Flying Boat Club

A clutch of stylish beach houses with indoor pool, spa, bar and restaurant on the stunning island of Tresco (each sleeps 6-10)

Deserted white beaches, turquoise waters and exotic plants suggest the Caribbean. Better still, it's the island of Tresco in the Scilly Isles and you don't need to travel half way round the world to get here. The Flying Boat Club harks back to the days when seaplanes were stationed here a century ago. Far from old fashioned today, its 12 new seafront cottages are seriously well kitted out with all mod cons, Designer's Guild fabrics and wonderful views across to Bryher island and the Atlantic beyond. From your terrace you can step down onto the sand. Indoors, island owner Robert Dorien-Smith's passion for art is showcased throughout.

Stay and you get full club membership with access to bar, restaurant, tennis and all the perks. You'll even pray for a rainy day to enjoy their spa and swanky indoor pool. Tresco has no real roads save for a few well maintained trackways. So you roam around all day on bicycles past beaches, forests, moors and flower fields. Impossibly romantic for two, utterly magical for children. Easy to understate its charm; difficult to share with the world.

Highs

• The Isles of Scilly are breathtakingly beautiful and unspoilt, plus they get more sunshine and less rain than the rest of the UK
• Stylish, comfy cottages with top-notch kitchens and great sea views
• Great for kids: almost traffic free, direct beach access, a magical sense of freedom
• World-famous Abbey Garden is nearby (free entry for FBC members)
• Everything is close to the cottages: beach, restaurant, shop, office, bike hire, pub and spa with fab indoor heated pool
• The island is owned by one family who have succeeded in preserving a unique sense of community

Lows

• If you want the hustle and bustle of frantic modern life, the Isles of Scilly may not be for you
• Occasional noise of incoming choppers but they land on the other side of the island
• There's only one general store but we found it incredibly well stocked with lots of specialist and local produce
• Getting there and back by twin-prop, helicopter or ferry is part of the fun but travel plans can be scuppered by fog
• High demand means getting a slot in August can be tricky