the west
 * – in the west

Understand
Historically the local economy has moved from being dependent on smuggling and farming to tourism with the coming of the railways. There is also considerable light engineering and yacht building.

The local newspaper is the Isle of Wight County Press, which sells 23,000 copies to a population of 140,000 (2017), and is published from Newport every Friday. Any event will be advertised here. There are car boot sales nearly every day in summer advertised here.

Climate
Thanks to a southerly latitude and sheltered location, many parts of the Isle of Wight enjoy a mild and sunny climate. The south-east of the island in particular is known for its high sunshine records and warm air. June to September are the warmest months.

Visitor information

 * Visit Isle of Wight

Get in
It is easily and quickly accessible by multiple sea routes from the mainland cities of Southampton and Portsmouth.

There is over a century's worth of proposals to create a fixed link between the Isle of Wight and the mainland, but nothing has ever materialised. Most visitors will need to rely on ferry service to and from the island.

By ferry or hovercraft
Access is across the Solent, a narrow stretch of sea between the mainland and the island, by regular ferry, hovercraft or fast-cat. Many of the ferries carry cars, but this can be expensive; the alternative is to leave the car behind and use buses and trains on the island, but this will limit access to more rural locations and beaches. Car tickets are for a car plus four passengers and depending on the size of your party bringing a car may actually work out cheaper than the passenger ferry. Hovercraft and fast cat fares are comparable. The cat connects better with trains, while the hovercraft is better for onward journeys by bus or car. Prices for crossing the Solent increase for the fare with the length of the stay, and you may find two single tickets are a better bet than a long-period return. With the hovercraft, you can reserve a seat on a specific crossing, which is useful if you are travelling in the summer holidays or at rush hour. If taking a car on a vehicle ferry, it's strongly advised to book in advance, and is essential during the summer holidays.

The major ferry routes and trip durations from the mainland to the island are:
 * Wightlink passenger catamaran – Portsmouth Harbour rail station to Ryde Pier Head; 15 min; adult £11.50, day return £16.50, period return £18. Ryde terminal is within Ryde Pier Head train station. Portsmouth terminal lies inside Portsmouth Harbour train station. Outside of Portsmouth Harbour station, you can find numerous local and national express buses. There is no bus service to Ryde Pier Head, but there is (expensive, gate-controlled) car parking. There are no car parking facilities at Portsmouth Harbour. It's also possible to walk and cycle down the pier.
 * Wightlink car ferry – Portsmouth to Fishbourne (near Ryde); 45 min. There is no public transport to either terminal.
 * Wightlink car and passenger ferry – Lymington to Yarmouth on the west end of the island; 40 min. Lymington terminal is directly connected to the Lymington Pier train station. Yarmouth terminal is served by the #7 bus route, along with a "Breezer" open-top bus in summer running to the Needles.
 * Red Funnel Red Jet passenger catamaran – Southampton Town Quay to west Cowes; 25 min; adult £14.40. The West Cowes terminal is served by the #1 bus to Newport, while Town Quay has a dedicated shuttle bus to the city centre and Southampton Central train station. Be aware there is no easy access to the National Express bus station (it involves a walk through the Asda supermarket and a lift down the multi-storey car park - if you have luggage definitely consider a taxi)
 * Red Funnel car and passenger ferry – Southampton Town Quay to east Cowes; 55 min. The East Cowes terminal is in the town centre. From the Waitrose supermarket just across the mini roundabout, bus #5 runs to Newport, and #4 to Ryde. The Southampton terminal is served by the same shuttle service as the Red Jet (see above)
 * . At Southsea, National Express and local buses stop directly across the road from the hoverport, and there is a council-run large long-stay car park also directly opposite. At Ryde, there is a large council-run long-stay car park directly outside the terminal, and a footbridge over the railway line connecting directly to both Ryde bus station (numerous services) and Ryde Esplanade train station. Note the footbridge has no lift. If you have luggage, turn left (toward the ice rink) and walk ~100m and you can cross the line without stairs, as the railway drops into a tunnel.

Whilst on the ferry pick up a free guide of things to do and if possible another of places to eat. These are updated twice a year and give useful information and phone numbers.

At Portsmouth/Southsea for an extra fee of £1.50, Hoverbus will take you between the Hovercraft terminus at Southsea and Portsmouth & Southsea station via Portsmouth Harbour station. On the Isle of Wight Hovertravel's terminal is in Ryde next to the bus station at the seafront (use an overpass across the railway tracks), while the Wightlink catamaran calls at the far end of Ryde Pier, requiring a 700-yard (630-m) walk ashore (unless you get picked up by a private car, or ride the train).

By bus
The island is covered by a wide but expensive bus network (by the standards of a rural area) run by Southern Vectis, including spectacular open-top services in West Wight and near Ryde. Tickets can be bought from drivers and options include singles (minimum price of £2.50), "rover" passes(adult price of £10 for one day, £15 for two), evening "NightRider" passes (£7 after 7PM), and various discounts to cater to students and the island's retired population. Most buses start from either Ryde Bus Station (on the beach by the hoverport, and integrated into Ryde Esplanade rail station) or Newport Bus Station (in Newport town centre). If you need to transfer between buses, ask for a ticket to your final destination, and you can get a ticket right through.

Island buses also operate Breezer and Steamer buses during the summer season to take tourists to various destinations and attractions. Concession passes are not valid on these services, but "Rover" or "Freedom" unlimited ride tickets can be used.
 * Needles Breezer
 * Downs Breezer
 * Island Coaster
 * Shanklin Steamer

By train
The Island Line is operated as part of the larger South-Western Railway franchise, and is part of the regular ticketing system. All trains from the catamaran ferry terminal at Ryde Pier Head depart to Shanklin twice hourly (though on an unusual 20-minute/40-minute pattern, due to the track layout) calling at:

 * Ryde Esplanade - integrated with the bus station that serves most destinations on the eastern half of the island, and over the footbridge to the hovercraft terminal for service to Southsea.
 * Ryde St. Johns Road - for Ryde High Street
 * Smallbrook Junction - directly connecting to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. Trains only stop here when the steam railway is operating, and there is no entrance or exit.
 * Brading - for the historic town and Brading Roman Villa
 * Sandown - for the town, and local bus service to Dinosaur Isle
 * Lake - the walk from here along the cliff-top footpath to Shanklin is popular with locals
 * Shanklin - the southern terminus. Serves the town. Connecting buses to Ventnor (bus #3), which also serves Shanklin Old VIllage and Shanklin Chine which can also be reached on foot (~20 min).

Since the 1960s the line has been operated by ex-London Underground trains - the precise type has changed over the years, with the present type having been constructed in the early 1980s.

By bicycle
Cycling on the island is a fantastic way to get around and keep green. Bicycles can be brought to the island by foot passengers on any of the car ferries. Hire cycles are available at this website. The island has over 200 miles of cycle ways much of which can be enjoyed by families off-road.

The major bike trails are:
 * The Sunshine Trail incorporates Sandown, Shanklin, Godshill and Wroxhall in a 12-mile circular route.
 * The Troll Trail leads from Cowes to Sandown (90% off-road) about 13 miles either way
 * Round the Island Cycle Route circumnavigates the island on a reported 62-mile ride (not for the amateur or faint-hearted).
 * The Red Squirrel Trail is a 32-mile, mostly traffic-free cycle route from coast to coast through the island's stunning countryside. The route is from Cowes to Sandown and Shanklin, with a return route via Godshill and Wroxall. It incorporates some of the Troll and Sunshine Trails.

See

 * Eagles - the island is the site for a national reintroduction programme of white-tailed eagles; six juveniles were released in the summer of 2019, and more releases are planned every summer until 2023. Although eagles roam hundreds of miles for days at a time, they will still consider the Isle of Wight as their home territory, and it is hoped they will breed here in years to come, so this is the best place you have a hope of seeing one. These are the first wild eagles to live in England since the 18th century, so a sighting of one of these huge birds (they have a wingspan) would be a truly special addition to your island holiday!

Do
Visit Ventnor Botanic Garden - the South Coast of the island has a warm micro-climate allowing palms, banana trees and cactus to flourish, even in private gardens. It is regularly used by TV and film-makers when locations like the South of France are required, in productions like Lady Chatterley's Lover. Much of the road network in the South passes through the lush flora and fauna of an area called the landslip which offers spectacular sea views between Ventnor and Niton.

The Isle of Wight is, according to National Geographic Magazine, the 4th best location for dinosaur fossils in the world. Fossil walks can be booked from the Dinosaur Isle Museum at Sandown or the Fossil Shop at Blackgang Chine.

Walk from Freshwater Bay to the Needles Battery over Tennyson Down. Fantastic views over the west Wight and western Solent.

