How We Research

Our process for gathering, verifying and presenting travel information.

Photo: Hugh Town harbour, St Mary's (26 August 2006) — Chris Gorringe · CC BY-SA 2.0. Display may be cropped. Photo details.

Last reviewed: June 2026 · Author: Alastair Semmens, Isles of Scilly Compare

This page explains the process we follow to gather, verify and present the travel information on Isles of Scilly Compare. We believe transparency about our methods is an important part of being a trustworthy, independent resource.

1. Primary Source Verification

We regularly review information against operator guidance, drawing on the official operator websites — islesofscilly-travel.co.uk (for the Scillonian ferry and Skybus) and penzancehelicopters.co.uk (for the Penzance Helicopter) — alongside public travel information. We welcome corrections from operators and frequent travellers to help keep this guide accurate and up to date. Key operational facts can change, so always confirm live fares, timetables, availability and rules directly with the operator before booking.

2. Pricing Treatment

Fares for Isles of Scilly travel are dynamic — they vary by date, demand, class, and availability. We never present specific prices as definitive or current. Where we mention pricing, we use indicative language ('fares from approximately...', 'typically...', 'day trips can start from...') and always direct users to the official operator for actual fares. We label all pricing clearly as 'indicative only'.

3. Regular Review

We review key pages regularly — particularly before and after each travel season — to check for changes to schedules, policies, routes and any operator announcements. We pay particular attention to significant changes such as the planned introduction of Scillonian IV.

4. Policy Changes

When we become aware of a policy change (such as a change to luggage limits, pet travel rules, or seasonal dates), we update the relevant pages promptly. If a change is significant, we add a notice to the affected pages and to our home page.

5. Island Information

Information about the individual islands — accommodation, attractions, transport between islands — is sourced from publicly available information including the Visit Isles of Scilly official tourism authority, operator websites, and publicly available editorial sources. We do not fabricate descriptions or invent details.

6. What We Don't Claim

We do not claim to have real-time pricing data. We do not claim to have live timetable data. We do not claim to have insider information from operators. We are an independent planning resource, not a booking platform, and our information is compiled for general orientation purposes only.

See also: Editorial Policy · Disclaimer.

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Everything you need to know before your first visit.

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Practical answers about dogs, luggage, cancellations and more.