Tresco Island Guide

Private Island

About Tresco

Tresco is the second largest of the Isles of Scilly. It is managed by the Tresco Estate under a long lease from the Duchy of Cornwall. It has no public roads open to outside vehicles, creating an atmosphere of extraordinary peace and seclusion that is unlike anywhere else in Britain.

The island is best known for Tresco Abbey Garden, a world-class sub-tropical garden created in the ruins of a 12th-century Benedictine priory. The garden benefits from the island's remarkably mild climate — shaped by the Gulf Stream — and is home to plants from over 80 countries worldwide.

Tresco has its own helicopter landing pad, making it uniquely accessible directly from Penzance. It is the only island in the archipelago with direct air access outside of St Mary's.

Getting To Tresco

Things To Do on Tresco

• Explore Tresco Abbey Garden — over 20,000 plants from 80 countries
• Walk Pentle Bay and Appletree Bay — two of the finest beaches on the islands
• Visit Valhalla, the collection of ship figureheads within the Abbey Garden
• Cycle the island's quiet tracks
• Snorkel the clear waters around the coastline
• Birdwatch — the islands are internationally important for migratory species
• Eat at New Inn, the island's pub and restaurant

Accommodation on Tresco

All accommodation on Tresco is managed by the Tresco Estate. Options include New Inn (a renovated boutique pub-hotel with sea views), Flying Boat Clubs (luxury self-catering apartments), and a wide range of estate cottages sleeping 2–14 people. There is no camping on Tresco.

Booking is exclusively through the Tresco Estate website. Demand is very high, particularly in summer — book as early as possible, ideally 6–12 months in advance for peak dates.