Blog

With the days gradually getting shorter and the winter chill firmly here, it means that Christmas is finally just around the corner. Whether you’re looking for Isles of Scilly inspired stationery and games, beautiful handmade jewellery from St Martin’s, or exotic succulents fresh from the farms of Bryher, we’ve got you covered. Each establishment in…

Our Passenger Relations Team is the beating heart of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, with a busy team straddled between Penzance and St Mary’s. The team is made up of 13 people – nine in Penzance and four in St Mary’s. There are eight working in what used to known as the travel centre,…

Phoenix & Providence; skincare, self-care and healing from the seabed. We’ve teamed up with island-based business Phoenix & Providence to give you the chance to WIN an incredible skincare collection worth £160. To enter, simply sign up to both Isles of Scilly Travel and Phoenix & Providence email mailing lists to be entered into the…

Earlier this year we welcomed two new Skybus pilots and both are in agreement that it’s the “best job you could possibly imagine”. Dragos Lupu and Harry Miller joined Skybus as First Officers, taking the total number of Skybus pilots to 23. Romanian-born Dragos, 33, had a career as a skydiving instructor before he trained…

When was the last time you visited Western Rocks Café at Land’s End Airport? It’s had a makeover – and a total menu overhaul – and we think it’s better than ever. The café, which has incredible views, now has a growing reputation among locals as well as from people flying from the airport. This…

With pristine beaches to enjoy, unspoiled walking trails to explore and an abundance of wildlife to meet, it’s easy to see why the Isles of Scilly is a popular destination for holidays and day trips from Cornwall. There are plenty of ways to get to the islands, whether you want to sail aboard the Scillonian…

Nestled off the coast of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly stand as a testament to centuries of rich history and captivating legends. These hidden gems boast a blend of stunning natural landscapes and a captivating past, making them an excellent but lesser-known travel destination for history buffs. With settlements dating back to the Stone Age…

Nestled off the coast of England, the Isles of Scilly attract visitors from all over the UK and beyond with their pristine beaches and captivating landscapes. If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of London and embark on a memorable adventure, this guide will provide you with the essential information on how to…

You’ve already decided that you need to make the most of this beautiful weather and plan a trip to the Isles of Scilly, but you now need to decide how to get there… If you are looking for a memorable way to travel to the islands, then why not try a real flying experience on…

The Isles of Scilly are famous for their white sandy beaches and azure blue seas, but relaxing on the beach isn’t the only thing to do on your island escape. There’s a whole host of activities waiting to be explored… Isles of Scilly Island Hopping There aren’t many destinations in the world where you can…

Just 28 miles off the Cornish coast lies an archipelago of sub-tropical islands waiting to be explored on a day trip from the South West. As the days get longer into Spring and Summer, you can really make the most of all the islands have to offer. With miles of white sandy beaches, fascinating wildlife,…

Gry Maritha’s stalwart crew have added another string to their bow – being trained as marine mammal surveyors for charity ORCA. The Isles of Scilly Steamship Company has a long history of working with ORCA, with marine mammal surveyors conducting surveys for whales, dolphins and porpoises on board Scillonian III since 2009.     But…

The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group is proud to have a strong female workforce – in fact, 28% of our staff are female, including ship and airline captains, firefighters and senior managers. As a company, we are committed to championing women, encouraging and inspiring them with their careers both now and in the future. We…

EXPERIENCE LONGER DAYS ON THE ISLES OF SCILLY March 20th marks not only the first Scillonian III sailing of the year, but the start of spring, bringing with it longer days and the opportunity to spend more time on the beautiful Isles of Scilly with our day trips experiences. More time on the islands means…

The countdown to Christmas begins – with less than a month to go! If you’ve still got some festive shopping to do (or perhaps you’ve only just started) we’ve got you covered. We’ve partnered up with some of our favourite Isles of Scilly makers and businesses to create our unique gift guide, helping you to…

