Isles of Scilly Tourist Information Holidays Breaks Trips Ferry

Isles of Scilly General Information

For full details on how to get to the Isles of Scilly, either by boat from Penzance on the Scillonian III which departs daily (except Sundays) landing at Hugh Town, St Mary's, or by Sky Bus small aircraft departing from Newquay, Lands End, Exeter, Bristol and Southampton check the Isles of Scilly Travel weblink right. If you prefer to take a helicopter from Penzance to either Tresco or St Mary's see the Isles of Scilly Helicopter weblink right. The cheapest way is by ferry via the Scillonian III from Penzance (dogs are welcome on the boat too), and the scenic journing taking in the west Cornish coast and scenic hotspots such as Newlyn and Mousehole near Penzance only takes about 2 1/2 hours. Flying time for the Sky Bus from Lands End is just 15 minutes, so if time's your priority choose either helicopter of Skybus small aircraft.

With so many beautiful beaches on the Isles of Scilly it's easy to find your own secluded spot! The pleasant winds make the islands perfect for bathing and sunbathing, and crystal clear waters offer excellent visibility for diving. Find beautiful sea shells across the beaches of the Scilly Islands. What strikes you immediately on any visit is the lack of noise, just the sea birds. It's especially quiet on the uninhabited off-islands - no cars here. Excellent walking is on the menu. St Mary's, the largest of the Scilly Islands offers several themed trails around the island taking in historic sites, Peninnis Lighthouse and more. There's an excellent golf course on St Mary's too. Sailing, with rowing in particular, are big sports on the Scilly Islands. There's a history here, as old wooden rowing boats used for racing are the islands traditional sport.

The Isles of Scilly are famous for birdwatching holidays and birdwatching vacations, and one of the most popular activities is taking boat trips out to explore the smaller uninhabited islands. October, if you didn't know, is now on many a birdwatcher's calendar for visits to Scilly to view rare migratory birds. Most stay on St Agnes or St Mary's. Check the Scilly Birding weblink right for full details on birdwatching in Scilly. Some boat trips are themed, for example with the intent on viewing seals, sharks and rare seabirds, or they may just be to one of the uninhabited islands such as White Island just off St Martin's or one of the best boat trips - to visit Bishop Rock lighthouse and looking for seals. In summer it's easy to hook into one of these boat trips at Hugh Town on St Mary's. It's worth taking at least a day to explore uninhabited islands such as Annet

Hugh Town Tourist Information Centre, St Mary's, High Street, Hugh Town. Tel: 01720 422536

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St Mary's Isles of Scilly

St Mary's is the largest of the Scilly Isles (two and a half miles across at the widest point), and the island that most visitors arrive at first. The bustling port of Hugh Town, St Mary's and the Scilly Isles' capital is a good base for exploring the other islands, with easy access to beautiful beaches, 6 hotels and a choice of pubs and restaurants, plus easy access to further boat trips to the rest of the islands. The Isles of Scilly Museum is here in Hugh Town, and well worth a visit to find out more about traditional island sports such as rowing, and if you arrive in May you'll collide with the annual World Pilot Gig Championships. Hugh Town's Tourist Information point is a good place to start, with advice on boat trips and walking trails available. A circular bus runs regularly round St Mary's from May to October, so it's easy to get about and explore all St Mary's has to offer.

On arriving in Hugh Town you'll love the friendly reception - there's a real community feel on the islands and visitors are welcome - especially in the clothes shops. The shape of Hugh Town is intriguing on arrival - St Mary's consists of two unequal (but roughly round) parts separated by a narrow isthmus - the effect can be seen in Hugh Town's two beaches which face different directions. Porthcressa on the south side, with toilets adjacent, is the much better of the two offering perfect bathing and fine white sands - Town beach on the North side is very close to the harbour and arriving ships and is used by fishing boats - so has more of a workaday feel to it. Hugh Town has all the shops you'll need, including banks, a post office, a choice of restaurants and pubs and a selection of pretty arts and crafts and clothes shops.

