Places to visit in Isles of Scilly

The first part of your holiday is deciding how to get to the Isles of Scilly. Start your adventure by choosing between the many travel options from mainland Britain. Will you fly by SkyBus from Land's End, Newquay or Exeter Airport; hop on Penzance Helicopters from Penzance; or catch the three-hour ferry from Penzance to St. Mary’s?

St. Mary’s is the largest of the Scilly islands and the gateway to the archipelago. Base yourself here and explore Hugh Town, the island's main town. One of the top things to do in the Isles of Scilly is explore its shops, cafés, galleries and three beaches – Porthcressa, Town Beach and Porthmellon. Don’t miss the Isles of Scilly Museum too.

All of that sea air must have worked up an appetite, so call in for lunch at one of the Isles of Scilly’s iconic pubs, The Mermaid Inn. At the entrance to St. Mary’s Harbour, this was once the haunt of smugglers and pirates, but now is a great spot for lunch with a view.

One of the most enjoyable things to do in the Isles of Scilly is seeing the sights on horseback with St. Mary’s Riding Centre. Take a hack along bridleways, beaches, or even a paddle in the saddle, on its equestrian experiences for all abilities.

Finally, after a full first day on your Isles of Scilly holiday, it’s time to unwind. Head to the 16th century castle in the Garrison, Star Castle Hotel. This family-run hotel has two award-winning restaurants where you can enjoy beautiful views and fine-dining using fresh, local produce.

The joy of visiting this special place is to explore the other Isles of Scilly islands – and you can do that by island-hopping on tripper boats, or by hiring your own. This morning, head to Tresco, the second-largest island and a sub-tropical paradise. It is full of beautiful beaches, Bronze Age sites and romantic ruins.

Tresco’s most famous attraction and one of the top things to do in the Isles of Scilly is Tresco Abbey Garden, which is described as “Kew without the glass”. This 19th Century garden is full of tropical plants from the southern hemisphere, which flourish in the island’s balmy climate.

Explore Tresco’s sub-tropical coastline, including sites like Cromwell’s Castle in just a couple hours. Tresco is only 2.5 miles (4km) long and 1 mile (1.6km) wide, which makes it perfect to explore on foot.

On your journey around the island, be sure to spend some time relaxing on the beach – and maybe even dipping in the sea. There are plenty of beaches to pick from, such as Appletree Bay and Pentle Bay: both great for a spot of wild swimming.

Before you catch the boat back to St. Mary’s, head for a supper of Cornish crab and wood-fired pizzas at Tresco’s top dining spot – the laid-back Ruin Beach Café. Booking is recommended.

Today is all about visiting another of the Isles of Scilly islands – St. Martin’s. This 2-mile (3.2km) long island is surrounded by sparkling-clear waters and some of the best beaches in Britain. Once again, you can catch a tripper boat or charter your own for the journey.

The best way to explore St. Martin’s and some of its neighbouring islands is from the sea. You can hire a kayak from St. Martin’s Watersports on Par Beach: for adventure lovers, this is one of the best  things to do on Isles of Scilly.

Who doesn’t love a vineyard tour when on holiday? St. Martin’s Vineyard is one of England’s most idyllic wineries, where you can follow a self-guided vine trail or try a wine tasting. If the stronger stuff is more to your taste, head to SC Dogs Distillery which makes small-batch rum, vodka and brandy.

Treat yourself  to a luxury stay at the luxury retreat Karma. See the waves lapping at the shore from your room or whilst you sip a glass of something local at award-winning restaurant, Cloudesley Shovell. The menu is packed with locally grown and ethically sourced food. You can't go wrong with the freshly caught lobster. 

Depending on the timing of your boat back to St. Mary’s, the island of St. Martin’s – and the rest of the Isles of Scilly, for that matter – is one of the best places for stargazing in the UK. St. Martin’s also has a community observatory (COSMOS), for a closer look at that glittering night sky.

The Isles of Scilly have endless opportunities to escape. With around 140 islands making up the Scilly Isles, only five of which are inhabited, it’s up to you where you want to explore today. Catch a scheduled boat or hire your own for the day, to explore Bryher, St. Agnes and beyond. You’ll soon see why island hopping is one of the best things to do in the Isles of Scilly.

With sandy beaches on one side and a wild coastline on the other, Bryher is where the Michael Morpurgo movie When the Whales Came was filmed. This morning you should laze on the beach, explore its rocky coves, pick up some fruity Tattie Cake from the Bryher Shop and check out Bryher Gallery.

Don’t let the name put you off – Hell Bay Hotel is the most westerly hotel in England, as well as being one of the isles’ highest-rated. Treat yourself to lunch in its fine-dining restaurant, a massage in its Treatment Shed spa, or pick up some fresh seafood at The Crab Shack.

Another tiny, unspoilt Isles of Scilly island is St. Agnes, which is around 1 mile (1.6km) wide but full of contrasts: from sheltered coves to wild coastline. Wander the island to discover pretty cottages and flower fields, a stone labyrinth, stone stacks and cairns, and great views of Annet bird sanctuary and the Old Man of Gugh standing stone.

Finally, before heading back to St. Mary’s, fortify yourself with a Cornish beer or two at The Turks Head. This family-run pub is located on the waterfront, overlooking the Porth Conger Quay and nearby Gugh island.

Spend the last day of your holiday in the Scilly Islands discovering more of St. Mary’s. Don’t go home without taking a “sea safari” cruise around the archipelago, spotting some of the wonderful wildlife with Scilly Sea Safaris. One of the best things to do in the Isles of Scilly.

Back on dry land, spend some time exploring Old Town. Relax on its pretty beach (Old Town Bay), see otherworldly rock formations at Peninnis Head and enjoy one final local crab sandwich or a cream tea at Old Town Café.

Finally, end your holiday in the Isles of Scilly by discovering another glorious garden – Carreg Dhu. This secret garden was founded by the community in the 1980s. Pronounced “crick dhu” locally, this magical space was created from a disused quarry and is now full of colourful sub-tropical blooms.

Sadly, it’s time to head home. If part of the fun was deciding how to get to the Isles of Scilly, then the same applies to the return journey, which doesn’t have to be taken the same way. If you flew here, maybe take a slower return via the ferry? Whichever transport method you choose, you won’t want to leave.