HELL BAY

Escapist heaven in the Scillies that's anything but Hell

HELL BAY? Hell, no. Just a bit of scilliness on the part of owners Robert and Lucy Dorrien-Smith. Hell Bay clings to Bryher, a tiny foam-flecked sliver of land in the Scilly Isles overlooking an ocean that doesn’t stop till it reaches America. Azure water meets wash-powder white beaches here; there are few roads but wildflowers in profusion, and above all, a peaceful immensity.

Rooms are swish with Malabar fabrics and Lloyd Loom furnishings; think New England meets California with hints of the Caribbean. Reception areas boast world-class St Ives school art; Hepworth, Hitchens and Trevelyan. Suites maintain the eclectic theme and glory in vistas from private patios or balconies.

You're on the Atlantic's great fringe here. Sea breezes invariably get frisky and whip up appetites for Graham Shone’s classical-meets-modern cuisine, which shines with seafood creations. Dine on steamed sea bass with Asian herbs, chargrilled tiger tail prawns or Bryher crab. You can enjoy it alfresco, sharing the views with seals, puffins and seagulls.

Think sunshine yellow, powder blue

Bedrooms are made for getting fresh: think sunshine yellows, powder blues and crisp whites. Private patios and balconies offer dazzling sea views, and we loved the wide-open vistas from the aptly-named Emperor suite.  Dining here is refreshingly informal. Lip-smackingly fresh cuisine casts its net wide over locally caught fish, crab and lobster – and more besides.

This is a tiny island with tons to do: try watersports, boat rides, beaches and coastal paths. Island-hop to Tresco’s Abbey Gardens, laze poolside or go golfing. There’s a well equipped leisure area too with a gym, pool, sauna and jacuzzi. Dreamy? Yes, oh yes.


Hell Bay was reviewed for Room for Romance by Mike North

Click on any picture to enlarge it and move through the gallery.

Dining in
Slate, blond wood, tones of blue and original art lend the restaurant a suitably nautical air. Come here to enjoy modern British cooking: tian of Cornish crab and Scottish smoked salmon, roasted Gressingham duck breast, fondant potatoes and pak choi, then maybe wicked white chocolate brownies, strawberry coulis and dark chocolate ice cream.

Breakfast
Full breakfast is served until 9:30am.

Room service
Available morning and evening.



See & Do
This is a place to turn beachcomber: go walking, crabbing, swimming, fishing, boating, island-hopping or simply grab a lounger for some serious sunning. For an afternoon out, go and admire the sub-tropical plants growing in magnificent Tresco Abbey Gardens.

Diary Dates
May
Watch teams of rowers in action in the waters of St Mary’s at the World Pilot Gig Championships.

Summer
Take in an al fresco theatre production at Tresco Abbey Gardens.

September
Get glugging at the New Inn’s Real Ale festiva on Tresco.

GETTING THERE

Location
Bryher, Isles of Scilly TR23 0PR

Parking
Bryher is a car-free island – leave your wheels on the mainland.

Trains
Penzance station – 30 miles away on the mainland. First Great Western (tel 0845 601 0573) sells combined rail/helicopter tickets to the Scillies via Penzance.

Plane and helicopter
Fly to the isle of Tresco by helicopter (www.islesofscillyhelicopter.com) from Penzance. Alternatively you can fly direct from Newquay and other regional UK airports. The tractor-bus will collect you at Tresco for your boat ride to Bryher.

Ship
The Scillonian III sails between Penzance and St Mary’s on Tresco in 2.5 hours.

Taxis
N/A

Airport
St Mary’s – five miles.

ESSENTIAL INFO

Rates guide
GBP 270 - 600. Room rates include dinner.

Open/closed
Closed between 3 January - 3 March

Check-in
Any time

Check-out
10:30am

Minimum night stay?
No

Children
Welcome

Pets
Dogs welcome

Air conditioning
No

Wedding license?
No