Travelling to and around the Isles of Scilly

Getting to the Isles of Scilly	Getting around once you're here

Getting to the Isles of Scilly, by air or sea.

Arriving on Scilly is often a magical experience. Arrive by sea and you'll appreciate our isolated location, as the dots on the horizon take shape as islands, with golden beaches and ancient monuments nestled into the cliffs. The relatively shorter journey by air gives you the chance to see our unique landscape from above, as you decend over the azure seas, minature flower fields, and countless rocky headlands.

There are regular scheduled air and sea links between Scilly and the mainland (but no longer a helicopter service; this ceased operations in 2012).

From Penzance you can take the Scillonan III ferry, which operates between Easter and October. Or you could chose to fly with 'Skybus' from Land's End, Newquay or Exeter. There are no Skybus flights from Southampton or Bristol airports in 2013. There are not normally any flights to or from the islands on a Sunday, but this year the boat WILL be sailing on Sundays from the 7th July to the 8th September.

Scillonian III and fixed wing aircraft ('Skybus') are both operated by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, and bookings can be made on the website or phone line given below.

The Isles of Scilly Travel Centre
Telephone 0845 710 5555 
Email : sales@islesofscilly-travel.co.uk

Connecting air services to onward destinations in the UK or beyond may be available from the following providers:

By rail and road

There are regular trains serving Penzance which is the terminus of the South West mainline. Connections are available to Paddington and Waterloo in London, Plymouth, Exeter and Bristol in the South West, and connections to the Midlands and the North. Sleeper trains are available.

National Rail - journey planner and ticket availability for trains throughout the UK
First Great Western - the main regional rail company serving the South West.
Cross Country Trains - another train company that serves Penzance.

If you're travelling by road, the M5 to Exeter and greatly improved roads through Devon and Cornwall, make it a relatively quick journey by coach or by car.

National Express - coach services from Penzance and other airports to UK destinations. 
The RAC - up to date road conditions and route planner: type in start and end points and it will tell you where to go and how long it will take.
The AA - road condition information.
Purely Penzance public transport page - information on bus services out of Penzance.