Calypso boat trip around the Isles of Scilly
Whenever I arrive somewhere new, I like to try to get my bearings as soon as possible – a brief explore, a city bus tour, whatever helps me find my feet a little when I’m somewhere new and unfamiliar. When it came to Isles of Scilly trips, that means getting on a boat.
press trip*
Although we spent some of our first (rainy) day wandering around St Mary’s, discovering one of the closest beaches and a rather fab cafe (more to come there), I wanted to get a taste of the other smaller islands to plan our remaining time.
Step forward Calypso boat tours, which visit three islands – St Agnes, Tresco and Bryher – within a day. And while that only gives you a quick look round each, with the trio all deserving much longer, this Isles of Scilly boat trip is a good way to get a feel of them.
We met Tim, our captain, at the main quay in St Mary’s – as all the ferries started pulling out for their inter-island routes, 12 of us (including two families) clambered into his smaller boat, Calypso, at bang on 10.20.
Our first day had been spent glued to the windows wondering if the rain would break. Mid-August in the sunniest part of the UK and the drizzle only – finally – let up at lunchtime.
After a lot of agonising (and competition for seats), we’d decided to brave the forecast and head out on day 2 instead. Thankfully the sun came out around lunchtime as we wandered across Tresco, but the weather and tides meant some seriously bumpy waves on our first leg to St Agnes.
Fortunately no island is too far from each other and there’s an indoor cabin for a few people to shelter, so we had landed at St Agnes before seasickness could strike.
And after a quick wander past the Turks Head (pub, shop and general centre of the island) to the Bulb Shop, we ditched any plans of heading to Troytown or the Beady Pool, and wandered to The Bar.
No, not another pub. This stretch of sand joins St Agnes and Gugh and stretches out at low tide with sea on both sides, unexpectedly glittery sand (a feature of all the islands), huge rocks to clamber on and lots of shells.
After too short a time, it was back on board and heading to Tresco. Dropped at Carn Near Quay in the south, we had our first experience of being picked up on the other side of the island at New Grimsby Quay.
Which left the perfect amount of time to stop for lunch at Tresco Abbey Gardens – a pasty, what else, although I wasn’t fast enough to snaffle the last cream tea – then into the gardens themselves.
There are 17 acres with plants from across the southern hemisphere thriving in the subtropical climate, plus Valhalla, the National Maritime Collection of Ships’ Figureheads. You’ll also spot stone statues along the paths and a quirky shell grotto.
The gardens were created back in 1834, in the grounds of the 12th century priory – arches and occasional sections of wall still remain. Today they’re divided into themes so you can get mini Australia or part of the Mediterranean as you wander, with over 4,000 different specimens.
Don’t miss the History Room either, which has an incredible 18th century wooden figure from the HMS Colossus. Then, once again, we had to head off, wandering the cliff path to New Grimsby Quay.
Suddenly the sun shone. And what a difference – instantly I could see those incredible blues and turquoises in the water, the beaches seemed illuminated, almost glowing in the light, and all the purples of the agapanthus flowers shone.
Perfect for the final part of the trip, from the gorgeous beach at the quay past Cromwell’s Castle (and the ruin of King Charles’ castle above) and across to Bryher.
Stripping off hoodies, we decided to spend most of our time on the beach, making the most of it. After a quick walk up past the small church to Bryher Stores for ice cream of course, and views down to Hell Bay, where there’s nothing but Atlantic stretching off, waves crashing.
Church Quay beach, meanwhile had perfect water for paddling, a stray translucent jellyfish to admire (from a distance, I never know with jellyfish), perfect sand for making castles and digging holes, and lots of space for me to lie down and soak up a few rays.
If we’d have had longer on the islands, I know I’d have loved to go back to explore Bryher and peaceful St Agnes particularly. For a short trip, we couldn’t have had a better introduction to the Isles of Scilly.
Calypso boat trip Isles of Scilly: Need to know
Tickets cost £26 for adults, children £18 and can be bought at Tideline in St Mary’s. If you’re staying at Tregarthen’s Hotel, they can book this and other Isles of Scilly trips for you. Otherwise you can contact them via their Facebook page.
