Perched at the south western tip of England, just 28 miles from the rugged coast of Cornwall, lie the incredible Isles of Scilly. This archipelago of 140 tiny islands, five of which are inhabited, offers visitors the perfect opportunity for escape and adventure.

A bird’s eye view of the Isles of Scilly © Visit Isles of Scilly

Wild landscapes, expanses of snow-white sandy beaches, and the gentle swirls of crystal-clear sea define these jewels of the Atlantic Ocean, with their unique Mediterranean-like climate of warm summer days and bright, sunny skies. Experience a slower pace of life here, which is perfectly in tune with the seasonal nature of island life.

The five inhabited islands – St. Mary’s, Tresco, St. Martin’s, Bryher and St. Agnes – each have a distinctive character and you can island hop between them in a matter of minutes. 2,200 people live on the islands - 1,800 on the largest, St. Mary’s, about 110 each on Tresco and St. Martin’s, and between 80 and 90 on Bryher and St. Agnes.

Chocolate box cottage on the Isles of Scilly © Visit Isles of Scilly

The beaches are not only some of the most beautiful in the UK, but amongst the finest in the world. Scilly enjoys one of the mildest climates in the UK and the entire archipelago is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With over 100,000 visitors per year – a combination of holidaymakers, day trippers from Cornwall and passengers from visiting cruise ships – in summer months tourists far outnumber locals!

Sea Garden Cottages, Tresco © Visit Isles of Scilly

A long and fascinating history

The Isles of Scilly have a long, fascinating history. It is believed that the archipelago was originally one large island, called ‘Ennor’ from the Old Cornish for ‘Great Island’, which was flooded by rising sea levels around 400 AD. There is evidence of settlement as early as the Stone Age, with submerged stone walls and boundaries dotted around the coastal waters. 

Bant’s Carn Bronze Age burial chamber © Visit Isles of Scilly

Lying at the crossroads of a number of international shipping routes, the islands developed a distinct nautical history. From the Middle Ages onwards, the islands became an important ‘ship park’, where ships could re-stock and wait for the right wind. The livelihood of the residents was often centred around this, selling passing ships fresh water, fresh vegetables, meat, beer, and other supplies. There was also a trade in boat repairs and pilotage, where local pilots would guide the ships in and around the islands.

Schooner at anchor, St Martin’s © Visit Isles of Scilly

From Elizabethan times onwards, as the threat of invasion and conquest grew, various defensive structures, such as The Old Blockhouse, Star Castle, and King Charles Castle, were built which would become key in defending the islands. You can still see these defensive structures today.

The unpredictable seas and shallow rock reefs around the Isles of Scilly made a deadly combination. There have been over 1,000 recorded shipwrecks around the islands, and the remains of many can be seen to this day. The Valhalla Museum on Tresco houses a collection of salvaged figureheads from the wrecks, as well as name boards and decorative ships carvings.

Ship’s figurehead, Valhalla Museum © Visit Isles of Scilly

Getting there and getting around

Travel to the islands is possible by both plane and helicopter, as well as by boat. Skybus planes fly to St Mary’s from Land’s End and Newquay in Cornwall, as well as from Exeter in Devon. The flight takes just 20 minutes from Land’s End. Travelling by helicopter is the fastest, and most unique, way to get to the isles of Scilly. A flight from Penzance Heliport in Cornwall to St Mary’s or Tresco takes around 15 minutes.

Scilly Skybus at St Mary’s Airport © Visit Isles of Scilly

Or you can opt to sail at leisurely pace aboard the Scillonian passenger ferry, enjoying the scenery as you pull out of Penzance Harbour. The boat sails up to seven days a week from March to November with a journey time of two hours and 45 minutes. Sailing around the Cornish coast offers wonderful views and is a great way to spot sea life, with the ferry regularly escorted by pods of dolphins and even, on occasion, Minke whales.

Boarding Scillonian III © Visit Isles of Scilly

The beautiful turquoise waters that surround the islands are a daily part of Scilly life. With each island in such close proximity to one another, jet boats and day-tripper vessels zip from island to island throughout the year. Or why not hire your own boat, paddleboard or kayak and navigate the isles at your own pace?

Island hopping on the Seahorse Ferry © Visit Isles of Scilly

The easiest way to get about the islands is on foot – there are many lovely, scenic coastal and inland walks, and if you walk the entire coastline of St. Mary’s, you’re only likely to cover some 9 or 10 miles! You can’t take a car to the Isles of Scilly, there is no car rental and the few cars there are on the islands belong to local people. However, you can hire a golf buggy for the day or a bike (electric options available). You can also book a private tour by taxi or enjoy a guided mini-bus tour.

Rural view of St Mary’s © Visit Isles of Scilly

Places to stay

There is a good choice of hotels on the Isles of Scilly, ranging from luxurious spas and hotels set in historic castles to more modest and cosy family-run establishments. In addition, there is a wide selection of bed and breakfast accommodation and guest houses.

For those looking to do their own thing, there are plenty of self-catering options on the islands. Stay in a traditional Scillonian granite cottage, a converted barn, a farmhouse, a chalet or something more modern. Many visitors also choose camping, glamping or holiday lodges.

