This article outlines the various types of Scilly Isles accommodation available throughout the various islands, assessing the suitability of each option to different tastes and budgets. The guide will take you through the main features and benefits of camping, hotels, self-catering accommodation, guest houses, B&B’s and inns.
Hotels
If you like comforts, conveniences and all other aspects of the good life, then perhaps a hotel would be the right option for your holiday. This type of accommodation covers different levels of luxury, from 2 to 4 visit Britain stars, with some rooms boasting sea views and some hotels – such as the Bell Rock Hotel and Star Castle Hotel – offering private swimming pools. Hell Bay Hotel on Bryher even comes complete with a mini-golf course as well as the desirable sea views. Even you do wish to stay in a hotel, whatever its star rating, just bear in mind that St Agnes is the one inhabited island without a hotel so you will be confined to St Martin’s, St Mary’s, Tresco and Bryher.
Read the full listing of Scilly Isles hotels…
Inns
There are inns on St Mary’s and Tresco, both ranking in at 4 Visit Britsin stars, with the latter offering a family room and the former housing 16 double rooms. As these rooms are in inns, the pub/free house is conveniently located just downstairs so you can have a rather convenient drink before bed.
Read the full listing of Scilly Isles inns…
Cottages
A more private, spacious and family-oriented option might be to go for a self-catering cottage. There are dozens of these properties scattered all over the islands, many including a number of different units, so they are arguably the most plentiful and reliable choice of accommodation. Many of these cottages have been given 5 star ratings by Visit Britain, whilst there are also three and four star alternatives available for more modest weekly budgets.
Guest Houses
There are also a great many guest houses letting out individual rooms on a nightly basis. These are most plentiful on St Mary’s, the largest, most populated, and most popular island destination, but you will also find them on Bryher and St Agnes. Most have been awarded 3 or 4 Visit Britain stars, all offering comfortable accommodation and some providing wondrous sea views.
Bed and Breakfast
The final type of indoor accommodation is the good old B&B. You can find these on St Mary’s, St Martin’s, Bryher and St Agnes but not on Tresco. Again these are generally 3 or 4 Visit Britain stars, so you can be fairly sure of comfortable, clean and often very good quality rooms.
Camp Sites
If you are used to travelling on a budget, you will unfortunately find no youth hostels here. But do not despair, for every island except Tresco has its own camp site and it is often perfectly warm in the summer to sleep in the great outdoors. Do not expect luxury chain resorts, as they are generally very basic, but toilet, shower and fresh water facilities are provided. They are friendly places with spacious areas in good positions, variously accommodating tents, caravans and teepees. It gets a very dark at night, though, so remember to bring a torch!
Read the full listing of Scilly Isles camp sites…
Thanks for reading this brief overview of the different types of Scilly Isles accommodation. Now you can find out about the different activities on offer…