I decided to fulfil my dream of visiting the British sub-tropical archipelago, the Isles of Scilly, located around 30 miles off the coast of Cornwall. You can read more about my travelling experience here, whilst today I will focus on practicalities.
Plan
All the necessary information regarding visiting the Isles of Scilly can be found on this website and I also followed the essential guidebook: Isles of Scilly Guidebook.
Travel
I travelled from Penzance to St. Mary’s Island by ferry, the Scillonian III. It takes around 2.45hrs to reach the destination and it is a rather pleasant (and a little bit wobbly) time to relax and read some guidebooks. Cars are not permitted on the ferry, so I left my car in a car park just outside Penzance and then took a minibus to the harbour in Penzance (these parking options were recommended when I booked the ferry tickets).
Sleep
I was camping on Garrison Campsite on St. Mary’s Island which was relatively cheap and conveniently located, very close to the harbour and Hugh Town. There is, however, a steep walk up the campsite, as it is on a hill. The campsite is surrounded by trees and you can go on a very pleasant walk around the hill. Worth noting, the shower runs only on coins. There are plenty of other accommodation options available on St. Mary’s and other isles.
Food
I decided to mostly cook my meals or pre-prepare my own lunch boxes. The prices in the restaurants were quite high, as there is very little competition, but everything tastes exceptionally good. I particularly enjoyed my visit to the Abbey Garden’s café where you can eat alfresco.
Local modes of transport
Legs, bus, bike, cart, taxi, boat. Considering the size of the isles, you might feel truly spoiled!
Now, do you have any questions about my travelling to the Scilly Isles? Please share your questions in the comments below.
Written by Kinga Macalla