Perched around 30 miles off the coast of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly are a wonderful, picturesque and stunning place to visit. Now, if you’re anything like me, before our first trip, I struggled to find the best places in the Isles of Scilly to visit. Not because they aren’t easy to find, but because there’s so much choice!
Over the years, we’ve spent heaps of time in the Isles of Scilly and it’s a magical set of islands to visit, especially with the Gulf Stream and Atlantic Drift bringing warmer waters and weather to the island’s shores. So, how do you get to the Isles of Scilly?
How to get to the Isles of Scilly
Well, the Isles of Scilly are easy to get to. Now, we’ve always taken the SkyBus flights over to the Isles of Scilly, landing at St Mary’s Island. This is the most convenient way as you can fly from Exeter, Land’s End or New Quay airports. It’s all nice and easy, and you can even bring your dog with you onboard.
Alternatively, head to Penzance and take the Scillonian Ferry over to the Isles of Scilly. The crossing can take around 2.5-3 hours, depending on conditions. The ferry is another great option if you’re already at the tip of Western Cornwall. Though be warned, the sea can get choppy on windy days.
Anyway, enough rambling, take a look at the best places in the Isles of Scilly to visit on your trip. You are going to love the islands – they are as good as you can imagine!
1.) St Agnes (Porth Conger)
St Anges (Google Maps pin) is the southernmost (populated) island in the Isles of Scilly and a charming island to explore for a day. Easily reached by water taxi and scheduled boat stops, it’s the kind of island you can visit from any of the other islands on the Isle of Scilly. Just make sure to check out the boat schedules when you arrive on the island. They can change, depending on tidal differences and seasonality.
Once you’ve docked at Porth Conger Quay, you’ll get to stroll all around St Anges and wander through the stunning beauty that this island has to offer.
Now, if you’re arriving around lunchtime, make sure to pop into the Turk’s Head for a bite to eat. This traditional pub boasts an amazing view from its beer garden and decked area. It’s the most southerly pub in all the British Isles, and you can’t miss it when visiting St Agnes.
Afterwards, take a stroll through the settlement itself. It is only small, but you’ll come across all manner of little places to chill, relax and even post a postcard! The Post Office is so cute, and you can even buy local souvenirs inside.
Oh, and don’t forget to grab a cuppa at Coastguards Lookout, a cute little cafe, and spot St Agnes’s Lighthouse and St Agnes Chruch as you stroll New Lane.
Finally, don’t forget you can take a trip over to the island of Gugh whilst on St Agnes. You see, Gugh and St Anges are attached by a sandy bar, which you can walk across with ease.
Read more: Best areas in Cornwall to visit
2.) St Mary’s
It’s almost inevitable that you will visit St Mary’s Island. You see, it’s where the airport, ferry port and biggest commercial centre are within the Isles of Scilly. Though when I say commercial centre, I say that lightly. It feels like a small town. Quaint but small.
That being said, with it being a hive of activity (in Isle of Scilly terms), there is heaps to see and do whilst you’re here. Now, there’s no wrong or right island to stay on in the Isles of Scilly. When we visited, we stayed most of the time on Tresco Island, and spent our last night in the Isles of Scilly on St Mary’s. We did it this way as it gave us much more freedom when looking at flights back to Exeter (where we flew from). Anyway, food for thought when planning your trip.
After arriving on St Mary’s Island, make sure to spend some time in Hugh Town (Google Maps pin). Here, you’ll be able to rent a golf buggy to explore the town and the wider island, and we loved it. We rented ours from Scilly Carts, which was perfect.
As you meander the small country roads, make sure to stop off at St. Mary’s Garrison Walls and learn more about the long history and settlements on the islands here. Visits take around 25 minutes, and it’s so worth doing as you explore the wider island of St Mary’s. Plus, it’s free to enter.
Then, head on over to Porthcressa Beach (Google Maps pin), which is right on the shores of Hugh Town and is great for a little dip. Like most breaches on the Isles of Scilly, it’s a sandy paradise, with shallow waters.
As you meander the roads of St Mary’s, make sure to visit The Chair, Peninnis Head, St. Mary’s, Porth Hellick and the Down Burial Chamber. All easily reached in your buggy and so worth it.
For a bite to eat, head on over to Juliet’s Garden. We had a lovely dinner of scallops here, and the venue is so lovely. Plus, the food is so yummy.
Read more: Spending a day on Mary’s Island
4.) St Martin’s
Another stunning island to visit, St Martin’s is one of the best places in the Isles of Scilly to visit, that’s quite lowkey and much less busy than the likes of St Mary’s. Though let’s be honest, St Mary’s isn’t even that busy!
After taking the small ferry boats between the islands (which dock at Higher Town), you’ll be able to ramble across the island and explore at your own pace.
Of course, stop off at Higher Town Bay (Google Maps pin), which is a really accessible beach, and within easy reach of Higher Town. Of course, you have to get some of Adam’s famous fish and chips (Google Maps pin) whilst you’re on St Martin’s. All their fish is freshly fried and it’s so yummy. All doused with lashings of vinegar!
As you head around St Martin’s, make sure to explore St Martin’s Vineyard and Winery. It’s an absolute gem of a place to visit on the islands and so worth a visit for a tipple (or two).
Then, make sure to spend some time at Great Bay Beach (my favourite), rent a Kayak to traverse the shallow shoreline and stop off at The Seven Stones Inn. It’s such a lovely pub and one of our favourites in all of the Isles of Scilly. Not only that, they serve up some local Cornish brews and the best Cornish pasties on the island.