Training and investing in future employees is extremely important to us at the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group. We currently sponsor four Merchant Navy cadets – two deck cadets and two engineering cadets – who are managed by a training partnership with Clyde Marine Training. The cadetships are a three-year programme, which is funded by…

Scillonian III may be ‘resting up’ for the winter, but it’s by no means a quiet period for her crew and maintenance team.  Between her last sailing of the year in November and her first sailing in March, our much-loved ship undergoes a period of maintenance to get her ‘ship shape’ ready for the next…

Would you believe us if we told you there was a very good chance of spotting a dolphin, porpoise or even a whale from the decks of Scillonian III? In fact, the chances are so good, the crossing between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly has been named the UK’s highest diversity ferry route for…

End of another busy season for Scillonian III Our iconic passenger ferry Scillonian III has completed another busy and memorable season, carrying more than 115,000 passengers in 2022. The final sailing of the year took place on Saturday, November 5th, and the much-loved ship will now spend the winter undergoing annual maintenance in Penzance. 2022…

Land’s End Airport’s Fire Service – at the heart of airport life Our fire and rescue service plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of Land’s End Airport. But as well as firefighting, the airport’s dedicated firefighters have a list of more than 200 different jobs to their name. “Our primary role is as…

NATIONAL MARINE WEEK 2022 23rd July – 7th August 2022   In celebration of last week’s ‘National Marine Week’, we take a look at the magnificent wildlife that inhabits the shores of the Isles of Scilly – a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Whether you are whale spotting on board Scillonian III, snorkelling with…

Behind-the-scenes with Air Traffic Control at Land’s End Airport Air Traffic Control seems like a baffling place to many – but in reality it’s an exciting and dynamic environment where quick-thinking and multi-tasking are an essential part of the job. It is a highly-regulated and safety critical role, where every aircraft – sometimes more than…

The inaugural seabird survey has taken place on Scillonian III – the first of its kind in England.   Highly-trained seabird surveyors from MARINElife, the charity dedicated to the conservation of marine wildlife, will be conducting monthly surveys from the ship until November.   Scillonian III has long been revered by bird watchers for the…

After three decades of loyal service, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group has said a fond farewell to St Mary’s Quay Manager Mervyn Bird, who has left to spend more time on his farm. Merv, 59, joined the company in 1988 as a storeman on the quay. He recalls: “Everything used to come in loose…

A visit to the Isles of Scilly is an opportunity not to be missed if you are local to or visiting Cornwall.  With both sea and air transportation links – reaching the islands is easier than many people realise. Those visiting (and of course those lucky enough to live there!) are presented with the opportunity…

Enjoy longer days in the Isles of Scilly sunshine The spring season and start of British summer time brings with it not only longer days, but the opportunity to spend more time on the beautiful Isles of Scilly.  More time on the islands means you can experience more of what Scilly has to offer and…

In a field currently dominated by men, we believe it is important to encourage and inspire women to pursue a career in aviation. In 2021 it was estimated that less than 5% of pilots in the UK were female. At the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, we have 23 Skybus pilots made up of four…

Our own freight haulage company, Island Carriers, is based in the heart of St Mary’s. We’ve been behind-the-scenes with the busy team of 10, which looks after all the islanders’ freight needs. Passionate is the most accurate word to describe Island Carriers Operations Manager Jeanette Ware – she cares deeply about the community she serves.…

The Isles of Scilly is one of the prettiest places you can visit. Unspoilt landscapes, white sandy beaches and turquoise waters all contribute to make the islands one of the most photographable places in Britain. We’ve cherry picked some of our favourite picture-perfect spots that will make you fall in love with this island destination.…

A DOG’S LIFE Pets love island life… Famously dog friendly, the Isles of Scilly is the perfect staycation destination to travel with your four-legged companions. In 2020, Cornwall was named the number two hotspot destination to take dogs on holiday. Perhaps you are thinking about combining an Isles of Scilly trip with a visit to…