Day Trips - Family Days Out!

5 family friendly days out on Scilly

Natural exploration and outdoor play are just the ticket for the mini adventurer with a world of nature and wildlife at your fingertips. Go barefoot; feel the sand underfoot. Listen to the gentle buzzing of bees pollinating. Hear twittering birdlife abundant across the islands. Find rock pooling treasures and the best picnicking spots. Rediscover the simple pleasures in life. Spend time with loved ones. Let your kids roam freely - it's what being on Scilly is all about!

Here are our 5 top kid-friendly suggestions for a great family day out on the Isles of Scilly.

1. Best spot for a picnic - our top picks!

• King Charles’ Castle, Tresco – the view from here overlooking Cromwell’s Castle and the channel between Bryher and Tresco is well worth climbing the steep incline. Just don’t forget your sarnies!
• Buzza Tower, St. Mary’s – get the lay of the land on St. Mary’s. It's the perfect eagle-eye position, perched at the top of Buzza Hill. 
• Harry’s Walls, St. Mary’s – nestled in an elevated spot above Porthmellon Beach. You’ll spot the staircase stating 'Harry's Walls' as you wonder the coastal path. Pick your spot!
• Gugh, St. Agnes – finding a secluded spot on this quiet, often deserted island, linked by “The Bar” to St. Agnes, is entirely possible. It could be designated the sixth inhabited island of Scilly (it isn't).
• Daymark, St. Martin’s – This iconic daymark is one of the oldest grade II listed beacons in the UK, dating from the 1600s. Sit with your back against a bit of seafaring history whilst satisfying your hunger.

Image: Buzza Hill, St. Mary's

2. Hide and seek!

Take the classic children’s game ‘hide and seek’ to a new level on Scilly. There are many nooks and crannies in which to lose yourself, and your little ones, among ancient buildings and Bronze Age burial chambers.

• The Old Blockhouse on Tresco is a fortification built in 1548 by the government of Edward VI to protect the islands against French and Spanish aggression. These days it serves as a firm family favourite hiding spot with many inner staircases and tiny, ramshackle rooms.
• Travel to the north of St. Mary’s and the ancient burial chambers of Bant’s Carn and Innisidgen. It provides the perfect hiding place and crucial picnicking spot. The views are magnificent, and the rope swing is sure to be a hit with the kids!

Image: The Blockhouse, Tresco

3. Fun on the water!

One thing we have plenty of is clear. Our pure waters are so inviting you will find it hard to resist. Quay jumping is a winner with local kids, but best to follow guidance on tides before giving it a go. Other attractions are kayaking, paddleboarding and sailing, or let the kids simply immerse themselves for a good old fashioned salty sea swim!

There are many skilled experts on Scilly to help you experience time in or on the water. The Sailing Centre on St. Mary’s (also Ravensporth Sailing Base on Tresco) have kayaks, paddleboards and sailing boats, and on Bryher, at Hut 62, peddle-boards. St. Martin's Watersports offers kayaking and paddleboards off Par Beach for a spot of exploration off St. Martin's. There's no better place to test your sea-faring ability and confidence.

Image: The Sailing Centre, St. Mary's

4. Rock pooling and treasure hunts

Old or young rock pooling is a fascinating family activity, any time of the year. The anticipation of discovery concentrates little minds with “what’s under this rock” for hours! Get hands wet to truly explore what lies beneath the water. Submerge your bucket into the water to scoop a critter or two; patient explorers may find a cushion star or edible sea urchins, but the discovery of a crab or sand eel will also yield a squeal of delight. Just about any beach will do, but if you’re a parent angling to top up your caffeine fix, then Porthcressa Beach on St. Mary’s is a good place to start. Scilly Rockpool Safaris offer great family experiences.

To gain a true sense of Scillonian history finding a 400-year-old piece of pipe, an old coin (if in luck) or a cracked bit of pottery, which found its way into the sea at some point, brings a spot of delight to beachcombing fanatics of any age. Town Beach on St. Mary’s is a must for ‘finds’. It has been known to award the odd, interesting relic, as well as satisfying the local obsession with the ever-elusive cowrie shell. They are tiny, so getting down low is key! 

Image: Porthcressa Beach, St. Mary's

5. Literary favourites - Morpurgo on Scilly

Best known for children’s novels, celebrated author Michael Morpurgo loves Scilly and has a great fondness for the smallest island in the archipelago, Bryher. Scilly is often the setting for his novels, including “Why the Whales Came”, immortalised in film shot on the island in the late 80s. Follow in the author’s footsteps to Samon Hill and relive the moment captured on film.

Image: Samson Hill