The Isle of Wight Zoo in Sandown is a privately-run zoo with a focus on tigers and lemurs, built within the ruins of a Victorian fort which once guarded Sandown's coast and beaches. Guided "walking safari" tours for kids, and temporary exhibits.

A "National Poo Museum" in Sandown is a spin-off of a 2016 zoo exhibit, established as a free-standing museum.

From May to September, the weather is often bright and warm, making a visit to some of the island's beaches a good idea. Favourites:

 * Colwell Bay - NW coast near Yarmouth. good golden sands and often clear waters, shallow shelf nice for family swimming and building sand castles. Can get busy, esp for parking, but there's generally enough space on the beach itself. Note that at high tide the beach disappears.
 * Freshwater Bay - SW coast. A pebble beach with facilities and parking. Popular with snorkellers and divers. Can be exposed when the westerly winds get up.
 * Compton Bay - SW coast, off the Military Road. Popular for surfing when the wind is right. Parking (very busy in summer), but otherwise limited facilities. Spectacular views
 * Shepherd's Chine - SW coast. One of the most remote beaches. No real facilities, though there is a campsite nearby with toilets and water. Spectacular views and even in summer it doesn't get busy. Coming from the west along the Military Road, there's a Layby just before the bridge over the chine, from there a footpath follows the chine to the beach.
 * Binnel Bay (aka Old Park) - South coast. Not a swimming beach but a bizarre place dominated by the gigantic remains of an artificial harbour built by an eccentric 19th-century German millionaire, William Spindler, who wanted to build a resort. The extremely rough seas here in winter breached the massive stone seawalls into giant pieces twisted and turned on themselves, which still dominate the bay, combined with the broken, tortured terrain of the landslip, dominated by streams, pulled down trees pointing at all angles, and broken pathways, and giving it a surreal atmosphere, a mix of Atlantean sunken grandeur and Mad Max-esque post-apocalypse. The footpath (unsurprisingly) down the bay is closed, but still accessible (though the steps are neglected), and quite popular with locals and curious tourists walking the coastal path, which passes close by. Park up by the Old Park Hotel, which is a product of Spindler's grandiose plans that have faded somewhat into wrack and ruin (the hotel still operates, despite the derelict feel).
 * Steephill Cove - South coast. Small rocky bay near the botanic gardens. Extremely popular with tourists due to the seafood joint, and a whole lot of hype.
 * Ventnor - South coast. Typical Victorian resort beach. Esplanade with many cafes, including The Sands (cards accepted, free WiFi), which does excellent seaside food, and the Spyglass Inn pub with a spectacular outdoor terrace. The beach has an extremely fine, smooth shingle with the texture of rice grains - effectively sand but without the mess. There's an offshore rocky reef exposed at low tide that makes good snorkelling at other times, though visibility is poor. On the esplanade is the Brisbane Gnomon, a sun clock presented to the town by Sir Thomas Brisbane, the governor of New South Wales from 1821-1825, and from whom Brisbane takes its name. Plenty of parking.
 * Bonchurch - Sheltered, shallow coves with pebble and shingle beach get nice and warm if the sun's been out for a week or so (August). Parking is available up the hill.
 * Shanklin - SE coast. Typical Victorian resort beach. Massive sandy beach at low tide. At high tide, the southern half is inaccessible. Plenty of parking. The Lazy Wave cafe at the slipway is excellent (cards accepted). Esplanade with a string of hotels, cafes and pubs, as well as a delightfully weird little arcade of retro and antique arcade games. Separated from the rest of the town by towering sandstone cliffs, a problem was solved rather ingeniously by a giant lift (£1 single, £1.50 return - operates May to November).
 * Lake - SE coast - also on the south coast near Ventnor. Windsurfing and sailing hire available. Park and walk from the wonderfully named Small Hope Beach car park at the north end of Shanklin Beach.
 * Sandown - SE coast. Has an extensive sandy beach at all states of the tide, with plenty of facilities and a pleasure pier. Unlike most beaches on the island, Sandown is right in the town centre, as there's no cliff here.
 * Appley Beach / Ryde Beaches (NE coast). Essentially one massive beach running east from Ryde town centre all the way to Appley. Sandy and plenty of beach even at high tide. Plenty of facilities and parking, including a swimming pool with a retractable roof in summer.
 * The Isle of Wight has over 60 miles (100 km)) of beach to explore throughout the year. The coast by Osborne House and King's Quay is private and around Newtown Ranges is Ministry of Defence land. In 2007, Blue Flag status was given to the beaches at Ryde East, Sandown and Shanklin for achieving the highest quality in water, facilities, safety, environmental education and management. Some 13 other Isle of Wight beaches were given Seaside Awards for above-average water quality.
 * Walking is promoted by an annual Walking Festival. There is an extensive network of footpaths and bridleways. The Ordnance Survey 50,000 scale Landranger map is half IOW and half in Hampshire, but the 25,000 explorer map is the same price and only covers the Island. There are a number of "long-distance trails" of which the coastal path is the longest at approximately 73 miles (116 km).
 * Isle of Wight Festival is held in Newport. It's normally in June, though the 2021 event was postponed to Sept.
 * Cowes Week is a yachting regatta held at Cowes in August.

Eat

 * The New Inn, Shalfleet, is an excellent place to go for fresh, locally caught fish. It has a relaxed, traditional pub ambience and friendly service.  Local ales and a wide range of wines are available to accompany your meal.
 * Lake Fish Bar sells excellent fish and chips.
 * You will need to book for the Baywatch at St.Helen's and probably the Crab and Lobster in Bembridge. The other restaurants in St. Helens are good but pricey. The Pilot Boat is fine and you will not usually need to book.
 * The Black Cat in Shanklin Old Village does good Thai cuisine.
 * Vernon Cottage in Shanklin Old Village is good for lunches.
 * Visit The Garlic Farm in Newchurch. There is a brilliant restaurant there, plus a large shop for anything garlic-related!

Drink
The Isle of Wight has many country pubs selling food and local real ale. Adgestone Vineyard produces white wine which is used in state banquets when English wine is required to show off to foreign diplomats etc.

Historically the local breweries were Mews, Langton at Newport and Burts at Ventnor, now both closed. Most of the ex-Mews pubs were taken over by Whitbread, but local breweries have re-opened as Goddards and Yates. There are a few Gales pubs such as the Castle in Ryde.

Isle of Wight tap water is generally very good for making tea. Bottled mineral water is produced under the name "Wight Spring" from Whitwell, where it had been a holy well.

Country pubs with food: the Hare & Hounds near Newport is a Greene King chain pub that serves a standard menu all year round -reliable, cheap for families but pretty uninspiring. Also, any rustic character has been diluted by unsightly back extensions. The White Lion at Arreton provides a good alternative. Nearby is the Dairyman's Daughter in the Craft Centre.

The Fighting Cocks on the Newport Road holds a boot sale in the car park in summer

The Crown Inn in Shorwell has fishponds and doves in its garden.

If you want a pub with sea views and freshly cooked seafood in the middle of an estate of bungalows, try the Crab and Lobster Inn in Bembridge.

Sleep
There are Premier Inn hotels in Newport, by the harbour, and just outside Lake, as well as Travel Lodge hotels in Newport and Ryde. There are also independent hotels at most budget levels. The Isle of Wight Tourist Board maintains a vacancy list. There are a number of farms that provide accommodation and holiday cottages. Holiday cottages are often quite difficult to book late and relatively expensive compared with the rest of England. There are numerous campsites and holiday parks scattered around the island, with the usual park chains operating at least one. Prices rise dramatically in the summer school holiday season (mid-July to early September).

Many pubs also provide accommodation. Saturday night in Newport Town Centre is apt to be quite rowdy and not a good place to sleep near. Sandown has a reputation for being rough at the weekends, whereas Shanklin and Ventnor tend to be fairly quiet. The west coast towns are very tranquil.

Budget
"Xoron" is a houseboat converted from a wartime gunboat. It is moored at Bembridge Harbour.

Top range
Bembridge Coast Hotel, Priory Bay Hotel (St. Helens), Farringford [Totland].

Farms
Newnham Farm, near Ryde.

Pubs
The Crab and Lobster Inn has 5 B&B rooms, some with wonderful sea views and has a 4 star AA rating

The Meadows is a family-run B&B, it is virtually a home from home and is conveniently close to Newport Town centre. The Meadows offers plentiful extras including a complimentary mini bottle of wine on arrival.

Fort Victoria Cottage is a Grade II former officer's cottage next to the sea in the Fort Victoria Country Park, near Yarmouth.

