The Great British Islands Of The World.
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Britain’s territories spread far beyond the mainland. All around the world, island nation’s miles from the UK’s shores proudly wave the British flag.
The Falkland Islands, located 500 miles from Argentina, voted earlier this month in a referendum to stay British. All but three of the 1,650 votes were in favour of remaining a British territory. While Argentina and Britain still squabble over who has dibs on the islands, the Falkland Islanders want to maintain their position in the illustrious list of islands lucky enough to be, technically, part of the UK.
Thanks to the rise of low-priced airlines and subsequent budget flights, travelling from the UK to our island relatives is easy and affordable. So, which ones do you want to visit?
Isle of Man
Photo by Jim Linwood via Flickr.
Although it floats closer to the mainland than other British islands, the Isle of Man is often considered an odd and unusual place by those across the water. Commonly thought to be where wealthy Brits gather, the island has a lot more to offer than tax benefits to the super rich. The landscape, for one, is a reason to make the trip across the divide. Covered with lush, green valleys and a coastline so rugged and wild it’s entirely beautiful, the Isle of Man is a haven for outdoor adventurers. A myriad of walking trails, cycling tracks and relaxing drives make the island an utterly refreshing place to visit. Also, the watery divide has allowed the isle to ward off commercialism and maintain its unique charm. And, of course, the proximity makes it undeniably easy to get to from anywhere in the UK, with companies like Flybe offering cheap flights to the Isle.
Jersey
Photo by Claire Brownlow via Flickr.
The largest of the Channel Islands, Jersey has 48 miles of immaculate coastline to explore. Sandy beaches wind around the south, east and west coasts of the island, while the north is edged with dramatic and beautiful cliffs. Sitting just north of France, Jersey is only a quick trip across the Channel and is easily reached from Britain. You can always find flights from London that will land you in these slightly sunnier shores in just over an hour. While you’re there, make sure you visit the Jersey War Tunnels, telling the story of the Channel Islands German occupation during WWII and the Jersey Zoo.
Cayman Islands
Photo by Snap Man via Flickr.
In the deepest waters of the Caribbean, three tiny islands called the Caymans sit as a beautiful and tropical holiday destination. Synonymous with banking and the super wealthy, these islands are British without really showing it. Having a large American influence, the main island, called Grand Cayman, is highly commercialised and brimming with tourists. But if you take time to explore the island away from its western coast, or the two sister islands, you’ll find a quiet and charming way of life.
Gibraltar
Photo by scotbot via Flickr.
This territory isn’t technically an island, but it’s basically floating, just tacked onto the bottom of Spain. And it’s a fantastic island to have in the British bag. The best part about Gibraltar is that it’s warm and sunny, which is exactly what the mainland needs to be more like. As with most British Islands, Gibraltar is commonly called ‘The Rock’ and is wholeheartedly British. As writer Laurie Lee once scribed, Gibraltar “had been towed out from Portsmouth and anchored off-shore”. As the nickname suggests, the main attraction in Gibraltar really is the rock. This giant, limestone range is believed to be one half of the Pillars of Hercules – the other being in Morocco.
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