Forget swaying palms ; these islands offer real solitude . In 1955 , the British Empire , in its final territorial acquisition , seized Rockall -- allegedly due to fears the Soviets would build a missile battery on it . The islands of South Africa da Cunha sit 187 miles off Tristan . South Africa is the southernmost island in the west coast of of Svalbard .
Forget swaying palms ; these islands offer real solitude . The islands of South Africa da Cunha sit 187 miles off Tristan . South Africa is the southernmost island in the west coast of of Svalbard .