Go next

 * Portsmouth is a good place for a day visit (Victory, Warrior, Mary Rose, Gosport Submarine Museum). Off-shore sightseeing cruises can be booked from Sandown Pier or East Cowes (Wight Line Cruises aka. Blue Funnel).
 * Southampton, Hampshire's largest city, offers plenty of museums, restaurants and shopping.

title: Isle of Wight


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Isle Royale National Park

Isle Royale National Park is a national park comprising Isle Royale and the surrounding waters and small islands, a wilderness preserve in northwest Lake Superior. It's easily identified on maps of the Great Lakes: Lake Superior resembles the profile of a snarling wolf; Isle Royale is the eye. Although it's closer to Ontario, Canada, or even Minnesota, USA, it's part of the state of Michigan. Its French name might lead you to pronounce it "eel roy-AL", but the common pronunciation is the anglicized version, "ile ROY-ul".

Understand

Isle Royale is a wilderness preserve first, a sanctuary for those seeking to experience it second, and a travel destination third. Although it accommodates all of these uses, that's the order of priority they take. So wildlife gets the run of the island, and human visitors are generally restricted to established trails and accessible lakes, with leave-no-trace camping protocols in effect. Modern conveniences and comforts are very limited; away from the small ports on either end of the island, "running water" means "a creek", and only "outhouse" pit toilets are available. (Many of the more accessible ones are stocked with toilet paper, but bring your own or be prepared to improvise.)

Lake Superior winters close the park from November through mid-April, with limited access before Memorial Day and after Labor Day; Isle Royale is the only U.S. National Park to shut down altogether for the winter. Because of this, along with its geographic isolation and challenging ruggedness, it receives fewer visitors in a year (17,500 in 2005) than many national parks endure in a day. Those visitors stay a remarkable average of 4-5 days each (even counting day-trippers), but it still has one of the lowest visitors-per-square-mile figures outside of the huge Alaskan parks. Which is, of course, a large part of its appeal. And it leaves these visitors wanting more, with the NPS's highest return-visit rate.

History
Over four millennia ago, Native Americans began visiting Isle Royale to dig for copper, to tap maple trees for sugar, and to fish. Since Europeans came to the area, it's been host to whitefish fisheries, a series of unprofitable copper mining efforts, and a resort community around 1900. In the 1920s, Detroit News journalist Albert Stoll Jr. visited Isle Royale, saw what commercial exploitation was beginning to do to undermine the wilderness, and campaigned for its protection; a plaque in his honor was later placed near the tip of Scoville Point. Isle Royale National Park was established by Congress in 1931, and the last of the land de-privatized in 1940 (with a few of the land owners given lifetime leases). The archipelago was designated a Wilderness Area in 1976, and named an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980.

Landscape
The archipelago (consisting of Isle Royale itself and dozens of smaller islands) is the edge of a geologic fault which pushed up from the lake floor and was scoured by ice-age glaciers into a long, ridged island, with lakes and inlets of Lake Superior filling in low points between some of the ridges. The south sides of these ridges and the south lakeshore tend to be more gently sloped; the north sides and lakeshore more steep. Crossing from one side of the island to the other isn't usually a great distance, but because of the ridges can involve a lot of climbing and descending.

The island and its ridges run roughly WSW-to-ENE end to end, but for informal navigational purposes they're usually described as if they ran directly west-to-east (a notion reinforced by the orientation of the park service's official map). When using a compass, keep in mind the island's true orientation. The Greenstone Ridge runs the length of the island, with a trail along most of its crest. Isle Royale itself is 45 miles (74 km) long and 9 miles (14 km) at its widest, with an area of about 205 mi² (530 km²). The highest point on the island is Mount Desor at 1394 feet (425 m) above sea level – about 800 feet (245 m) above lake level – with several other spots along the Greenstone above 1200 feet (365 m) in elevation.

Flora and fauna
The island is mostly forested in a mixture of boreal and northern hardwood ecosystems, with a selection of conifer (spruce, fir, pine) and deciduous (birch, aspen, maple, ash) trees. Past human habitation has left some apple trees behind. Marsh vegetation is more common in the west, but found in low spots everywhere. A wide variety of orchids and wildflowers can be found throughout the island. Berries grow wild; blueberries can be found on open ridge tops, and thimbleberries (with maple-like leaves bigger than your hand; white flowers in early summer, red berries in late summer) grow seemingly everywhere.

The island is far enough from the mainland and small enough in area to limit the variety of animals on it; there are no bears, deer, raccoons, nor cats of any kind. Around 1900, moose introduced themselves to the island, presumably swimming from Ontario. Wolves followed later, crossing increasingly rare safe ice bridges in 1948 and 1967. As a closed environment, the island serves as a prime field study of the relationship between prey and predator. Because the wolf population is descended from two small packs, the island also demonstrates the effects of inbreeding on their viability. Both populations have gone through booms and busts due to weather, disease, food availability, and predation (the past several summers' heat has brought the February 2007 moose population way down to 385, with 21 wolves trying to subsist on the survivors), but they still endure.

Other common mammals are red foxes (filling the scavenger niche, especially around camp sites), beavers (in inland lakes and ponds), red squirrels (everywhere), snowshoe hares, and otters. Loons, eagles, and ospreys nest on the island, and a large variety of songbirds, woodpeckers, and aquatic birds (especially gulls and ducks) will be seen. Painted turtles, garter snakes, and a few varieties of amphibians are common. Northern pike are plentiful in most of the inland lakes, along with varieties of trout, perch, walleye, and other sport fish. Mosquitoes, no-see-ums, and a few varieties of biting flies are unfortunately abundant, though the extent of these nuisances varies year to year, by season, and from one locale to another. Insect repellent is essential, and a face net will provide welcome relief when the bugs seem intent on driving you crazy even when your bug dope prevents them from landing. There are bees on the island as well.

Climate
At a latitude of 48° North, and with the moderating influence of cold Lake Superior, Isle Royale rarely gets hot by human standards. During the summer months you'll reach shorts-and-t-shirt weather in the afternoon, especially hiking up on the ridges, but you'll also experience some rather chilly nights, sometimes even below 50°F (10°C) in the "heat" of August. In May and October, temperatures can easily dip below freezing by night and stay below 60°F (15°C) all day. Rainfall fluctuates from month to month, but July and August have the least overcast days (making them the busiest weeks of the summer). Regardless, a stay of several days any time of the summer without at least some rain is uncommon; either bring rain gear or plan on spending time stuck in your tent or a shelter. The good news for people with hayfever is that they'll find few common pollen allergens in the air. (During its resort days, the island was a popular haven for allergy sufferers.) In the winter, conditions are inhospitable and the island is closed to all but wildlife researchers. Even the park headquarters relocate to Houghton for the winter.

Visitor information
The park has three visitor centers that offer exhibits about the park and have rangers who can answer questions.
 * Park website

By commercial flight
The closest commercial airport to Isle Royale National Park is Thunder Bay International Airport in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is served by Canadian airlines. Highway 61 links Thunder Bay with Grand Portage, Minnesota, from which ferry service to the park is available.

The second closest airport is Houghton County Memorial Airport in Houghton, Michigan, which also has ferry services to the park. United Airlines is the only commercial carrier at the airport. There is also floatplane service (see below) from the airport to Isle Royale.

Duluth International Airport in Duluth, Minnesota, about 3½ hours from Grand Portage via Highway 61, is served by Delta Air Lines, United, and Allegiant Air.

By ferry

Almost all visitors get to and from Isle Royale via scheduled ferry services:

Advance reservations are strongly recommended for all ships, especially in late July and early August. Whether you're traveling across the depths of Superior from Michigan, or on the ferries from nearer Minnesota, take precautions for motion sickness if you're not a seasoned sailor. In the uncommon event of dangerous weather, crossings may be delayed, but they're almost never canceled. The Queen and Sea Hunter and Voyageur II both offer discounted fares for day-trips to the park, which give you about 3-4 hours on the island. Note that Isle Royale is at the western extreme of the Eastern time zone, but the Minnesota-based ferries operate on Central time.

The ferries from Michigan dock at Snug Harbor, an inlet of Rock Harbor near the east end of the island; this is the largest populated area on the island. Because Rock Harbor Lodge, Rock Harbor campground, and Rock Harbor Visitor Center are here, this site is commonly referred to as "Rock Harbor", even though that actually describes the whole miles-long stretch of water. The ferries from Minnesota dock at "Windigo", a smaller port at the west end of the island and "Rock Harbor". Each port has a small camp store, drinking water, modern restrooms, pay showers, and coin laundry; these are the only such facilities in the park.

By floatplane
Floatplane service is available from Houghton. It's considerably more expensive than the ferries, but the trip takes a fraction of the time, and offers nice aerial views. The plane can dock at either port, and since it can make multiple crossings in a day, this can give you some flexibility with the time of day you arrive and leave. Stove fuel can't be transported by air, so if you're camping you'll have to buy that on the island.