5.) Porthcressa Beach
I know I briefly mentioned Porthcressa Beach (Google Maps link) before, but it deserves a mention in its own right. Now, I’m not saying it’s the absolute best beach in all of the Isles of Scilly, but it’s certainly the most accessible. You see, it’s right off the roads of Hugh Town on St Mary’s Island and so easy to visit.
Now, if you catch a glorious sunny day at Porthcressa Beach, then make the most of it! Go for a dip, lounge around on the white sandy beach and stop off for lunch in places like Dibble and Grub. They make a mean cocktail, and their sandwiches are so good.
6.) Peninnis Lighthouse
After spending the day at Prothcressa Beach on St Mary’s Island, make sure to head on over to nearby Peninnis Lighthouse (Google Maps pin). The whole area around Peninnis Head is perfect for a stroll, especially around sunset.
Not only that, it’s one of the best places in the Isles of Scilly to explore on foot. The whole coastline here is stunning, especially on a lazy day on St Mary’s Island.
7.) Tresco Abbey Garden
So, Tresco Abbey Garden is probably one of the Isle of Scilly’s most famous places to visit – and with good reason! Tresco Abbey Garden is stunning. Remember I mentioned the Isles of Scilly benefiting from the Gulf Stream? Well, Tresco Abbey Garden is proof of this!
Here, you will find vegetation and trees, flowers and more from every geographic region in Europe. It’s incredible and the perfect place to visit for a few hours whilst on Tresco Island.
Yes, there is a small entry fee, but it’s so worth it! The whole garden is so peaceful, and we ended up spending about two hours strolling around the grounds.
Read more: What it’s like to holiday on Tresco Island (things to do)
8.) Tresco
Taking of Tresco Island, don’t forget to spend a fair bit of time here. We spent around five nights on Tresco and loved every second of it.
Now, I’m not going to mention Tresco Abbey and Garden again, but, like I said before, make sure you visit. Afterwards, head on over to Cromwell’s Castle (Google Maps pin) and King Charles’ Castle ruins that are on the other side of Tresco.
Although they are both in ruins, you can still spend some time wandering the shoreline and ruins, and it all feels so special.
Oh, and be sure to stop off at the small village of New Grimsby and visit the New Inn. It’s a proper English pub and they make some of the best food on the island. We ended up eating here many times. Plus, it’s not too far from New Grimsby Quay, which is great for a stroll around.
As you head across the island, you might also see a heap of honesty boxes along your route. These are all over the Isles of Scilly and a great way to pick up anything from eggs, local crafts, to art. We loved finding them across the islands.
Read more: What to see and do on Tresco Island
9.) Innisidgen Lower and Upper Burial Chambers
If you’re heading to the north side of St Mary’s Island, make sure to stop by Innisidgen Lower and Upper Burial Chambers. The whole site is free to enter, and it is so worth seeing as they have been around on the Isles of Scilly for thousands of years.
Some of these burial chambers are said to date back to 2,500 BC and have stood proudly in place ever since. It’s such an important site to see and one of the best places in the Isles of Scilly to visit for its long history. Just make sure to wear some comfy shoes, the pathway can be quite uneven.
Also, relatives nearby, you have Bant’s Carn Burial Chamber that’s, again, free entry and so worth seeing. If it’s human history that intrigues you, these places will be right up your alley. Visits won’t take too long, and it’s so easy to stop by for 15 minutes as you drive around the island.
10.) Bryher Island
Just off the coast of Tresco Island, Bryher is one of my favourite islands we visited on the Isles of Scilly. It’s charming, totally peaceful and small enough to walk around.
Now, most of the small boat transfers arrive at Church Quay (Google Maps pin), and you can easily stroll from here around the island of Bryher itself.
As you wander around, make sure to follow the rugged coastline and stop off at Richard Pearce’s Artist Studio. It’s so worth going in to see the gorgeous paintings of the island.
As you follow the coastline, make sure to visit Fraggle Rock and stop off at Harbour View and Fraggle Rock. It’s a great place to stop for lunch, and they have a glorious beer garden, which we loved in the warm summer weather.
Read more: How to spend a day on the Island of Bryher
11.) Teän Island
Just shy of St Martin’s Island, Teän Island (Google Maps pin) is an unpopulated gem in the Isles of Scilly. Not only that, it’s one of the best places in the Isles of Scilly to visit if you fancy spending some time away from the towns and visitors. Not that the islands ever get really busy, but Teän is just that bit quieter.
Now, the biggest draw for visiting Teän is its lovely beaches. They are totally untouched and unspoilt. Though if you are planning a trip, make sure to plan accordingly. Take all the water, food and SPF with you. There are no shops or facilities on the island itself.
As you stroll, make sure to ramble up Great Hill and see the views across the wider region.
12.) Gugh Island
Attached to St Agnes Island by a small sandy bar, the Island of Gugh is totally easy to visit as you explore St Agnes. Now, unlike St Agnes, no one lives on the island of Gugh. I lied, there is one farm, but that’s it!
We loved strolling around Gugh, and you can easily walk the whole island in less than an hour. It’s beautiful, serene and calming. Plus, you can find the Old Man of Gugh, which still stands proudly on the shores here. It dates back to the Bronze Age, and you can’t miss it when visiting the Isles of Scilly.
Read more: 1-week itinerary to visit the Isles of Scilly
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