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The Unspoilt Isles of Scilly

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4.6 stars(62 reviews)
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A stunning hidden treasure

5 days From £1,099 £999 per person
Online Only Offer

Online only offer for selected UK 2023 holidays.

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2023 Tour code: 23ISS

About the tour

An archipelago off the Cornish coast boasting azure seas and almost tropical climes, travel by overnight sleeper train from London to discover the glorious Isles of Scilly.

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - London & Penzance

Meet your Tour Manager at the First Class Lounge at Paddington Station. From here, board the Riviera Sleeper Train, a rail service that runs through the night to Penzance. You are accommodated in sleeper cabins for your journey.

Day 2 - St Mary’s

After a night riding the rails, arrive into Penzance, gateway to the Isles of Scilly. Transfer to Penzance harbour for the ferry to St Mary's. Alternatively, on some departures you'll transfer to Land's End Airport for the short flight to St Mary's. The Isles of Scilly are located just 35 miles off the coast of Cornwall yet feel a million miles away, with pristine beaches and fascinating indigenous wildlife. St Mary's is the largest of the Scilly Isles, although it only covers 2.5 square miles. The island offers picture-perfect scenery, with pretty coves, sandy beaches, and lovely blue waters. Check into your hotel for three nights in Hugh Town, the perfect base for exploring. Besides its shops, restaurants and pubs, Hugh Town has a church, a museum and three beautiful beaches - Porthcressa, Town Beach, and Porthmellon.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Days 3 - Walking tour of St Mary’s

Enjoy a day exploring St Mary's on a guided walking tour of some of the region's best beauty spots. Your first visit is to Harry's Walls, an unfinished 16th century fort. Continue through the nature trail of the Lower Moors, an area of wetlands, to the quaint village of Old Town, thought to be the oldest settlement on the island. The church, St Mary's Old Church, was the final resting place of former Prime Minister, Sir Harold Wilson, who was a resident of Hugh Town. Continue exploring this afternoon, possibly taking in the incredible views of St Agnes from Peninnis Head lighthouse before returning to Hugh Town. Pause enroute at the Grade II listed Buzza Tower windmill and the island's intriguing Bronze Age burial chambers.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 - Tresco’s Abbey Gardens

Visit Tresco, the second largest of Scilly's Islands and where you enjoy one of your holiday highlights - the incredible Abbey Garden. These lovely gardens were established in the 19th century, around the ruins of a Benedictine abbey. Spread over 17 acres, the 17-acre, sub-tropical gardens benefit from the region's mild climate and sheltered position, making it a haven for sun-loving plants from all around the world. The collection of flora here is as diverse as it is beautiful, and you have free time to wander through the colourful pathways. The garden changes with the seasons, although flowers tend to bloom ahead of the mainland spring. In autumn the seasonal colour palette contrasts with subtropical plants such as proteas, aloes and camellias. Besides flourishing flowers and plants, the garden is a haven for wildlife, including red squirrels and golden pheasants.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - London

Today you take a short flight to Lands End, then a coach transfer to Penzance where you enjoy a final lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch you travel by rail to Paddington where your holiday ends.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch

Additional information

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We will write to you around 10 weeks before your departure date with the precise meeting times for your tour group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotel

St Mary’s Hall Hotel, St Mary’s

St Mary’s Hall Hotel, St Mary’s

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Reviews

4.6 stars4.6 / 5 · 62 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (39)
  2. 4 stars
    (19)
  3. 3 stars
    (4)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

A Ackland

5 stars

Submitted 13/May

The islands are so calm and beautiful.The pace is slow and on my return I feel relaxed every time I think about our stay.The trip was perfect with walking activities and a trip to other islands.The gardens at Tresco are incredible! We stayed in a hotel with very friendly staff and wonderful high quality food.It's hard to believe that these magical islands are part of the county of Cornwall.

Collected by Trustpilot

D Sparrow

5 stars

Submitted 11/May

Very good trip, although a bit too short. Another day would have been perfect. We had some problems, and Tour Manager Kevin was brilliant at sorting them out without any fuss.

Collected by Trustpilot

Valerie Gidlow

5 stars

Submitted 11/May

Excellent hotel & its meals.Varied forms of exploring the peace & natural beauty of different islands.Very good local guides.Kindest people on earth seem to live here!

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Susan Pipe

5 stars

Submitted 24 Sep 2022

A thoroughly enjoyable 'taster' tour of the Isles of Scilly. We felt in safe hands with David our Tour Manager and also our Tour Guide, the knowledgable Neil. Looking forward to returning for a longer stay at the excellent Atlantic Hotel.

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C Smith

4 stars

Submitted 19 Sep 2022

The ferry, holiday and manager were very good, the overnight sleeper train less so and the through-ticketing via St Pancras to Paddington was poor.

Collected by Trustpilot

Ken Gough

4 stars

Submitted 18 Sep 2022

Nice in the sunshine. Got wet in the open boats to Tresco and St. Agnes. Atlantic Hotel very good, guides also very good.

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