By private boat
Private motorboats also come to the island, mostly from Grand Portage, Minnesota, next from Michigans' Upper Peninsula, most infrequently from nearby Thunder Bay, Ontario. All boats (of whatever nationality) coming from Canada are required to check in with U.S. Customs at Windigo or Snug Harbor. Sanitation and fuel services are also available at these ports. To protect the island wildlife from diseases and disruption, pets are not permitted on boats within the park boundaries.

Fees and permits
A fee of $7 per calendar day on the island is charged for visitors 12 years and older, and to save time upon arrival is collected en route by the services providing transportation to and from the island. Note that the interagency parks passes can cover this fee.

Park visitors are required to file a plan with the rangers indicating the campgrounds they expect to use each night. This serves to make sure campers' plans are consistent with party-size and duration-of-stay limits on campgrounds (and reality), and to help the park service estimate campground usage. They don't care if you change your mind along the way (they expect that to happen), and only ask that campers let them know where you actually stayed before leaving. Special permits and reservations are required for groups of 7-10, for off-trail hikers, and for canoeists camping outside of designated campgrounds. Because noise levels go up exponentially as the size of camping parties increase, groups of more than 10 must split up and hike and camp separately. Fishing in Lake Superior and connected waters requires a paid license from the state; inland lakes have no licensing requirement. Hunting is not permitted.

Get around

All transportation is on foot, by canoe or kayak, sailboat or by motorboat. Except for a few wide, flat trails at the ports for NPS equipment, and a little pavement in the Snug Harbor area, there are no roads on the island. Mountain bikes and wheeled portage devices are not permitted.

As a wilderness area, the park does not meet modern expectations of accessibility. You need to be able to walk on rough surfaces and steep terrain to get anywhere at all beyond the immediate vicinity of the ports. At Windigo, even the information office and store are up a short but steep hill. Wheelchairs are permitted but not actively accommodated; if you rely on one, you'll find getting on and off the ferry difficult, to say nothing of getting around. Lakeshore canoeing and sightseeing by boat are the best options for those with limited mobility. Service animals are permitted, but only with prior arrangements.

By foot
A 165-mile network of groomed trails connects most areas of the island. These are unpaved, and only somewhat improved, with exposed roots and stone common. When crossing "bald" areas of exposed solid rock, small cairns of stones are piled periodically to mark the route. In marshy areas, plank walkways have been built to allow passage and small bridges cross flowing streams.

By paddle
Several of the inland lakes and protected inlets of Lake Superior are connected by portages ranging from a few dozen feet to a few miles. Traveling by canoe or kayak won't get you to all parts of the island (not even the whole shoreline; the northwest coast is generally considered unsafe, with few places to beach), but it provides a different way of seeing the park, taking you to some parts the trails don't reach.

By water taxi
The Sandy, a water taxi operated by Rock Harbor Lodge & Marina, can take you to various places on the east end of the island. It's fairly costly, especially for small groups. For example, a one-way trip for one or two people to Daisy Farm campground (6 miles away) costs $91; for a capacity party of six, the fare goes up to $110. There's only one Sandy and she also provides scheduled sightseeing tours, so reservations are recommended.

By water bus
The island's bus is the Voyageur II. It's one of the ferries from Grand Portage (see "Get in"), but between crossings to/from the mainland, it circumnavigates the island, from Windigo to Snug Harbor along the north side one day, then back to Windigo along the south side the next, making it useful for getting from one part of the island to another. During the summer it makes three runs each week, fewer in early May or late September/October. In addition to the two main ports, it can do pick-ups and drop-offs at McCargoe Cove and Belle Isle (north side, M W Sa), and Daisy Farm, Chippewa Harbor, and Malone Bay (south side, Tu Th Su), with fares of $40-52 per person. It stops at these intermediate docks only by request, and it doesn't swing by close enough to be flagged down, so book passage in advance. The Voyageur II allows hikers to through-hike from Windigo to Rock Harbor (or vice-versa).

By plane
If you simply must get from one end of the island to the other on a tight schedule, the floatplane service may be able to accommodate you, but advance notice and reservations are required, and the fare is a hefty $280 per person (round trip); see "Get in".

See

The primary attraction is the wilderness of the island. Although it isn't "untouched" – Isle Royale has a history of human habitation and use, and the trails and campgrounds are inherently non-virginal – the remoteness and careful management of the island have combined to make for one of the more authentically "wild" experiences within the National Park system. The trails generally adhere to leave-no-trace principles.

Secondarily, there's the wildlife. Sightings of small fauna such as squirrels and songbirds are inevitable. Fox, moose, and loon encounters can be expected if you look for them (and perhaps even if you don't). Signs of the island's wolf presence (e.g. footprints and scat) are common, and even nighttime howls or a chance glimpse through the trees are just common enough to keep hikers' eyes and ears open for them. Moose commonly use the island's trails as well, and leave plenty of droppings. When populations are high, moose sightings are fairly common. Their numbers have fallen, however.

Depending on solar activity and magnetic field fluctuations, the aurora borealis ("Northern Lights") is frequently visible. On clear nights, the lack of light pollution offers outstanding star-gazing opportunities at lakeshores where the tree cover breaks.

The island's human history is also worth exploring. Surrounding Isle Royale there are several lighthouses you can visit as well as shipwreck sites. The remains of abandoned copper mines can be found near McCargoe Cove, on the Island Mine Trail, and near Windigo.

Do
Fishing is a popular activity, which you can do from motorboats in the waters surrounding Isle Royale, or from canoes in its inland lakes (many of which are both secluded and teeming with fish). Angling in the waters of Lake Superior (including bays) requires a Michigan fishing license, which you can buy at either port's ranger station. Hunting is not permitted.

A number of ships have met disaster on the rocks and islets around Isle Royale, making the surrounding waters fairly popular with shipwreck divers.

Around Rock Harbor

If you're spending the night at Rock Harbor campground, staying at Rock Harbor Lodge, or a day-tripper from Michigan, there are several ways to spend your day.
 * Guided tours, organized activities, and boat expeditions are offered; check at the lodge to see what's on the schedule. The boat trips can take you to some of the more interesting spots along the southeast end of the island, such as Passage Island and its lighthouse a few miles into Lake Superior, and several of the sites mentioned below for self-exploration.  The lodge also schedules nightly informational programs.
 * Rent a canoe and paddle Tobin Harbor, a long, sheltered inlet on the north side of the narrow peninsula the lodge and ranger station are on. This lightly-developed "historic district" was a popular site for little cottages a century ago (mostly out near the Lake), but aside from the periodic floatplane landing/take-off, it's generally more quiet than "hectic" Rock Harbor, and also provides a shortcut to the trail leading to the breathtaking view from Lookout Louise up on the Greenstone Ridge.  (Sample canoe rental rate: $18 for six hours.)
 * Rent a canoe and paddle Rock Harbor.  You can work your way along the shoreline of the harbor, or explore the several barrier islands that shelter it from Lake Superior.  Raspberry Island (turn slightly to the left when you leave Snug Harbor) has a trail with closely-placed examples of several of Isle Royale's environments (including some short but difficult sections of trail).  Note that Rock Harbor offers little shelter from windy weather, paddling between the barrier islands can expose you to Lake Superior waves, and on the lakeward side of the islands crashing waves and swells can easily tip or swamp a canoe.  You'll also have to be prepared for periodic wakes from motorboats zipping the length of the harbor for one reason or another.
 * Rent a boat with an outboard motor and go fishing in Rock Harbor or explore farther afield. East Caribou and Mott Islands (joined by a footbridge) are home to the sometimes noisy park headquarters, but also have a 2½-mile trail that takes you to the Lake Superior shore on the side away from Rock Harbor.  Edisen Fishery and Rock Harbor Lighthouse (both well-preserved 19th century relics) are across from Daisy Farm campground at the mouth of Moskey Basin.  Just a little west of Edisen is another former fishery which is the summer residence of wolf/moose researchers Candy and Rolf Peterson, who have a huge collection of moose bones in their yard (look for the Norwegian flag).
 * To spend a few hours on your feet, hike the Stoll Trail east out to rocky Scoville Point, passing a pair of old copper-mining pits along the way. Or take the Rock Harbor Trail a couple miles west to Suzy's Cave, a "secret passage" formed by the lake when it was much higher, and return on the Tobin Harbor Trail (or vice versa).  The Tobin Harbor and Stoll Trails are the least difficult, but both involve some tricky footsteps (Stoll especially) and steep stretches of trail (Tobin Harbor especially).
 * For a longer hike, trek up onto the Greenstone Ridge to Mt. Franklin and back (about 10 miles round-trip). For a vigorous day-long hike, continue west to Mt. Ojibway and return by way of the Daisy Farm and Rock Harbor Trails (about 15 miles total). No water sources exist on the ridge proper, and it can reach the low-80s F (~25 °C) on summer afternoons at higher altitudes -- pack accordingly.

