Isles of Scilly - recommendations

(10 Posts)
totiredtosleep Sat 27-Apr-13 10:49:23

My DH and I are planning to spend 10 days in summer on the Isles of Scilly. We've never been there before but we enjoy walking, canoeing and exploring.

We were thinking about spending 3 days on one island and a week on another, but we were sure how easy (and how busy the boats get) when transferring between the islands.

Any tips on places to go and which island to stay on?


Startail Sat 27-Apr-13 10:54:48

Agnes beautiful. the far end kooking out to the bishop is the most amazing spot.
Tresco gardens are a must. You need to book ages in advance as people go back year after year.

I really miss it DMIL had a permanent slot and we used to be able to join her sometimes.

Startail Sat 27-Apr-13 11:00:13

Island hopping in summer is easy as there are enough boat seats for everyone (there can only be a certain number of tourists as you have to use the ferry etc)

You only have to be careful if you go very early or very late and the boats are on winter safety rules when the open boats aren't running.

I'm very very envy I just can't see my DDs liking Scilly unless it's warm enough to swim.

5Foot5 Mon 06-May-13 15:40:30

We had a fortnight there a few years back and it is lovely. Personally I would recommend basing yourself on St Mary's as it is the biggest island and from there it is easy to get a boat to all the other islands. You shouldn't have any trouble getting on the boats - we went in the height of summer and I didn't see anyone being turned away - they just put on extra boats if there was a lot of people waiting.

We visited Tresco at least twice. The Abbey Gardens are worth a visit but we also found splendid walking in the north of the island.

Cliff walks around St Marys are lovely. St Martins has fantastic beaches. In fact if you have the time all the islands are worth a visit.

serin Thu 09-May-13 22:58:15

Take binoculars, it's great for birds and some of them are really tame.

We like to just pootle about, staying on St Mary's is easiest as you have easy access to all the other islands from there.

Are you looking for a hotel or cottage?

serin Thu 09-May-13 23:00:18
Bunbaker Mon 20-May-13 10:17:02

I am so envy. We have wanted to visit the Scilly Isles for ages, but getting there from the north of England is a bit of a logistical nightmare and so expensive.

I went with my family when I was 9 and have some very happy and vivid memories of them.

Also advise staying on St Mary's and making day trips to the other islands. If you want to spend a day on St Mary's, hiring bikes gives you an easy way to cover the whole island. If you canoe, you won't even have to rely on the boats and can visit uninhabited islands, particularly within the archipelago, where conditions shouldn't be as taxing as the Atlantic proper!
Have a brilliant time!

Bunbaker Thu 23-May-13 07:21:31

I think you would have to be a pretty strong canoist to canoe between the islands. I remember a particularly rough journey between St Mary's and another island (St Martin's I think).

5Foot5 Fri 24-May-13 21:20:25

When we were there a few years ago we happened to be there on the lowest tide of the year when it was possible to walk between some of the islands! We didn't but we saw quite a few people walking from Tresco to Bryher.

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