Things to see and do

Scillonians are proud to boast that there are no 'formal' tourist attractions on Scilly. Theme parks and on-tap entertainment simply don’t happen here – that’s the beauty of these gentle islands. However, there are a number of outstanding natural attractions, small museums and historic buildings to explore.

Tresco Abbey Garden © Visit Isles of Scilly

Perhaps the most famous place to visit on the Isles of Scilly is Tresco Abbey Garden a sub-tropical paradise planted among the ruins of a Benedictine priory. Its incredible 20,000 plant species have been collected from as far and wide as New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and South America. The plants that thrive here wouldn't survive outdoors anywhere else in the UK – truly unmissable!

Tresco Abbey Garden © Visit Isles of Scilly

Four miles west of the Isles of Scilly in the Atlantic Ocean stands Bishop Rock Lighthouse, built in 1858 to mark a rock ledge 45 metres long and 16 metres wide – the islands’ most westerly danger. This incredible landmark stands at the very tip of England and, in the summer months, there are regular boat trips (weather permitting).

Bishop Rock Lighthouse © Visit Isles of Scilly

There is also a wealth of scenic boat trips and wildlife safaris around the islands. Depending on the time of year, you’ll spot dolphins, puffins, cormorants, razorbills and many other seabirds – plus the guarantee of a friendly Atlantic grey seal popping up to say hello.

The Isles of Scilly’s most significant cultural destination, the Isles of Scilly Museum, has temporarily closed its doors and moved to St Mary’s Town Hall, where it has been renamed the Museum on the Move Visitor Centre. It houses many of the islands’ most prestigious collections – from the Roman age Nornour brooch to the Iron Age Bryher sword and mirror, as well as salvaged artefacts from many notable shipwrecks.

Preparing for a gig boat race © Visit Isles of Scilly

As the sun goes down at the end of the day, why not jump aboard a tripper boat and cheer on your favourite pilot gig crew? Back in the mid-19th century, around 200 men worked as pilots on the Isles of Scilly. Today, gigs (specially designed sea-faring rowing boats with six oarsmen and a coxswain) are raced purely for pleasure, particularly throughout Cornwall and the south west of England. Their heritage on Scilly remains very much a part of island life – dating back to the days when they helped incoming ships to navigate the waters, smuggled goods from abroad and performed daring rescues.

Mixed crew gig boat racing © Visit Isles of Scilly

Scilly hosts the World Pilot Gig Championships each May. From the inaugural event in 1990, which saw 19 boats compete, the championship has grown to become one of the island’s major annual events, attracting some 120 gigs and hosting men’s, ladies’ and veterans’ teams from as far away as the USA and Bermuda.  'The champs' have become an island spectacle, as a carnival atmosphere descends across the archipelago.

With their turquoise water and pale, fine sand, Scilly’s beaches are simply stunning – beautiful enough to rival any in the world. There are more than 35 such examples spread across the islands, which is good news if you're looking for your own private, secluded beach. Particular highlights include Pentle Bay on Tresco for the sheer romance of it; Porth Loo Beach on St. Mary’s for rock pooling; Town Beach on St. Mary’s for beachcombing; Great Bay on St. Martin’s (voted the best in the UK) for swimming, and Great Par on Bryher for a fabulous family day out.

St Mary’s Old Town Beach © Visit Isles of Scilly

That’s just half the story, however. For those after variety, Scilly also boosts a plethora of dramatic, rugged coastlines – steep rock faces and deep inlets caused by the continuous pounding of huge rollers coming in from the Atlantic Ocean and the site of many a great storm during the winter months. There are plentiful rocky coastal walks across landscapes often cloaked in heather and flowering gorse or with castle ruins atop a promontory. All enjoy sensational views. The aptly named Hell Bay at the northern end of Bryher is an excellent vantage point, as is Peninnis Head on St. Mary’s. 

The guided walks and boat trips organised by the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust offer a window onto Scilly’s stunning natural environment. There are weekly wildlife safaris in summer, taking in seals and seabirds, and regular strolls on the beach delve into the intriguing world of rock pools. For the more adventurous, Scilly is a playground of activities - have a go at kayaking, sailing or paddleboarding; coasteer the coastline if you dare, venture out for a guided sea swim, dive the wrecks, or perhaps book a unique opportunity to swim with seals.

Swim with seals © Visit Isles of Scilly

As an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a designated Dark Sky Discovery Zone, with some of the clearest skies in the United Kingdom, Scilly is perfectly placed for stargazing and experiencing first-hand astronomical ‘wow’ moments. The Community Observatory on St Martin’s is one of the most remote and certainly the furthest south west in the UK.

From shipwrecks to treasure, and from Bronze Age burial chambers to deserted villages, the history of Scilly is utterly compelling – especially as it mingles so tantalisingly with modern day life on the islands. Scilly’s tiny land mass is home to 239 scheduled monuments, which means there is a greater density of historical sites here than anywhere else in the British Isles.

Dinner on the beach after a busy day exploring © Visit Isles of Scilly

If your or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made tour to the Isles of Scilly, perhaps as part of a wider tour of Cornwall or south west England, please do contact our friendly team today. We can take care of all of the arrangements for you from the minute you arrive in the UK until the day you depart – including transport, accommodation, meals and activities. Although there is a fabulous selection of accommodation on the Isles of Scilly, in the summer months it gets booked up quickly, so we would recommend planning your tour as early as possible!