Great for
Couples and families
Itinerary
Tresco Abbey Gardens
Tresco Abbey Gardens
A visit to the Isles of Scilly is not complete without appreciating the amazing flora and fauna, although this can be seen across the islands the best place to view thousands of tropical species is at the Tresco Abbey Gardens on Tresco island. The 19th century garden is home to some 20,000 sub-tropical plants.Extra services
Duration
Full day
Activity
Tresco Abbey Gardens
Food and drink
Pub or cafe lunch
Day trip
Scillonian
Full itineraries
Transport
Sail aboard Scillonian III
Travel to Scilly on Scillonian III and you’ll enjoy a wonderful 2 hour, 45-minute cruise to St. Mary’s. On your way, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy a stunning seaside view of Cornwall’s fishing villages, the famous open air Minack Theatre and the Land’s End peninsula. Quite often, the ship is joined by pods of dolphins, a raft of seabirds and occasionally even basking sharks.
Activity
Explore tropical gardens in the UK
Take a boat from St Mary’s quay and you’ll arrive onto Tresco in 20 minutes, it’s just a short walk from either landing quay to get to the gardens. The gardens are a haven of sub-tropical plants in all their glory as well as brilliant sculptures, works of art, red squirrels, golden pheasants and Valhalla museum- a collection of figureheads from shipwrecks.
Food and drink
Picnic stop or lunch in the cafe
In the Tresco Visitor Centre is a great café, serving fresh meals and snacks, artwork from around the islands adorns the walls. Or bring a picnic along and enjoy in the grounds.
Highlights
See the rare Red Squirrels
Look out for the Red Squirrels in the gardens, they’ve been introduced to the island as part of an induction programme to protect the endangered species. In the gardens, there’s Valhalla figure head museum, this will amaze big and small kids! It’s a collection of figure heads from many of the shipwrecks over the years surrounding the islands.
Sample itineraries
Itinerary
Discover Tresco's castles
Explore Cromwell's Castle on Tresco
Tresco is the second largest inhabited island on the Isles of Scilly and whilst it's home to the sub-tropical gardens, un-spoilt beaches and fine food it's also full of walking routes, ancient monuments and historic castles. Cromwell's Castle stands tall guarding the channel between Bryher and Tresco, it was built in 1651 and is one of the few surviving Cromwellian fortifications in Britain. Read on to find out more. Find out more
Itinerary
Walk the coast - St Agnes
What to do on St Agnes island?
One of our favourite walks is to the back of the island and furthest westerly point, there’s only one quay on the island so once disembarked from the boat keep walking straight on and not to the left into town. We've pulled together a handy guide to help you catch a snippet of St Agnes in just a few short hours, read on to find out more. Find out more
Itinerary
Lunch with a view -Bryher
What to do on Bryher Island?
In the summer, Bryher may look more like heaven – with Atlantic waves lapping the edges of the cove, and sandy beaches fringing the grass and wild flowers. But come here in a storm, when the breakers sweep in from the ocean and meet the first land for two thousand miles, and you’ll see Hell Bay is aptly named. And it’s one of the contrasts that makes Bryher so unique. Find out more
Itinerary
Hire a golf buggy on St. Mary's
Fun Alternative to Car Hire
If walking and cycling seem a bit energetic, a golf buggy is a fun and easy way to explore the island in comfort. It’s something out of the ordinary for the whole family – and up to eight can ride – but be aware there are age limits on who can drive. What better way to see the best of St. Mary's then touring the sights in a golf buggy. Find out more
Itinerary
Hire bikes and explore St. Mary's
Cycling Adventure on St Mary's
On St. Mary’s Island, you’ll be as close as the Isles of Scilly get to being busy. With beaches, shopping, countryside paths and coastal trails and with largely traffic-free roads and gentle slopes, the Isles of Scilly are perfect for exploring under pedal power. Find out more
Itinerary
Walking route - St. Mary's
How long to walk around St Mary's Isles of Scilly?
St. Mary’s is criss-crossed by 30 miles of nature trails, paths and other walking routes. To see a snapshot of St. Mary’s, this walk will take you through tracks, lanes, woodland and across beaches. Read on for the full itinerary. Find out more
Itinerary
Tresco Abbey Gardens
Tresco Abbey Gardens
A visit to the Isles of Scilly is not complete without appreciating the amazing flora and fauna, although this can be seen across the islands the best place to view thousands of tropical species is at the Tresco Abbey Gardens on Tresco island. The 19th century garden is home to some 20,000 sub-tropical plants. Find out more
Itinerary
Walk the coast - Tresco
Top things to do on Tresco
Like anywhere on the Isles of Scilly, Tresco also has its share of beaches, panoramas and secluded spots. Pentle Bay is especially peaceful, the rugged north-east coast boasts historic forts named for both sides of the English Civil War. It’s possible to walk the length of Tresco in a few hours, read on for our guide to explore the cosmopolitan island. Find out more
Itinerary
Snorkel with seals
Snorkelling with Seals on the Isles of Scilly
For nature lovers and water enthusiasts it doesn’t get any better than snorkelling with seals in their natural environment. Head to the island of St. Martin’s, and you'll find the Scilly Seal Snorkelling Co who offer excursions to the Eastern Isles to swim with the seals and make memories to cherish for a lifetime. This trip is suitable for families from age 8 upward and couples. Find out more