If you've come on a day trip to St Mary's you've ample time to undertake one of the marked trails around the island. For scenic coastal beauty choose the Peninnis Walk beginning at the Hugh Town Chemists, and winding past Porthcressa Bank and beach towards the stunning rock formations around Peninnis Head, as well as Peninnis Lighthouse. Views of magical granite rock formations and sublime views out to sea are to be had on this St Mary's walking trail. It cuts back through the Old Town as well, taking in the Methodist church and a selection of pretty Cottages, as well as conveniently taking in the Isles of Scilly Museum.

Other marked trails include the Garrison Walk, which takes in Star Castle (constructed originally between 1593 and 1594. Great views can be seen from this high point, with the two hills of Samson and Bryher visible in the distance. Further along this trail there's some superb views of Annet, a renowned Scilly bird sanctuary and a breeding base for Shearwaters and Puffins! Plenty of Battery and fortifications can also be viewed on this walk. The third recommended St Mary's trail is the Old Town to Porth Loo trail, taking in beautiful beaches and the superb Porthloo Studio which offers a range of arts and crafts and is home to St Mary's perfumery.

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Isles of Scilly Museum

The Isles of Scilly Museum in Hugh Town, St Mary's sprung up after the 1962 storms and gales threw up numerous Romano-British finds! About 60% of the Scilly Islands are prime archaeological territory, with many Bronze Age sites and monuments scattered across the Islands. The Isles of Scilly Museum is a good place to start on you exploration of these precious sites. As well as Bronze Age monuments and burial grounds there are also many examples of Roman, early Medieval, Tudor, Civil War, and 18th, 19th and 20th century defence works to see.

One of the most famous prehistoric sites on the Scilly Isles is on St Mary's, just north of the golf course at Halangy Down. There's an ancient village here dating back to 2000BC, with stone huts, a burial chamger and a standing stone.

There are about 700 shipwrecks under the seas around the Isles of Scilly - if you take one of the diving trips you may see some. Scilly Maritime History and shipwrecks are well covered in the museum. The social history of the Scilly Islands is also well covered here at the museum, with a selection of video and audio archives held here. For further information check the Isles of Scilly Museum website link to the right.

The Isles of Scilly Museum, Church Street, St Mary's Tel 01720 422337.

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St Mary's Golf, Boat Trips & Diving

Outdoor activities on St. Mary's include numerous water sports and leisure pursuits. Take your pick from the choice of facilities available, which include squash, golf, cycling, tennis, horse-riding, windsurfing, sailing, scuba-diving, fishing, snooker and shooting. Cricket is also popular on St Mary's, and there are numerous arts and crafts studios and centres scattered around the island.

Diving and snorkelling at it's best is to be found around the Isles of Scilly. Check out Sea Safaris (based on St Mary's) weblink right for details on diving with seals day trips and courses. The Isles of Scilly has wonderful clear and protected waters, offering superb visibility for diving to view jewel anemone walls, a choice of reefs and shipwrecks and of course the seals. Check the Scilly Diving weblink too (right), which has information on diving and snorkelling around St Martin's particularly.

St Mary's has it's own golf club and 9 hole golf course on the North of the island. Expect panoramic views of Tresco, Bryher, Samson and St.Martins from this 18 tees golf course. The club house has a licensed bar, sun terrace and offers evening meals. You don't need a handicap for this golf course either.

Isles of Scilly Golf Club on St Mary's, Carn Morval, St. MaryÆs, Isles Of Scilly TR21 0NE. Tel: 01720 422692.

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St Mary's Beaches & Gardens

Tresco is the most renowned Scilly Island for gardens, with it's famous Abbey Gardens (see Tresco Tourist Information). However St Mary's offers a good choice of smaller gardens. Head for Carreg Dhu Garden Tel: 01720 422404, Island's Garden & Plants Department Tel: 01720 422594, Porthloo Plants Tel: 01720 422535 and The Islands Plant Centre Tel: 01720 423695.

St Mary's offers a superb choice of beaches, many of which are situated close to the main hub - Hugh Town. Porthcressa Beach is Hugh Town's south facing beach, offering beautiful white fine sands, and perfect conditions for bathing. This beach is popular with families, has toilets adjacent and all the amenities of Hugh Town close to hand including ample pubs, cafes, restaurants and specialist arts and crafts shops.