Around Windigo
Those staying at Washington Creek campground or day-tripping from Minnesota have a few options as well.
 * There are two self-guided nature trail loops at Windigo, one less than a mile, the other a little more than a mile.
 * Rent a canoe and explore sheltered Washington Harbor, and Grace Harbor at the edge of Lake Superior. These have plenty of shoreline, several islands, and the barely-underwater sunken cruise ship America to explore (best reached by motorboat).
 * The old Wendigo Mine ruins (not a typo; 19th-century spellings are sometimes inconsistent) are a couple miles inland on the East Huginnin Cove Trail.
 * Hiking the first 2 miles of the Feldtmann Ridge Trail and back provides good views of Washington Harbor, including a short trail leading to a good overlook. Continuing farther offers less scenic views, but nice woodland hiking.
 * The 9-mile trail loop to Huginnin Cove and back is too far for a day-visitor to the island, but can be done in 4-6 hours if you're staying at Washington Creek campground, especially if you leave your gear behind. It has some difficult, steep stretches of trail.
 * Similarly, there's an overlook of the Minong Ridge a little more than 4 miles along that trail.
 * Dive the "America." If you have the ability to provide your own boat transportation (there are no charters regularly scheduling dives, and exclusive charter might be pricey) and provide your own equipment (multiple tanks of air to make the trip worthwhile) the "America" is a wonderful experience. The bow of the ship pokes out from the Lake approximately two feet while the stern lies at approximately 84 feet. The vessel is remarkably intact, even following salvage attempts. Special things to see are the engine room, grand staircase, dining area and kitchen, a model-something Ford (complete with hand crank on front). Clothing and ship equipment still exist on this wreck. No human passengers perished on its sinking, however, there has been at least one recorded diving death on this wreck near the kitchen area during a wreck penetration dive. Do not dive or penetrate this wreck if you are not trained in wreck penetration. While no humans perished at sinking, there was one fatality, a pet dog.

Backcountry
If you have more than a few hours to spend on the island, head off into the backcountry. The National Geographic Society publishes a very good waterproof topographic map of Isle Royale with campgrounds and trails marked, and mileages for both land and water routes between sites at $10. The book Isle Royale National Park: Foot Trails & Water Routes by Jim DuFresne (ISBN 0898867924) is an excellent resource, describing the regions and routes in experienced detail. Both are available at the information offices on the island, but are most useful for planning your trip before arrival.

The interconnected trails and the portage-linked lakes and bays make it easy for you to devise your own itinerary among the island's campgrounds. But there are some common routes that begin and end at the ports, or at docks accessible by ferry or water taxi:

Buy
There is a fairly small but well-stocked camp store at Snug Harbor and an even smaller store at Windigo, both near their respective NPS information offices. You shouldn't rely on either of them for equipping or provisioning your trip (due to the high prices if nothing else), but they provide a handy safety net if you discover you've left something behind, and they're popular with those just coming off the trail looking for food that doesn't require the addition of hot water. They sell dramamine by the dose, for if the ferry ride home looks like it's going to be rough.

If you want a souvenir from the island, there's an assortment of t-shirts and sweatshirts in the camp stores, and Rock Harbor Lodge (which operates the stores) has a small gift shop (sharing space with the Greenstone Grill) with a larger selection of merchandise, including knick-knacks, plush animals, and the like... so don't go and help yourself to things you find in the wilderness. Removing samples of greenstone from the park is prohibited, and tampering with the wildlife and environment in general is discouraged. "Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints."

Eat
For most visitors, you'll be eating what you pack in, so freeze-dried meals, candy-nuts-and-granola mixtures, and oatmeal are your best bet for on the trails and lakes. Fires are prohibited except in selected sites with community fire rings or grills, so you'll need a camp stove. Edible berries can be picked and eaten along the trails when in season. Anglers (especially with watercraft) can add freshly caught fish to the menu. The camp stores at Snug Harbor and Windigo have a limited selection of packaged groceries for housekeeping cabins, freeze-dried food for in the wilderness, and chips or candy for those just returning.

Drink
There is potable water available at the ranger stations at Snug Harbor and Windigo and their neighboring campgrounds of Rock Harbor and Washington Creek. All campgrounds have a natural water supply on-site or nearby, but these sources should be presumed infected with parasites, and either filtered or thoroughly boiled before drinking or cooking. Filters are the best option for drinking water, because that retains its refreshing coldness, and is also most practical for the gallon/day 3.5 L) or more each person is likely to need. Chemical purification tablets won't kill the tapeworm eggs that the moose deposit in the water supply.

Soft drinks are sold at both camp stores. The Greenstone Grill (see "Eat") also serves a small assortment of mainstream U.S. and Canadian beers (including Moosehead), and a small but well-chosen selection of Michigan microbrews. Bring your own liquor to the island if you wish, but keep in mind that drunken campers disturb both wildlife and other campers, and alcohol is prohibited at a few campgrounds. Besides, the last thing you need in the wilderness is impaired judgment, dehydration, a hangover, and a bottle to carry.

Sleep
Although the park service is exploring options which might offer a compromise, when staying on Isle Royale you need to choose between cost and comfort: sleep in your own bag outside for free, or sleep in a bed indoors and pay the expense of civilized amenities in the wilderness.

Camping
The vast majority of visitors to Isle Royale stay in the designated campgrounds maintained by the park service, equivalent to what most parks call "backcountry" camping... nothing like the half-paved communal parking lots usually passed off as "campgrounds". Some are accessible only through the network of trails crossing the island, some are accessible only by water routes, but many can be reached either way. The motorboat-accessible campgrounds may not be ideal for hikers and paddlers trying to get away from civilization. There's no charge for campgrounds beyond the park visitor fee.

The only amenities at these campgrounds are enclosed pit toilets... no electricity, showers, or trash cans. Campgrounds on the shore of Lake Superior usually have picnic tables; inland campgrounds instead have some large local logs to sit on. Most campgrounds have several fairly isolated "individual" sites, clearings big enough for two 1-to-3-person tents. Shoreline campgrounds usually also have a small number of three-sided, covered and floored wooden shelters (the fourth wall is screened), but these can't be reserved, so you need to bring a weatherproof three-season tent or risk spending the night with no protection from the clouds (of rain and mosquitoes). For that matter, the tent sites can't be reserved either, so during times of heavy use, you might have to share an individual site with another party. Some campgrounds have larger tent sites for groups of 7-10 campers (located away from the "regular" sites, to reduce the disturbances such groups produce) which must be reserved. Most campgrounds have a three-night limit on how long you may stay, and the most in-demand ones have shorter limits.

The park's campgrounds, from one end to the other: (numbers correspond to locations on map)

For those arriving at Snug Harbor, the obvious place to camp the first and last nights is the Rock Harbor campground, the island's busiest. If you're eager to get away from what passes for "crowds" on Isle Royale, Three Mile campground (unsurprisingly about 3 miles away) is easy to get to. Daisy Farm (another 4 miles) is also within a partial-day's hike. But keep in mind that you'll be disembarking from a ferry at the same time as dozens of people with exactly the same idea, filling that first day's hike with passing and being passed by fellow travelers, so an afternoon exploring the Snug Harbor area and a night at Rock Harbor with a more individual hit-the-trail time the next morning (and your choice of sites when you arrive) may be more to your liking. Lane Cove is a reasonable distance for a first night, but it requires hiking over the Greenstone Ridge, and it's a dead-end, so you'll have to backtrack the next day (with a really steep climb back onto the ridge) to go anywhere else. First-day paddlers can reach the Tooker's Island or Caribou Island campgrounds on the barrier islands protecting Rock Harbor.

Arrivals at Windigo typically spend the first and last nights at the Washington Creek campground. An alternative is to hike north to Huginnin Cove (3 miles), but this detour loop will add about 3 miles of up-and-down hiking to the beginning of the next day's hike, regardless of which direction you're going next. Or set out right away on the Greenstone and make your way to Island Mine campground (7 miles, mostly up hill). Beaver Island and Grace Island campgrounds can be reached by canoe or kayak.

From there, it's up to you.

Backcountry
True backcountry camping – hiking off the trails and camping in non-designated sites – is allowed only with a special "cross-country" camping permit. It's advised only for experienced wilderness hikers due to the frequent ruggedness of the terrain and difficulty navigating in mostly-wooded areas.

