St Agnes

St. Agnes is an island at the southernmost tip of the British Isles covered by heathland called Wingletang Down. Several small settlements including Troy Town and Lower Town spread across the terrain, with a sandbar at low tide connecting to nearby Gugh island.

The island was long a center for pilots who guided ships through the English Channel, an important trade for local people. Over time the population declined sharply as traditional sea-based work faded away.

The Troy Town Maze made from beach pebbles shows a pattern possibly linked to ancient northern traditions. Visitors can explore this handcrafted work that has remained part of the landscape for centuries.

Visitors should check tide tables to time a trip to Gugh during low tide and safely cross the sandbar. Accommodation on the island comes in private rentals and small bed and breakfasts scattered across the settlements.

On the beaches, especially at Beady Pool, visitors can spot fragments of Venetian glass and ceramic beads. These come from a trading ship that sank off the coast several centuries ago and still releases treasures from its wreck.