Isles of Scilly

From World travel guide

The Isles of Scilly (Cornish: Ynysek Syllan) is a small archipelago of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, off the Cornish coast in the West Country region of England (part of the United Kingdom). There are 5 main inhabited islands (St Marys, Tresco, Bryher, St Martins and St Agnes) and a larger number of smaller, uninhabited islands (including the Western Rocks, the Norrad Rocks, Samson, Tean, St Helen's and the Eastern Isles). The Isles of Scilly were designated an official Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1975.

NB: Local people do not use - and do not like - the expression "The Scillies". Local usage is to refer to "Scilly".

1 Get in
- 1.1 By boat
- 1.2 By helicopter
2 Get around
- 2.1 By boat
3 See
4 Do
5 Buy
6 Drink
7 Sleep
8 Get out
9 External links

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Get in

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By boat

Throughout the summer months the Scillonian III operates between Penzance in Cornwall and St Mary's. Timetable and booking information is available from the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company's website [1].

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By helicopter

The air route between Penzance and St Mary's has been serviced by helicopter since 1964 and is the world's longest running scheduled helicopter service. The Tresco service was subsequently inaugurated in 1983. The 20 min flight operates 6 days a week with regular flights throughout the day.

Timetable and booking information is available from British International's website [2].

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Get around

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By boat

Each island is serviced by an network of inter-island launches that run 7 days a week from 1 April through to the end of October each year. Apart from direct trips between the islands, circular sightseeing tours are also offered giving the opportunity to look at the extensive wildlife in and around the islands, particularly the large colonies of Atlantic seal and hundreds of sea bird species. One of the most popular trips is to see the puffins who arrive to nest in late April, leaving the Isles in early August. The boat service in the winter is governed more by wind and tide, but daily, direct trips still take place with the occasional circular journey when the weather is sufficiently benign.

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