Stay safe

The Brothers Grimm gave wolves a very unfair portrayal; unless you are a young or feeble moose, you're in no danger from them. Although they've gotten a little less furtive lately as they look harder for moose (whose numbers have gone down substantially), they're still very good at avoiding humans, and even mere sightings are still infrequent. On the other hand, moose can be very dangerous if provoked (there's a reason wolves only go after the weak ones, and do so in packs), especially if you get between a mother and her calf, or if you confront a bull during mating season. But otherwise they're nothing to be afraid of, and will probably regard you the same way.

The greatest danger is your own foolishness: pushing yourself too hard, or ignoring basic principles of wilderness health and safety (e.g. keeping dry, water sanitation, floatation devices on the water). Canoeing, kayaking, or swimming in Lake Superior can be particularly hazardous due to the potential roughness of the water (it's more like a freshwater sea than a mere lake) and the hypothermia-inducing temperature just below the surface year-round.

The water from Lake Superior is safe enough when filtered, but some streams and inland lake sources are not as wholesome. Good filtration (not iodine tablets) is a must and some water from marshlands may need to be pre-filtered to prevent clogging. The taller ridges can reach 80+ degrees on a warm summer's day, and there are no water sources up there. Plan ahead and bring plenty of water, as the ridge trails are a strenuous hike. Nothing is worse than being exhausted and out of water 1000 feet above Lake Superior!

If you're injured, there's limited medical assistance available on the island, and it's going to have a difficult time getting to you in the backcountry. There are ranger stations at Snug Harbor, Windigo, Malone Bay (on the south shore), and Amygdaloid Island (off the northeast shore), and a ranger resident at Daisy Farm, any of which can radio for help and arrange for helicopter transport to the mainland (at your expense) for professional medical care.

Surprisingly, there is a theft problem at Isle Royale campgrounds, and the culprits inevitably escape prosecution on the grounds that they are not human. Foxes are the worst culprits, potentially stealing anything left unattended, including boots, socks, and even cameras. Squirrels – especially those who've had a previous taste of the exotic foods humans eat – will brazenly steal food from your hand when your head is turned (not much caring if they bite you in the process), or chew through your backpack if they catch a whiff of such ambrosia inside. Double-plastic-bagging and vigilance are advised. This is important both for your own well-being and that of the animals; camp foxes quickly become dependent on human food and stop hunting, which is both nutritionally bad for them and leaves them to starve when the humans all go away for the long winter.

Connect
The phone numbers included here are useful for planning your trip, not for calling from Isle Royale, where phone service is almost non-existent. At Snug Harbor there's a cellular pay phone on an amplified antenna for "Yeah, Mom, I made it back to the ranger station" calls (credit cards only; $5 for the first two minutes). Mobile phones won't work unless you're on a ridge or a part of the island close to Thunder Bay, Ontario, where maybe you'll get a weak signal. You can bring your phone along "for emergencies", but the odds of it working when you want it to are slim enough to make it just a half pound of dead weight in your pack. Don't even think about trying to blog your trip.

Go next
If traveling through Grand Portage, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of Minnesota and Quetico Provincial Park of Ontario provide a paddling paradise to the west. Houghton-Hancock and Copper Harbor are located on the scenic Keweenaw Peninsula (Isle Royale's geological sibling), and it's not far from there to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, another nice hiking area to the southeast.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Isle Royale National Park


text:
Isles of Scilly

The Isles of Scilly (Cornish: Enesek Syllan) is a small archipelago of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, 25 miles off the coast of Cornwall at the south-western tip of the United Kingdom. The main island, and obvious base for visitors, is St Mary's. Four of the other islands (known as "Off Islands") are inhabited: best known is Tresco for its Abbey Gardens. All the islands are scenic, and collectively they've been designated an "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty".

Understand
Look at a map of the islands or a satellite photo, and it's as if a single large island has drowned. And that is indeed what happened, possibly as recently as 500 AD, as "Ennor" sank to become a source for legends of Atlantis and Lyonesse. These islands are the last redoubt of land as Britain pokes its toe into the Atlantic, so they came to signify first and last sight of the homeland, or terrible shipwreck, or a nest of rebels and pirates, or first point of attack from overseas powers.

The islands bask in the Gulf Stream and are very mild and sunny. They're cooler than mainland England at the height of summer, but considerably warmer in winter, and frost is rare. This balmy climate fosters sub-tropical flora and a flower industry, plus tourism. St Mary's is the largest island with a population of around 1750, with Hugh Town the main settlement. The other four inhabited Off Islands are each home to a hundred or so. There's limited visitor accommodation and limited transport capacity, so book them simultaneously. The islands are frankly expensive (it's cheaper to holiday in the Med), so even with day-trippers they're not mobbed by tourist hordes - until a cruise ship appears, as they regularly do.

There are no slabby office blocks, high-rise flats or chain hotels here. Much of the land is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall (i.e. Prince of Wales), who together with the islands' council are determined to preserve its character and wildlife. Minor royalty take holidays here, and you'll frequently spot the Duchy's coat of arms. It looks like a bunch of grapes but in heraldry it's "Sable, 15 bezants" plus other flummery. (Translation: black, with 15 gold coins of Byzantium, looted by Crusaders.)

If a local is within earshot, always refer to the place as "The Isles of Scilly", and don't be caught saying "The Scilly Isles" or "The Scillies". This is often attributed to the Royal Mail, as in the early 1900s, they changed the address for the islands from “Scilly Isles” to “Isles of Scilly”, as many of the letters bound to the islands were mistakenly sent to Sicily.

Although you may refer to an islander as a Scillonian (same as the ferry), the proper definition of a Scillonian is someone whose grandmother was born and raised on the islands, while an Islander is someone who was born and/or raised there. If you live on the islands but don't fit any of the above criteria, you're a mere Resident. Don't worry if that's too much to take in, as many people use the terms interchangeably, and you're highly unlikely to cause any offense if you get them mixed up.

The Cornish language was spoken on the islands until the 17th century, and unlike on the mainland there has been no serious attempt to revive it in the 21st. However, many local place names (e.g. Annet, Bryher, Tresco) are Cornish in origin.

Visitor information

 * The official tourist information centre is on Portcressa Road in Hugh Town. There's also an independent travel agent, Isles of Scilly Travel, on Hugh Street.
 * Simpy Scilly tourist information website

Islands
There are five inhabited islands:

And a large number of smaller uninhabited islands and islets:

Get in
Not on Sunday you won't: no ferry, no flights, so Sunday newspapers arrive Monday. The exception is if flights or ferries have been cancelled by weather. Then extra catch-up services may be put on, perhaps at short notice to take advantage of a weather window. So you need to stay in touch with your transport operator in these circumstances.

By boat

 * See Penzance for long-stay parking options near the mainland ferry terminal.

By plane
There are flights year-round to the Isles of Scilly from Land's End and Newquay, Monday to Saturday. In winter when the ferry doesn't sail, this is your only way in. March to October there are also flights from Exeter. These "Skybus" flights are in small fixed-wing twin-props (e.g. Twin Otter or BNF Islander) so your checked baggage limit is only 15 kg, and flights can be grounded by weather that wouldn't bother an Airbus or 737. Day-trips (with no checked baggage) can be made from Land's End or Newquay but not Exeter.

The islands' airport is

By helicopter
There are year-round flights to the islands from a heliport just off the A30 at Jelbert Way, Penzance flying with

Around St Mary's
Walking is ideal for the area around Hugh Town, from the Garrison to the west to Old Town to the east. A hiking trail circles the coast, and all of St Mary's is within walking range of fit young adults (which most visitors no longer are.) The roads are good but very narrow, with no sidewalk beyond Old Town, so even with light traffic you won't enjoy walking them.

Bike hire is widely available. Electric carts can be hired from Scilly Cart Co - bright yellow golf-buggies, but they're road-legal and you will be on the public highway, so you need your driving licence.

April to October M-Sa an elderly bus chugs around St Mary's, visiting or passing close to all points of interest, but not calling at the airport. It starts from the Strand near town hall in Hugh Town. Every two or three hours it runs as a standard bus, 30 min circuit, single trip adult £2, concessions available. Between times it runs as a sight-seeing bus, stopping for photos at the main viewpoints, £10 for a one-hour circuit. Bus times are posted at various locations in town, or ask at the TIC. Mainland bus drivers often don't like giving change but this one, uniquely, resents getting too much, and turns puce at the sight of euros.

Taxis are usually waiting in the centre of Hugh Town, or touting at the pier when the ferry comes in.

