Just 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly are a beautifully wild and unspoilt place to get away from it all. Island life might move at a gentle pace but there is plenty to make your time here unforgettable.
The five inhabited islands; St. Mary’s, Tresco, St. Martin’s, Bryher and St. Agnes, along with many more uninhabited isles and rocky outcrops all surrounded by clear turquoise waters warmed by the Gulf Stream just waiting for you to explore.
St. Mary’s is the largest of the islands it’s where you’ll arrive and home to the hub for Scilly’s inter-island boats. In Hugh Town you’ll find a number of shops, cafés and galleries and with miles of coastal trails, countryside paths and largely traffic-free roads St. Mary’s is perfect for hiring a bike and exploring under pedal power.
A short boat ride away you’ll find St. Martin’s, where you’ll find a tantalising choice of white sandy beaches that slope gently into the crystal-clear water. Embark on a kayaking or paddleboarding adventure visiting uninhabited islands, hidden coves or you might be lucky enough to see the playful Atlantic Grey seals, it is truly a once-in-a lifetime experience.
Tresco is Scilly’s privately-owned island, its home to the world famous sub-tropical Abbey Garden. Described as the perennial Kew without glass you’ll see more than 20,000 species of plants from all over the world – it’s definitely a must see.
Bryher has a bit of everything a rugged Atlantic side with dramatic coastline and occasionally the waves to match. But its sheltered eastern shores looking across to Tresco are sandy and calm. On some tides you can even make the crossing on foot.
St. Agnes is the very tip of the British Isles, it’s unspoiled and a little untamed – with mysterious, Bronze Age archaeology, and rare bird species brought in on the Atlantic current. It’s home to one of Scilly’s most iconic pubs the Turk’s Head, overlooking Porth Conger it’s arguably one of the most scenic in the UK.
If all the fresh air gives you an appetite, make sure you make the time to stop for a bite to eat. Just about anywhere you go on Scilly you’ll find yourself not far from a family friendly café, a pub oozing character, a restaurant with a beautiful outdoor terrace, or a simple honesty stall selling tasty fresh local produce – you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Whatever you enjoy, Scilly has something for everyone – from foodies to walkers, wildlife enthusiasts to watersports fanatics. You’ll be captivated by Scilly’s charms and quickly discover why visitors return time and time again.
The Isles of Scilly may feel like another world but getting there is simpler than you think.
Skybus flights operate from Exeter, Newquay and Land’s End airports and they couldn’t be easier to co-ordinate into your travel plans with connecting flights from major UK airports – making it an ideal short break destination.
Scillonian III takes a gentle two hours and 45 minutes to reach the islands from Penzance, creating a truly peaceful start to your Scilly break with sailings leave up to seven days a week from spring until late autumn.
However you choose to travel to the islands, the journey will surely be as memorable as the destination as you watch the beautiful archipelago that is the Isles of Scilly rise up from the horizon.