Wednesday 15 July 2015

Visit to Tresco 3 - Isles of Scilly July 2015

West Country Tour 2015
Visit to Tresco - Isles of Scilly   
Part 3

After a rest out of the sun (and a beer), I headed around the south part of Tresco Island.
Here are some of the photos I took.

A beautiful Barbara Hepworth sculpture on the lawn by the shop complex

A view west to the uninhabited island of Samson
 
Sitting at the foot of the impressive monument to Tresco's premier family - the Dorrian-Smith's who took the lease of Tresco from the Duchy of Cornwall in the 19th century
 
A nostalgic photo of the old helicopter pad - now disused.
Visitors have to fly in the small 12 seaters or come on the Scillonian III passengers ferry

'children playing' - a modern sculpture in the Abbey Gardens

Attractive gardens outside the Tresco Abbey

These are bracken beaters! Rather than cutting the extensive bracken which only stimulates more growth - the beater breaks and bashes it, to slow and diminish growth

A view across Old Grimsby harbour - there appear to be more boats at anchor this year.
The small island behind is called Northwethel

Looking across to Lawrence Bay on St.Martin's Island.
Our campsite beach is directly ahead


The island boat Voyager arrives to take us back to St.Martin's

 

Monday 6 July 2015

Visit to Tresco 2 - Isles of Scilly 2015

West Country Tour 2015
Visit to Tresco - Isles of Scilly   
Part 2

Continuing my walk around the north end of Tresco, the dominant man-made features are the three castles controlling the harbours.

Looking east towards Round Island and Northwethel
 
A view up to the King Charles' Castle guarding the sea channel of New Grimsby.
Despite it's name this was an artillery fort built in the reign of King Edward VI (1547-53) to guard against foreign warships and privateers.
It was finally blown up by the defending Royalist forces in 1651 when attacked by the overwhelming Parliamentary soldiers under Admiral Blake in the Third English Civil War 1949 - 1951
 
Looking through the guard room entrance towards the gun floor
 
A view down at Tresco Sound and the New Grimsby harbour
 
And the newer(?) Cromwell 1951 Tower 

The Tower was built by Cromwell's forces in 1651 with 6 guns on the top gun platform.
Later in around 1740 it was extended with the ground gun platform for a number of heavier guns
 
Inside the top floor of the tower - with the gun ports
 

Looking north - out to sea on the Tresco-Bryher Channel
 
 
 
 Later on in the day, I walked around the southern half of Tresco and approached the Old Grimsby Harbour and the Old Blockhouse, built 1548-50. This time from the landward side.
Again, this artillery fort featured in the Civil War of 1951 - succumbing to Admiral Blake's Parliamentary Forces
 
 
 
The Old Blockhouse on Tresco

Friday 3 July 2015

Visit to Tresco - Isles of Scilly 2015

West Country Tour 2015
Visit to Tresco - Isles of Scilly   
Part 1

On a lovely sunny day, I took the island ferry over to Tresco to walk the coastal path.

Approaching the Old Blockhouse fort guarding the original harbour called 'Old Grimsby'. Built around 1548  to protect the harbour from foreign warships and privateers.
  
Yachts at anchor in the Old Grimsby harbour

Tresco has a range of beautiful flowers

Climbing the North Down gives wonderful views - here of Round Island

This is the archaeology of a chambered tomb from the Neolithic era around 2500 BC !

Intriguing wall base - from ancient habitation?

One of the many trip boats heads past the northern rocks

Looking down into Piper's Hole

The sea washing in on the north coast of Tresco

These are the northern tip of Bryher Island

A view south to the New Grimsby sound and Cromwell's Tower
Part 2 to follow
For more photos of this lovely island - look up my visit in 2012 on this link