Between the islands
Small boats run from the quay at Hugh town on St Mary's to each of the inhabited islands. See St Mary's Boatmen's Association for times and fares, but the standard direct sailings are Apr-Oct daily, 4 to Tresco, 3 to St Agnes, 2 to St Martin's and 2 to Bryher. The boats carry bikes and luggage (including bags checked through from the mainland) but not electric carts or freight. Return fares are adult £9.50, child £4.75, with crossings taking 20 mins. No advance booking, pay at the kiosk on the pier or on the boat.

In summer the direct boat times suit visitors going out from St Mary's in the morning to visit one island and return in the afternoon. They don't enable hops between Off Islands, even between Tresco and Bryher a few hundred yards apart, and they don't circle the islands for sightseeing and bird-watching. For those, take a tour trip, usually adult £15, child £7.50. For instance the Three Islands tour visits Bryher, Tresco and St Agnes, with an hour or two ashore on each. Other offerings are for evening tours, seasonal bird-watching (eg the Manx Shearwaters and puffins), fishing, watching the gig-racing, and out into deep water as far as lonely Bishop lighthouse. In winter most boats are laid up and there are very few sailings. Times then are more suited to bringing Off Islanders in to St Mary's for life's essentials then getting them home.

Posted timetables are only approximate, and you always need to enquire on the pier about weather, boat times, tides and sea conditions, and what's going on for the next few days. (Is a cruise ship due in? If so, "££!" signs will light up in local eyes, boat trips will sell out, and the main tourist sights will be busy.) Then once on your boat, be sure to check the return sailing time and pick-up point, which may well differ from where you land.

Around the Off Islands
Walk. The Off Islands are small and have good lanes so cycling is easy; bike hire is available on all islands. For getting in and away with luggage, your accommodation will usually provide transport to the quay. There are very few vehicles, and islanders potter around on a fleet of tractors, buggies (hire may be possible), and antediluvian Land Rover Defenders.

Tresco
Remember that your boat pick-up point may not be the same as your landing! Depending on tides it will be either Cairn Near Point on the south tip of the island, or New Grimsby on the west coast looking across at Bryher. They're a 20-min walk apart.
 * The "Great Pool" just north of Abbey Gardens has bird hides.
 * The "Great Pool" just north of Abbey Gardens has bird hides.
 * The "Great Pool" just north of Abbey Gardens has bird hides.
 * The "Great Pool" just north of Abbey Gardens has bird hides.

Bryher
A small island, mostly farmland, and the most westerly settlement in England (not Britain, as Scotland and Ulster reach further west). The usual landing quay is on the east side just below All Saints Church, but it gets very shallow at low tide. On the west coast the Atlantic waves crash onto Hell Bay, and the Great Pool is a brackish lagoon separated from the sea by a storm beach. There are a couple of cafes and B&Bs plus a campsite. Seen north of the quay, Fraggle Rock is also known as Hangman Island. The bodies of rebels and pirates were often hung up in cages, and Isles of Scilly had plenty of both, but there's no evidence that Fraggle Rock was used for this. At spring low tide it's possible to walk to the southern uninhabited island of Samson, and even to Tresco, but seek local advice before attempting this. There's no transport to other islets such as Gweal.

St Martin's
This is the most northerly of the Isles of Scilly. The usual landing quay is at Higher Town on its south side. This tiny "town" straggles west through Middle Town to, guess where, Lower Town, where the Hotel Quay is the landing point at low tide. St Martin's is surrounded by rugged coastline and unspoilt beaches, and crisscrossed by paths. It has a bakery, a cafe, a couple of pubs, a few B&Bs, and a vineyard (open Tu-Th 11AM-4PM). The bright red & white tower at the north-east corner of the island is a navigational day-mark, erected 1683, and visible from mainland Cornwall - it's not a lighthouse as it never had a light. At the north tip, a rocky causeway passable at low tide connects to White Island, which has Neolithic remains and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Seek local advice on safe crossing times, as the waves and tides can really rip over the causeway. There's no transport to other nearby islets such as Tean.

St Agnes
This is most southerly populated spot in Britain, with Troy Town Farm being the most southerly habitation in the UK. The quay is on the east of the island, and just next to it is a pub & cafe, the Turk's Head. This, and another couple of small cafes further west, are only open in summer. There's no hotel, but a couple of places do B&B. In the centre of the island is the main settlement and a lighthouse built in 1680; it's no longer lit but serves as a day-mark for shipping. Close to the quay is the tidal island of Gugh, connected to St Agnes by a tombolo of shingle and sand. Check times with the boatman, but you can usually walk across and stroll for a couple of hours either side of low tide. At these times St Agnes has a slightly larger area and population than Bryher; then the tide isolates Gugh and its three residents, and St Agnes again becomes the smallest of the Isles of Scilly.

Do

 * Boat trips: check the notice boards at Hugh Town quay or the St Mary's Boatmen's Association for what's available. On the Off Islands, check with the local boat company. See also "Get around" above for other options & practicalities.
 * Diving: The distance from the main islands of Britain gives the Scillies excellent visibility for scuba diving, while the archipelago is a tangle of reefs that attract both marine life and has caused innumerable wrecks over the years, including one of the worst peacetime disasters of the Royal Navy. Dive Scilly, run by Dave McBride (T: 01720 422848) runs runs dive trips from a day-boat and can provide gas fills.
 * Pilot gigs are traditional Cornish six-oar rowing boats, slim and fast - the first boat to get a pilot out to a struggling ship won the job. They also acted as the first shore-based lifeboats, but since the 19th century have mostly been used for sport racing. Racing gigs must strictly adhere to the "Treffy" pattern of 1838; non-racing gigs may vary. The World Pilot Gig Championships are held here annually in May, with over 100 crews competing, and heroic partying afterwards. There are practices and beer-races at other times. Boat trips follow them from St Mary's.
 * Bird watching: the islands are important both for birds of passage - their first & last landfall, especially in spring and autumn - and for resident colonies, most active in early summer.
 * Report a rat! St Agnes & Gugh and Annet are rat-free, the other islands are aiming to be. Ground-nesting birds such as the Manx Shearwater depend upon this. So report it if you think you see a rat, but don't try to whack it yourself. You'd only succeed if it was something else, like the Scillies Shrew, a protected species.

Buy
Lots of locally produced food and gifts are available. Beef, pork, lamb, duck, fresh fish and shellfish, wildflower honey, fudge, ice cream, paintings, pottery, glassware, jewellery and even soap, the list is endless. Each island has at least one stall selling locally produced fruit and veg together with fresh free range eggs. Scilly is famous for its flowers, and a wide variety of bulbs are available to take home.

There is a Co-op food store on St Mary's and some Off Islands have a well stocked shop.

There is only one bank in Hugh Town on St Mary's. Lloyds (M-F 9AM-4PM) has an ATM. Many shops, pubs and post offices will do cash back.

Eat and drink
For picnic supplies, stock up at the Co-op on St Mary's, or Off Island local shop. All the inhabited islands have decent pub and cafe food, and cream teas. Hours are geared to tourists and they have limited opening out of season.

St Mary's

 * Cafe Kavorna (on Hugh Street beside Lloyd's Bank, +44 1720 422660) does good breakfasts, lunches and cream teas until 5PM. Gluten-free and vegan options.

Sleep
Whatever your price range, be ready to book your accommodation just as soon as you've booked your transport. It's all pricey by mainland standards.

St Mary's

 * Lots of B&Bs, mostly in or near Hugh town, reckon £40-70 ppn. If you need to ask directions from a local, knowing the name of your host is more helpful than knowing the name of the B&B.
 * Splurge at
 * Splurge at
 * Splurge at

Tresco
Tresco is a private estate which runs all the accommodation on the island. There is no camping here. Choices are:

 * Sea Garden cottages: one-bedroom cottages are available to book per night, larger cottages by the week
 * Flying Boat cottages are houses, booked per week.
 * The New Inn, rooms for around £55-120 per person B&B.
 * Traditional cottages sleep from two to ten, and are booked by the week. They're also available as time-shares: you get the same week every year for 25 years.

Bryher

 * There are four small B&Bs on the island.
 * There are four small B&Bs on the island.

St Martin's

 * Four self-catering places, one B&B, and (just as you'd despaired of finding one in these islands) a yurt sleeping 2+2.
 * Four self-catering places, one B&B, and (just as you'd despaired of finding one in these islands) a yurt sleeping 2+2.

St Agnes

St Agnes doesn't have a hotel.

Stay safe
The islands are nearly crime-free. The biggest dangers are probably from bicycle theft or from the odd rowdy group of drunken pub-goers in the evening. Don't leave your bike unlocked outside a pub on a Friday or Saturday night... if it does go missing though you'll probably find it returned nearby the next morning.

