Spring comes early to Scilly and with it a skip in the air and a true sense of wellness. Boatmen can be spotted at Porthloo boat yard launching their trusty workhorses having given them their annual lick of paint. Cottage owners, shops and restaurants put the finishing touches to their new season makeovers.
The return of the Scillonian III in March is celebrated; early mornings see farmers out sowing their summer crops and fisherman once more taking to the sea. Coconut scented gorse fills the air as do the arrival of fulmars, sandwich terns, willow warblers, sand martins and swallows. By April, the islands are in full swing. Time to explore the coves, the lighthouses, the coastal paths - by bike, by hike or by boat. Head out into the spring sunshine and fill your lungs with sea fresh air.