Check out also Porthmellon Beach in Hugh Town's 'old town' area - also an attractive family beach, and centre for the Isles of Scilly Sailing Centre where you can hire equipment for not just sailing, but also windsurfing.. Windsurfing fanatics should head north to the Bar Point area, after checking in for equipment hire at the Sailing Centre on Porthmellon Beach. For total seclusion head towards Pelistry Bay on the east side of the island. This area of St Mary's coast, including Toll Island is indeed an idyllic spot. Word of warning though, NO SWIMMING is allowed here beacus the sandbar can cause dangerous rip tides.

Isles of Scilly Sailing Centre, Porthmellon, St.Mary's, Isles of Scilly, TR21 0NE. Tel: 01720 422060.

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Isles of Scilly Boat Trips & Fishing

For boat trips from St. Mary's to the other Scilly Isles, choose from Sea Safaris, Tel: 01720 422732. Blue Hunter boat trips Tel: 01720 423337, Calypso boat trips Tel: 01720422187 & M: 07778198454, Crusader boat trips Tel: 01720 422028 & M: 07748243122, Flying Cloud & Sea Cloud boat trips Tel: 01720 422066, Wizard high speed boat trips Tel: 01720 423999, Halcyon Daze catamaran trips Tel: 07748805273 or The Sailing Centre Tel: 01720 422060.

For boat trips from St Agnes and Bryher contact St. Agnes Boating Tel: 01720 422704, and for Bryher, Bryher Boat Services Tel: 01720 422886 or Bennett Catamarans Boat Hire Tel: 07979393206.

For Tresco and St Martin's, contact Ravensporth & Pentle Bay sailing bases in Tresco on Tel: 01720 422060, or in St. Martin's Lightning Jetboat, Tel: 01720 422814 and Voyager & Enterprise boat trips Tel: 01720 422814.

For fishing trips and information contact St. Mary's Kingfisher Shark & Fishing Trips Tel: 07768662229, Sapphire Fishing Trips Tel: 07776204631, Kestrel Shark & Fishing Trips Tel: 01720 422251. On St. Agnes contact Vanguard Fishing Trips Tel: 01720 422704, and on St. Martin's contact Mark Pender's Fine Quality Shellfish Tel: 01720 422395.

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Arts & Crafts St Mary's & Isles of Scilly

A key centre for arts and crafts on St Mary's, and a good beach, is Porth Loo and the Porthloo Studio. Conveniently it's only a short 10 minute walk up from Hugh Town, and the Isles of Scilly Perfumery is based here at Porthloo Studio. Highly recommended, you can watch soap and perfume being made here, using local Scilly flowers. Check out the gift shop with pot pourri and perfumes galore - including a Lavender range - magic! Also at the Porthloo Studio are the Scilly Fleece Company. Tel. 01720 422455, Peter Smith Paintings, Tel. 07789 933183 and Sue Woof's superb Beadwork. Tel. 01720 422154.

For a complete list of St Mary's art and craft studios see the weblink right - there's quite a few offering everything from ceramics to paintings.

The Isles of Scilly Perfumery, Porthloo, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly TR21 0NE. Tel: 01720 423304.

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Getting Around St Mary's

Buses and taxis on St Mary's include Island taxis - 01720 422126. Q Cabs (Duncan and Ruth) - 01720 422260. Scilly Cabs - 01720 422901. St Mary's Taxi Service (Jim Johnson) - 01720 422555. Island Rover - 01720 422131. Woodcock's Buses - 01720 422387 and 422712. Fred's Bus - 01720 422604 & 422912. For Bicycle Hire check out Buccaboo, Porthcressa - 01720 422289.

For boat trips a good first port of call is St. Mary's Boatman's Association - Karenza, Ennor Close, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly TR21 0NL (see their weblink right). Other boat trip providers include Hicks & Sons Boat Hire - 01720 422541. Sea Quest (glass bottomed boat) (Alfred Hicks) - 01720 422511. Calypso (Tim Fortey) - 01720 422187. Blue Hunter (Paul Osborne) - 01720 423377 and Crusader (Paul Hicks) - 01720 422028.

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