If walking along the more rugged coastal paths, or exploring remote parts, especially the smaller uninhabited islands, take with you a charged mobile phone or other means of communication. There is generally good mobile coverage.

As with the rest of the UK, in any emergency call 999 or 112 and ask for Ambulance, Fire or Police when connected.

Connect
The landline area code for the Isles is 01720. There is mobile coverage by all UK networks. The islands are connected to the internet by a high-capacity ocean cable, so there is good internet access available. Royal Mail deliver and collect as on the British mainland, Mondays to Saturdays.

Go next
The only way out by public transport is back to Cornwall on the mainland. It'll be a shock to return to all that scurrying traffic.

title: Isles of Scilly


text:
Isleton

Isleton is a small community in Sacramento County in California, in the Sacramento Delta.

Get around
Taxi is the most reliable way to get around.
 * Sacramento Taxi Yellow Cab
 * BC Cab
 * Co Op Cab

Eat
Peter's Steakhouse the most popular in town.

title: Isleton


text:
Islip

Islip (pronounced "ICE-lip") is a town on Long Island in the state of New York. It includes the villages of Brightwaters, Islandia, Ocean Beach and Saltaire. It also includes numerous hamlets including Bay Shore and Sayville which are ferry terminals for Fire Island. Other prominent communities are Bayport, Brentwood, Central Islip, Hauppauge, Islip village (the town seat), and Ronkonkoma.

Understand
Islip is a suburb of New York City on Long Island. While not as spectacular as Montauk or Jones Beach, it doesn't lack for things to do.

By plane

Bus from airport

 * Suffolk Transit's S57 bus (Sayville–Smith Haven Mall) directly serves MacArthur Airport and the Ronkonkoma LIRR station. It runs M-Sa once an hour but ends service before 8 PM at most stops.

By train
Islip has two main LIRR stations (Islip and Central Islip) that take visitors from New York City. However, there are other stations you can get off at depending on where you want to go.

The five stations on the Montauk Branch (in order), which usually only goes to Jamaica, in Queens, are: The three on the Ronkonkoma Branch (in order), which is more convenient for traveling from Penn Station, in Manhattan, are: Yeah, that's a lot of stations, but with the exception of traveling somewhere specific, it's best to get off at Islip or Central Islip.

Eat
Many restaurants are found on Main Street.

Stay safe
For the most part, Islip is a very safe town – you will find many communities within the town which are safe both during day and at night (such as the hamlet of Islip, which is also the town's center of government). However, like any large municipality, there are also some areas where one should exercise caution. These areas include Brentwood, North Bay Shore, and Central Islip. These areas are generally safe during the day – but at night, they can be very dangerous. Gangs like MS-13 are infamous for having a massive presence in these communities (especially Brentwood) and there is a tremendous amount of drug dealing and usage in these areas. If you have no reason to travel through these communities after the sun sets, then avoid them at all costs. And if you must travel through those areas, make sure to stick to the main thoroughfares through the area – do not travel through the residential areas (especially if there is no street lighting) and do not walk alone under any circumstances in the area at night – especially if you are a woman. Additionally, if you see sneakers dangling from overhead wires or gang graffiti in these areas, leave immediately as these are signs that drug deals and gangs are active in the immediate area.

Should you encounter any problems or witness something suspicious, dial 911. The Suffolk County Police Department is always active and patrolling the area and are happy to assist anybody in need of assistance.

Go next

 * Babylon
 * Smithtown
 * Brookhaven

title: Islip


text:
Isojoki

Isojoki is a village in the Western Finland.

Understand
With a population of 2,353 Isojoki is a small destination. In terms of interest to travellers, it's mainly a good base to explore the nearby Lauhanvuori National Park.

By taxi

 * Keskustaksi, Taksini: see Southern_Ostrobothnia
 * Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi

Lauhanvuori National Park

In this region is located the Lauhanvuori National Park, established in 1982, also known as one of the highest spots in Western Finland. This outstanding place is 53 km².

It is a very exciting place to visit. Most of this area was below the sea level after the Ice Age, except for the Lauhanvuori hill which lays 100 meters above the surrounding areas and it is over 230 meters above today’s sea level. It is very curious and interesting to see the differences on the species between this highest point, which still reflects the ancient landscape, and the rest of the park. The hilltop, which remained above the sea level, is today covered by exuberant mixed woodland, while the lower landscape, washed by the waves, is dominated by pinewoods. With only a few kilometres apart the difference is very noticeable.

Here there is also a unique Stone Field (Kivijata), one of Lauhanvuori’s most popular places, which is spread 800 meters wide. It is a spectacular sight and there is a bridge that helps to walk over it and admire it from the inside. This phenomenon was created during the time changes, when the ice turned into water and removed all these stones. The deepness of the rock field is not known precisely, but investigators calculate that it is approximately 8 meters deep to the ground.

The tower with a viewpoint in Lauhanvuori hill is another popular place to see. It has about 25 meters high and a view of 70 km far on each direction.

The third big attraction is the Spitaalijärvi Lake, the biggest one and it is located in the heart of the park.

It is a rainy area, with a lot of underground water and rivers with very clear and fresh water which are also running during winter even when it is -30°C in the air.

The national park is absolutely the perfect place for nature lovers. Here is possible to go camping at the free camping areas and campfire sites. Also visitors can have extensive walks admiring the nature or biking and even picking wild mushrooms and berries, especially in the months of July and August. During the winter time the trails become perfect for cross country skiing. With over 30 km of wonderful trails it is not possible to have a lazy day. To walk and see the whole park it can take approximately two days or one day to see the most important spots.

title: Isojoki


text:
Isola Comacina

The Comacina Island is the unique island of Lake Como, near Tremezzina. Sights include seven churches built by the ancient Byzantines, secluded corners and the open views. An aura of mystery lingers on the history of the island, its inhabitants, the churches and the buildings which were once there in great numbers and were destroyed by the soldiers of Como army.

By car and by ferry
Take the Motorway A9, exit Como Nord, follow the road SS340 Regina heading to Menaggio and stop at Sala Comacina. Once you have parked, go down the stairs leading to the pier where a boat will take you to the island in a matter of minutes.

By public boat
The standard Lake Como ferry services stop here during the day www.navigazionelaghi.it.

Eat

 * There is also a small cafe which is open during the day for snacks and coffee.
 * There is also a small cafe which is open during the day for snacks and coffee.

title: Isola Comacina


text:
Isola dei Gabbiani

Isola dei Gabbiani, also called L'Isuledda, is an island in Sardinia.

Get in
Drive or take a bus from Palau, leaving 5 times a day during the summer (one hour, €1.50).

Get around
The island is small and covered almost entirely by the campsite, so walking is the best way to get around.

Facilities
The campsite offers electrical hookups, hot water, sinks to wash dishes and clothes, drinkable water (acqua potabile), showers, and a gated entry. It is quite large, with an estimated space for 100+ caravans and 200+ tents.

Do
The island is attached to the mainland by a short land-bridge. Either sides of this land bridge are rental shops that have windsurfing boards for beginners and professionals, and kitesurfing boards. Rentals range from one hour to one week, and some even offer storage of your own board. Rental rates for a novice windsurfing board are around €20-25 for a two hour period; private lessons cost around €50 an hour. Kitesurfing rates started at €40 for a half-day.

Buy
There is little to buy here, other than a few souvenir shops, and stores selling boards, sails, and parts for windsurfing and kitesurfing.

Eat
The campsite has a self-service buffet and a restaurant, and the bars along the beach offer drinks and light meals. Also, there is a small supermarket on the campsite, so people with cooking facilities will be able to completely self-cater.

Drink
Beer and cocktails are available in abundance (if a bit expensive) along the beach.

Sleep
In the campsite located directly on peninsula you can stay in your own tent or caravan; elseway you could also rent fixed-caravans or small houses. At few (1-2) km from the peninsula there are plenty of residence and villages. They're not so easy to catch just by spotting them once you're on the place, the best way is to reserve or to have at least a list from the internet.

Go next
Buses run to Palau, and from there you can catch a bus to other destinations, though hitch-hiking may be the fastest way to move around.

title: Isola dei Gabbiani


text:
Isperih

Isperih (Bulgarian: Исперих) is a town in Northeastern Bulgaria.

Understand
The town has a mixed population of ethnic Bulgarians and Turkish-Bulgarians, which totals around 12,500.

See

 * Thracian tomb of Sveshtari (Свещарската гробница) — about 3 km southwest of nearby Sveshtari village, this 3rd century BC Thracian tomb is a World Heritage site. Unique in ancient Thracian art, this tomb inside a typical Thracian burial mound is decorated with female figures carved on its walls.

Sleep
The only hotel of the town is named Alen Mak, which also has a restaurant.

title: Isperih