Things To Do
Beaches, wildlife, island hopping and extraordinary food — life on the islands.
Photo: Pentle Bay, Tresco (10 September 2012) — Jonathan Billinger · CC BY-SA 2.0. Display may be cropped. Photo details.
Beaches
Crystal-clear turquoise water and white sand — some of the finest beaches in the British Isles, virtually crowd-free even in summer.
- Great Bay, St Martin's
- Pentle Bay, Tresco
- Porthcressa, St Mary's
Island Hopping
Five inhabited islands, each with its own character. Regular boats link them all — from the subtropical gardens of Tresco to the wild beauty of Bryher.
- St Mary's · Tresco · St Martin's
- Bryher · St Agnes
- Tides & weather permitting
Boat Trips
Seal snorkelling, puffin watching, fishing trips and sunset cruises — all run from St Mary's harbour throughout the season.
- Atlantic grey seal swims
- Puffin watching trips
- Sunset cruises
Walking
No cars on the off-islands. Coastal paths, wildflower meadows and ancient standing stones — all at a delightfully slow pace.
- St Mary's coastal path
- Tresco abbey gardens walk
- Off-island exploration
Wildlife
Rare migrant birds, Atlantic seals, puffins, dolphins and basking sharks. One of the UK's premier wildlife destinations.
- Autumn birding season
- Grey seals year-round
- Puffins in summer
Food & Drink
Crab, lobster and fresh fish landed daily. Excellent cafés, bakeries and restaurants across St Mary's and Tresco.
- Local seafood restaurants
- Island-made gin & fudge
- Book ahead in summer
Family Activities
Rock pooling, sandcastles, crabbing off the quay — the islands are a wonderful, car-free environment for children.
- Rock pooling at low tide
- Crabbing from the harbour
- Isles of Scilly Museum
Mainland Cornwall
Extend your trip on mainland Cornwall
These are mainland Cornwall experiences — not island activities — well suited to the day before or after your Scilly crossing, when you're already in West Cornwall with time to explore.
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Featured Food & Drink
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We don’t list featured activities businesses here yet. To be featured in this space, get in touch — we add vetted local businesses as paid listings launch.
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