Scilly Isles advice please

Looks like we will have to wait until 2026! But will dogs be allowed?

We went by boat many years ago and despite having sailed to Singapore and Sweden without being sick I was sick the whole way over. I was stood on the deck in the fresh air, ate a light breakfast and condition. We were told, we’re the best they had ever know Yet there was me the only one on the boat being really sick

Scillonian 111 is due to be replaced by Scillonian IV in March 2026. It will be 3 tier and take 600 passengers and will be fitted with stabilisers which should stop it rolling. It looks very swish but I think I’ll still stick with the plane!!

Yes, the swell, and the fact a Scillonian is a flat bottomed vessel. So not only does it go up and down, but also from side to side.

Went over to Tresco to see the stunning Abbey Gardens in the 1990s, by boat from Penzance. The crossing was very rough.

One of the crew told us that it's because it's where the English Channel meets the Bristol Channel and the Atlantic, so it's the swell. However he said the return wouldn't be so bad, and it wasn't.

We got the train from Bristol, with the dog, to Penzance station where a shuttle awaited to take us to the airport at St. Just. It was a 15 minute flight to St. Mary’s airport where another shuttle waited to take us into town to the quay. Everyone was very helpful and it was a smooth transition. If travelling on to another island the boatmen will happily carry your luggage on board for you.

Ps after all this we are now going to see if we can book Tregarthen Hotel in St. Mary’s for next June.

We went a few years ago with our, as then, yc. We all loved it because the small scale meant everything was do-able by all. Only thing we found was fruit and veg very expensive as they had to be imported. Would love to go back again. Would fly if possible.

Thanks all. Your comments are encouraging me to book!
Thanks too for the Guardian artice Twiglet. Look forward to reading it.

amp.theguardian.com/travel/2023/jun/03/walking-holiday-on-the-scilly-isles-cornwall

It’s on my bucket list.

Do immerse yourself in Raynor Winn’s wonderful books (before any trip to the West Country actually)!

Isles of Scilly, not Scilly Isles.

it is nice - a bit swallows and amazons. we flew over and got the boat back - much better to fly. Not a lot to do there or much of a choice of cafes.

Definitely fly and would recommend Tresco! You can fly direct from Lands End airport

DrWatson

For mumofbadboys, yes, it's not cheap there, but if you like that sort of holiday, it's great, take a book or two perhaps. And DO visit the gardens on Tresco, as they're wonderful. And if you've not been to the Channel Islands, maybe consider them, rather more to do, and a day trip to St Malo is possible from Jersey.

No way, the vomit comet is ten times worse and Saint Malo has the highest tides in Europe! I used to do it every week to work. 🤢

DrWatson

For Joseann -- when the ferry was "rammed" - what by? A battleship, trawler? Did it nearly sink? I'm surprised that incident didn't make the TV News?

It's an adjective meaning packed or very crowded. 😆

We have been several times, mostly flying from Exeter which isn’t cheap, but we find it the best option rather than travelling down to catch the ferry. We stay on St Martins which is quieter than St Mary’s. The beaches are beautiful. Just like being in the Caribbean

For mumofbadboys, yes, it's not cheap there, but if you like that sort of holiday, it's great, take a book or two perhaps. And DO visit the gardens on Tresco, as they're wonderful. And if you've not been to the Channel Islands, maybe consider them, rather more to do, and a day trip to St Malo is possible from Jersey.

For Joseann -- when the ferry was "rammed" - what by? A battleship, trawler? Did it nearly sink? I'm surprised that incident didn't make the TV News?

I went last Sept. and should have gone again this April but recovering from a big operation prevented it. I flew from Exeter which is very near where I live but is expensive. Return fare over £400! However the journey was magical as the sky was clear blue and the views going over Devon, Cornwall and then soaring over an azure sea and seeing the islands sparkling in the sun was breathtaking.
I stayed at a wonderful B&B called The Wheelhouse which is literally on Porthcressa beach on St Mary's.
The beaches are white sand, the sea cold but so clear. On the off island there are numerous little wooden booths with garden produce, flowers, jewellery etc. You leave the money in a box.
Everyone is so friendly and the pace of life is very slow. Don't go there if you're into nightlife and beach entertainment. It feels like stepping back 60 years to a kinder, softer way of life. I loved it and want to return.

We went to St Mary’s in late March this year, just before the Easter holidays and in the first week of the Scillonian restartingnit’s daily crossings. Both of our crossings were ok although some people were sick and the crossings the day before we sailed and the day afterwards were both cancelled because of rough seas.

We stayed on St Mary’s which we really liked and visited Tresco, St Agnes and Bryher with daily sailings from there. We loved the beaches and walking on all of the islands. The Castle hotel on St Mary’s is an interesting building with a very good cream tea and a beautiful walk around the coastline.

The weather is always mild( a Cornish friend of mine reckons) and we loved everything about our holiday there. Hope you enjoy yours.

mumofmadboys

Thanks all. Very helpful advice

Final piece of advice is to get booked early, like in the next few weeks. Accommodation goes very quickly as people book one year and have the option to book the next.

Thanks all. Very helpful advice

First as Shysal says it is the Isles of Scilly, not the Scilly Isles or Scillies.
Second it is absolutely fabulous and most people return year on year. Beautiful uncrowned white sand beaches, friendly locals, safe environment.

How to get there? The Scillonian is a flat bottomed boat and if the sea is rough it will take twice as long to get there with the boat going from side to side as well as up and down. First time I went I was so sick I just wanted my fairy godmother to whisk me back home. Soon changed my mind, but now fly by plane from Lands End. Dd goes by helicopter. Only problem is if bad weather stops the flights, you have to find your own place to stay overnight.

All of the Islands are good to stay. We loved St. Martins and dd loved Bryher. The disadvantage is visiting other islands you don’t get a choice of when to go. On St. Mary’s the boats go every day to all the islands. Also it has more places to eat.

Make sure to visit The Abby Gardens on Tresco.

I want to go again. I love it there.

My only advice would be to call them the Isles of Scilly and not Scillies or Scilly Islands. The locals object to the 'wrong' names.

Sorry - NOT to go over by boat.

We went a few years ago and loved it. The journey isn’t very easy - we travelled from Essex to Exeter airport and then flew in a very small plane over to St Mary’s. We were advised to go over by boat. Very rough and about a 3 hour crossing.

We stayed on st Mary’s in a beautiful b and b. The hotels are very expensive. It’s easy to get to the other islands by small boats that regularly take you .

We would love to visit again!