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Walkies for rovers on the Scillies

From the Daily Mail
Have dog, will travel. For me, a holiday is not a holiday without my basset hound Basil, and we've just had the time of our lives on the almost heavenly Isles of Scilly.
We flew from Penzance by helicopter, Basil beside my seat in a special Sky Kennel for the 20-minute flight; no problems. We took the airport bus to the tourist office for our free 'whoopsie kits' (I pride myself on being a responsible dog owner) and went on by taxi to our self-catering accommodation, Standing Stone, on the main island, St Mary's.
Described in the brochure as 'set in rugged isolation', Standing Stone was stunningly located on a flower farm overlooking the sea and a deserted, silver-sanded cove. However, our taxi driver, having wittered on about his shock absorbers, refused to bump the last rugged half-mile to the front door.
So what, I thought? I like being off the beaten track. So did Basil. Outside was doggy heaven, with hundreds of rabbits to be chased across grass that had been nibbled to a gorgeous, velvety smoothness.
'Thanks to the rabbits, we have not mowed our lawn for two years,' said our landlord as we sat in the private walled garden, perfume wafting from the flower fields, the beach scattered with shells and the sea as turquoise and clear as the Indian Ocean.
Only a few yards away was Bant's Carn, a perfectly preserved burial chamber, and the amazing stone excavations of 3,000-year-old houses, walls and garden plots.
It was bliss for two days. But rapture dimmed on the third day when it rained. Why is rain on holiday so much wetter? The magical, scenic, two-and-a-half-mile walk to the shops (and back, because no taxis were available) seemed suddenly daunting.
Try tramping along a coastal path in blustery gales, rain like stair rods, fleece saturated, loaded down with tins of Chum and food rations, and you soon feel sorry for yourself. Back indoors the terrible smell of wet dog pervaded Standing Stone and, curses, I'd forgotten the milk and cooking oil. But I must not grumble.

Read more in our destination guide to England.