Land's End to Isles of Scilly

The Fastest Way to the Islands

Land's End Airport offers the shortest crossing to the Isles of Scilly of any mainland departure point. Skybus flies from Land's End to St Mary's Airport in approximately 20 minutes, making it the fastest way to reach the islands from Cornwall. The small Twin Otter aircraft fly at low altitude, giving spectacular views of the Cornish coastline and the islands as you approach. Land's End is the only Skybus route that operates year-round; the Newquay and Exeter services are seasonal (typically summer).

Land's End is also one of the best departure points for day trippers — the short crossing means maximum time on the islands.

Land's End vs Other Departure Points

Land's End offers the fastest single crossing, but if you are travelling from further afield — east of the Tamar — Skybus from Newquay (30 mins) or Exeter (1 hr) may be more convenient. You can also take the Scillonian ferry from Penzance (30 mins from Land's End) if you prefer a sea crossing with better luggage and dog provisions.

For a fuller itinerary pairing mainland Cornwall with your island stay, see our West Cornwall before or after Scilly guide.