Britain’s best island, according to the Telegraph

When you think of island getaways, you’re probably picturing the blue and white dotted Greek Cyclades, or the luscious sunny Caribbean states. It’s easy to forget that Britain is home to its own abundance of stunning (but, yes, much chillier) islands and archipelagos that are very much worth a visit. 

Now, the Telegraph has put Britain’s islands (including British Crown Dependencies) head to head, digging into data and crowning one isle the best of the best. 

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The paper started by making a shortlist of 40 islands based on their size and popularity as holiday destinations. Then, each place was awarded points based on a whole host of factors, including their population density (the lower the better), number of nature reserves, number of vineyards or distilleries, share of top-rated restaurants and proportion of Camra listed pubs. 

Islands got bonus points if they have certified dark sky park or reserve, a round-the-island coastal path, a cricket club or a heritage railway. Twenty points were brutally taken away if they have a road link to mainland Britain. 

So, it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. After all those points were dished out and counted, the Welsh island of Anglesey earned the title of Britain’s best island. Despite losing a chunk of points for its bridge to the mainland, Anglesey still soared to the top of the ranking with an overall score of 746.

The Telegraph said that ‘you can barely move on Anglesey without tripping over an accolade’. It’s home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites (the most out of any of the islands), an uninterrupted 125-mile coastal path, 25 listed historic sites (including Beaumaris Castle – ‘the greatest castle never built’) and is one of just four islands on the ranking to boast a Michelin-star restaurant (Sosban & The Old Butchers). It was the top ranked island for culture (270 points), third in the ‘luxuries’ category (170 point) and fourth for nature (237 points). 

Silver medal went to the Isle of Wight, which was awarded an overall score of 646. The Telegraph highlighted its vineyards, steam railway, 18 listed historical sites and 70-mile coast path, which ‘seals the deal, not least because it calls on the enduringly British attraction that is the funfair at The Needles’. 

Jersey landed in third place with 644 points. It’s big point scorers were the vineyard at La Mare Wine Estate, Michelin-starred Bohemia, its medieval castle Mont Orgeuil and its two five-star hotels, Grand Jersey Hotel and Longueville Manor. 

Britains 10 best islands, according to the Telegraph

1. Anglesey, Wales
2. Isle of Wight, England 
3. Jersey, Channel Islands
4. Mull, Scotland
5. Skye, Scotland
6. Guernsey, Channel Islands
7. Mainland Orkney, Scotland
8. St Mary’s, Isle of Scilly, England
9. Isle of Man, British Crown Dependency
10. Arran, Scotland

ICYMI: Anglesey could soon get a £250 million holiday park – but some locals aren’t happy about it. 

Plus: This beautiful and remote island wants to become the British Isles’ next big tourist destination.