The Isles of Scilly are a group of Islands 28 miles South-West of Lands End in Cornwall. They contain five inhabited islands and over 200 uninhabited islands. The largest and most populated island is St Mary’s, which has a port (above), and an aerodrome, from which commercial helicopters and aeroplanes fly. Tresco, which is privately leased, is second largest Island in the archipeligo. Tresco also has a heliport for the BIH helicopter service. The three othe inhabited islands are St. Agnes, Bryher and St. Martins. There are also some popular unihabited islands such as Samson and some of the Eastern Isles.

The Scillonian, owned by the Steamship Company, is the main ship sailing between the Islands and mainland Britain. Usually she sails 6 days a week in the summer, leaving from Penzance at 9:15am except on some Saturdays. The Scillonian can carry up to 600 passengers and also carries cargo to the Islands. The Steamship Company also run a freight ship called the Gry Maritha which runs all year round.

British International (Scotia) run the two helicopters which also depart from Penzance throughout the year, with flights up to every half-hour in the summer. There is a regular shuttle bus before every flight, it leaves Penzance train station which is on the main South coast line.

SkyBus is the airline that flies from Land’s End to St Mary’s, also throughout the year, with flights up to every half-hour in the summer. The Skybus service also offer flights to The Islands from Newquay, Exeter and Bristol on their ‘Twin Otter’ aircraft. Skybus is owned by the same company as the Scillonian, the Steamship Company. Transport is provided for Lands End passengers from Penzance train station.

There are pleasure boats which shuttle between The Islands, as well as operating special trips around The Islands. Each Island has it’s own boat service operating trips to all the other Islands regularly. Evening trips and specialist trips such as birdwatching, fishing and sunset trips to unimhabited islands are also run by most of the boat operators.

Scilly Archive / Scilly News

Scilly Archive was formerly Scilly News, which had regular updates of news between 2001-2008. Our archives can be found here.

Article Map