Great for
Families
Itinerary
Beach day and lunch with a view
Sometimes we all just need a day relaxing on the beach, on St. Martin’s there’s ample choice of safe and sheltered beaches for the family to enjoy. The only difficult thing about a stay on St. Martin’s is deciding which beach you’ll visit. All around the island, you’ll find white, sandy coves that slope gently into crystal-clear water. It’s a tantalising choice.
Extra services
Duration
Full day
Activity
Beach day and lunch with a view
Food and drink
Local pub or quirky café
Day trip
Fly + Sail
Full itineraries
Fly out, sail back, enjoy the best of both worlds
The best of both worlds, fly out, then sail back. Flying lets you spend more time on the islands and sailing back to Penzance is a relaxed way to end your day. It couldn’t be easier. Simply park in Penzance – or arrive by train – and meet our perfectly-timed transfer to your outward flight. And when you get back to the mainland, you’re already in the right place to continue your journey home.
Perfect family beach days
If you land at Lower town quay, step literally onto the beach and walk around past Southward Carn stacks to Middle Town beach, at low tide this is a haven for young swimmers and rock poolers. Alternatively, on the northern shore of the island is Great and Little Bay, which is a long expanse of white sand and the perfect place to enjoy a swim.
Choose between a quirky cafe or a traditional pub
Stop at Little Arthur Café, this is the place to be for home-made scones, vegetarian dishes and a quirky dining experience. To get to the cafe, you've got to go through the Cricket Pitch by the beach, but the trek is worth it. Or for amazing views, The Seven Stones Inn is your destination; Savour amazing views, real ale and good lunchtime food.
Un-inhabited islands reachable at low tide
The boat ride to St Martin’s will entertain the kids from the off, look out for wildlife on the route and from the shores. If making your way to St Martin’s Bay, there’s a wonderful little island- White Island, jutting off the coast and reachable at low tide.
Sample itineraries
Itinerary
Horse riding on the beach- St. Mary's
Trotting across white sands, cantering along bridal paths and splashing in the bays – travelling on horseback is a wonderful way to experience the incredible coastal scenery around St Mary’s. And with the stables just a couple of miles from both the airport and the harbour, horse riding is the ideal activity if you’ve just arrived.
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Itinerary
Discover Tresco's castles
Tresco is the second largest inhabited island on Scilly and whilst it's home to the sub-tropical gardens, un-spoilt beaches and fine food it's also full of walking routes, ancient monuments and historic castles. Cromwell's Castle stands tall guarding the channel between Bryher and Tresco, it was built between 1548- 1550 and is one of the few surviving Cromwellian fortifications in Britain. Read on to find out more.
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Itinerary
Foodies day out on St. Agnes
To the east of St. Agnes, across the narrow channel by the Turk's Head, you'll see the mysterious island of Gugh. But here's another secret; wait for low tide, and a sand bar appears... you can simply walk across, and explore to your hearts content. There's more information below.
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A snippet of Bryher
Bryher is a small elongated island and like all of the other islands on Scilly, has it's own special charm. It's contrasted by the sheltered channel between Tresco and Bryher with several sheltered beaches and coves, the other side is the wild and rugged Shipman’s Head renown for its big seas and exposed cliffs. As Scilly’s smallest inhabited island, walking around Bryher is easy and accessible for most people.
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Hire a golf buggy on St. Mary's
If walking and cycling seem a bit energetic, a golf buggy is a fun and easy way to explore the island in comfort. It’s something out of the ordinary for the whole family – and up to eight can ride – but be aware there are age limits on who can drive. What better way to see the best of St. Mary's then touring the sights in a golf buggy.
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Itinerary
Hire bikes and explore St. Mary's
On St. Mary’s, you’ll be as close as the Isles of Scilly get to being busy. With beaches, shopping, countryside paths and coastal trails and with largely traffic-free roads and gentle slopes, the Isles of Scilly are perfect for exploring under pedal power.
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Walking route - St. Mary's
St. Mary’s is criss-crossed by 30 miles of nature trails, paths and other walking routes. To see a snapshot of St. Mary’s, this walk will take you through tracks, lanes, woodland and across beaches. Read on for the full itinerary.
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Tresco Abbey Gardens
A visit to Scilly is not complete without appreciating the amazing flora and fauna, although this can be seen across the islands the best place to view thousands of tropical species is at the Tresco Abbey Gardens on Tresco island. The 19th century garden is home to some 20,000 sub-tropical plants.
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Walk the coast - Tresco
Like anywhere on the Isles of Scilly, Tresco also has its share of beaches, panoramas and secluded spots. Pentle Bay is especially peaceful, the rugged north-east coast boasts historic forts named for both sides of the English Civil War. It’s possible to walk the length of Tresco in a few hours, read on for our guide to explore the cosmopolitan island.
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Snorkel with seals
For nature lovers and water enthusiasts it doesn’t get any better than snorkelling with seals in their natural environment. Head to the island of St. Martin’s, and you'll find the Scilly Seal Snorkelling Co who offer excursions to the Eastern Isles to swim with the seals and make memories to cherish for a lifetime. This trip is suitable for families from age 8 upward and couples.
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