A picturesque UK island with white beaches and turquoise waters was once home to around 40 residents, but has been left abandoned for around 200 years due to one key reason
A beautiful UK island that could easily be mistaken for the likes of the Maldives or Caribbean was surprisingly abandoned by Brits centuries ago.
Boasting insanely white beaches, turquoise waters and its very own sub-tropical climate that welcomes balmy temperatures of around 25C – you’d expect Samson Island to have been turned into a huge holiday resort crawling with tourists. But for years, this stunning piece of land – which is roughly just 39 hectares – used to home just 40 residents, most of whom were believed to have worked as farmers and fishermen.
Despite its ethereal beauty, life on Samson wasn’t easy, and by the mid-1800s the population had dwindled down to just 10 people, all part of two remaining families. Stung by scarce resources and its isolated location, residents reportedly started suffering from malnutrition – surviving mainly off foraged food and potatoes.
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In 1834, the island was bought by Augustus Smith, who removed the families from Samson and transformed the island into a private deer park. However, this plan massively backfired and many of the deer attempted to escape to the neighbouring islands.
Now left alone to its own devices, Samson has become a haven for wildlife, and is protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Expect to see seals playing in the waves, while gannets and razorbills fly overhead if you visit.
You’ll also be able to spot the crumbled ruins that once homed multiple families. They make for a great snap and really make you think what life would have been like on this incredible island some two hundred years ago.
“Nestled in the narrow strip of land between the twin hills of Samson stand the roofless remains of stone cottages and boathouses,” explains Discovering Britain. “Long walls section off parts of the island and, around the ancient burial sites that top the hills, flints, pottery and other echoes of an intriguing history of human habitation have been unearthed.”
Situated in the acclaimed Isles of Scilly, some 28 miles of Cornwall – you can now visit Samson on a day trip from the habitable islands nearby. Tresco, one of the most popular islands on the archipelago, is less than a mile away – meaning you can technically swim over to Samson, but due to potential hazards and ferry routes – it isn’t advised.
However, you can easily catch a ferry and walk the plank from the boat to the shore. If you want a bit more adventure, you can hire a kayak from Bryher and paddle across the clear water from Rushy Bay.
Getting to the Isle of Scilly will require a little bit of work. You can either fly on the Skybus, which departs from Land’s End, Newquay or Exeter Airport – or take a helicopter from Penzance. Most people opt for the Scillonian III Passenger Ferry, which takes two hours and forty minutes from Penzance but can work out much cheaper.
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