There are also evening trips available as well to St Agnes, or to spot seals as well as to some of the uninhabited islands if you’re looking for ideas of more things to do on the Isles of Scilly with kids. The boat trips run from March to October.
For more ideas of things to do, check out my guide to the Isles of Scilly with kids
PIN FOR LATER: ISLES OF SCILLY TRIPS – CALYPSO BOAT TOUR
For more reasons to visit the Isles of Scilly with kids, check out my top picks in this post
Disclosure: My trip to the islands was courtesy of Tregarthen’s Hotel and Isles of Scilly Travel. I paid for the Calypso boat tour as one of the (recommended) activities we chose to take. All opinions and lack of jellyfish knowledge remain my own.
Images copyright MummyTravels
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Amazing how a bit of sunshine can change things- look at that beautiful water!
Absolutely – everything just lit up.
I’d love to go to the isles of Scilly, they look beautiful. I like to get an overview of a new place, as you do, and your boat tour sounds like an excellent way to do that.
They really are – and I’d definitely recommend starting with this.
Look how clear that water is! What better way to explore a new place than by boat – just lovely! x
It was just amazing (cold though!) and the boat was a lovely way to start us off.
I can’t believe how beautiful the sea looks – it’s as if you are in the Caribbean! Gorgeous. I would love to try an evening trip (or sunset trip – even better).
It really does, doesn’t it. And a sunset trip would be perfect – maybe a later trip when my daughter is a bit older.
I love the comment about your lack of knowledge of jelly fish hahaha 😀
I would love to visit this place someday, preferably in a sunny day!
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🙂 If I came across them more often, I should work out which are dangerous – they’re oddly beautiful too.
I am with you, I need to get my bearings and boats are such a great way to be able to do it. It looks so pretty and sounds so exotic too – will def look into this as a destination for the list.
You really should, such a stunning place and feels as if you’re no longer in the UK (well, except the Co-op and cream teas!)
Amazing how a change in the weather lifts the spirits and your photos towards the end of the post, with the glorious sunshine, could have been anywhere tropical in the world. That is surely one of the ‘joys’ of UK holidays?
Absolutely – it was almost like a different place. Even the sunniest part of the UK evidently likes to confound visitors with the weather, it seems…
It looks like such a un-populated beautiful area, the beaches are so pretty. I would just love to stay here x
It is – so few people live across the islands, it feels like a real escape.
Those waters look Caribbean blue! I would really like to visit the National Maritime Collection of Ships’ Figureheads, from your photos they look incredibly well preserved.
Apart from the temperature, it could have been the Caribbean. The figureheads were fascinating too, a real taste of history as we explored and the ones on show were in impressive shape.
What a great way to see the islands. You can stumble about by yourself and discover some fab places but tours like this are great too. I’ve been on a couple of city bus tours and have learnt so much about cities that I thought I knew quite well! #whatevertheweather
Definitely – I’ve done something similar in cities too. I really liked the way this gave you a taste of all the islands, and if we’d had longer, it gave me an idea of where I might want to revisit.
It looks amazing! A shame that you had such bad weather the first day, the photos really are stunning. I would love to visit one day, it would be a fantastic place to visit with the boys. I love how clean everything looks and the fact you can get such tropical plants in this part of the world sounds great! I love that shell grotto too, very quirky!
Thanks for linking up to #Whatevertheweather 🙂 x
The islands really are fantastic – we were so unlucky with the weather at the start but it was stunning in the sunshine. A perfect holiday for kids.
What a lovely beaches. The water is so transparent. It looks so peaceful, hardly any people around. So amazing. The place was just for you. 🙂 x
#whatevertheweather
Exactly – like a little undiscovered paradise
Oh my gosh how beautiful. I live 20 minutes away from Penzance and have never ever got the boat or helicopter to the Isles of Scilly. I’m the only one in my family who hasn’t ever visited. We’re planning a visit next year with my new little family and can’t wait. It truly looks stunning and we definitely want to try out one of these little boat trips. Thank you so so much for linking this to #whatevertheweather x
Oh you will love it – so great as a family and it’s all so gorgeous. Have a wonderful time – lucky you to be so close 🙂