Dog friendly Isles of Scilly

Dog friendly holidays on the Isles of Scilly

The Scilly Isles are dog friendly for most of the year. Every island has sandy bays and miles of coast path, many pubs and cafés welcome dogs, and the boats and planes over will carry them if you book ahead. What changes is the calendar: from May to September three beaches on St Mary's close to dogs, Tresco has its own lead rules, and the seabird areas need a lead in the nesting season.

This guide covers the rules island by island, then the dog friendly accommodation, places to eat and days out from our directory, so you can plan Isles of Scilly dog friendly holidays in one place. For the full list of places to stay that take dogs, filter Eat and stay by Dog friendly.

The beaches through the year

From 1 October to 30 April your dog can use every beach on every island. From 1 May to 30 September the Council's dog control order closes three beaches on St Mary's to dogs, plus the gardens at Porthcressa. The rest stay open, so there is always a beach within a short walk of Hugh Town.

Beach	Island	1 May to 30 September	1 October to 30 April
Porthcressa Beach Not Little Porth at the western end, which stays open. Reach it by the Porthcressa slipway.	St Mary's	No dogs	Open to dogs
Porthmellon Beach	St Mary's	No dogs	Open to dogs
Old Town Beach Open to dogs early in the morning and in the evening, all summer.	St Mary's	No dogs 9am to 7pm	Open to dogs
Porthcressa Gardens The grass beside the Tourist Information Centre in Hugh Town.	St Mary's	No dogs	Open to dogs
Town Beach, Hugh Town	St Mary's	Open to dogs	Open to dogs
Little Porth	St Mary's	Open to dogs	Open to dogs
Pelistry and Bar Point Watch for nesting birds at the top of the beach.	St Mary's	Open to dogs	Open to dogs
Beaches on Bryher, St Agnes and St Martin's Leads in the marked seabird areas from April to September.	Off islands	Open to dogs	Open to dogs
Appletree Bay, Bathinghouse Porth and Pentle Bay Tresco's own off lead areas. On a lead on the rest of the island.	Tresco	Off the lead	Off the lead

Ignore the signs and you can be given a £100 fixed penalty. Look for the signs at the top of each beach, as the boundaries are marked there. The rules can change, so check the Council's dog control page before you go.

Where your dog needs a lead

Away from the busy spots, most of the coast path and the open heath is fine for a dog under control. A lead is needed in these places, on every island except Tresco, which has its own rules below.

• Hugh Town streets: The Bank, Hugh Street, Silver Street, The Parade, Ingrams Opening, Lower Strand, The Strand and Church Street, plus the picnic area at Holgates Green.
• Church grounds: St Mary's parish church and Old Town church on St Mary's, and the churchyards on St Agnes, Bryher and St Martin's. Dogs may go inside the churches.
• Seabird breeding areas, 1 April to 30 September: marked areas on White Island off St Martin's, St Helen's, Tean, Northwethel, the north end of Bryher, Samson and Gugh. Keep out where signs close an area.
• Wherever an officer asks: a Council officer can ask you to put your dog on a lead anywhere.

Keep a lead handy anyway. Cattle and ponies graze beside the coast path on several islands, the path past St Mary's Airport runs along the airfield, and the cliffs outside the Garrison walls and on the path up to the Daymark on St Martin's are unfenced.

Where dogs cannot go at all

• St Mary's: Parade Park, the Garrison playing field and play area, Porthcressa play area, Five Islands School playing field and games pitch, and the skatepark at Old Town.
• Bryher: the games pitch, the community centre and the play area.
• St Agnes: the games pitch and the school green.
• St Martin's: the tennis courts.
• Annet: closed to everyone all year for its seabirds. The Wildlife Trust closes some other areas for nesting birds and seal pups, and marks them with signs.

Tresco has its own rules

Tresco is run by the Tresco Estate rather than the Council, and the estate asks for dogs on a lead in all public areas apart from the off lead zones. Dogs with good recall can run free at the north end beyond a line from New Grimsby Quay to Gimble Porth, the south end beyond a line from the Heliport to Tobaccoman's Point, and on Appletree Bay, Bathinghouse Porth and Pentle Bay.

• Abbey Garden: dogs welcome all through the garden on a short lead.
• New Inn: in the bar and on the terrace.
• Ruin Beach Café, Garden Café and Flying Boat Café: on the terrace only.
• Not allowed: Tresco Stores, the boutique and the spa.
• Staying on Tresco: the cottages and Sea Garden Apartments take dogs only on October dog breaks, up to two dogs, booked ahead.

Seals, nesting birds and cattle

Grey seals haul out on the rocks all year and have their pups from August to November. To a seal a dog looks like a predator, and a frightened mother can leave her pup, so keep dogs on a lead and well back from any seal on a beach. Ringed plovers and oystercatchers nest on the open sand in spring and summer, including at Porth Hellick on St Mary's and Beady Pool on St Agnes; keep clear of roped off nests. Cattle on the coast path are usually calm, but keep your dog close and let go of the lead if cows come at you.

Getting here with a dog

• Scillonian III: book your dog on when you book, up to two dogs per adult. On a lead on the outer decks and indoor areas, but not in the café, on the lower deck or on the seats. Walk them before you board.
• Skybus: dogs fly from Land's End and Newquay in a crate in the cabin, 750 by 560 by 700 mm, for one large dog or two small ones up to 45 kg together. You lift your dog in and out. Space is limited, so book early.
• Helicopter: dogs that fit the crate on board, 75 by 48 by 53 cm, about Springer Spaniel size. A larger crate can be booked by phone.
• Boats between the islands: dogs on a lead, with a small dog fare on some boats. Mind the gap between the boat and the quay steps.

Good to know

• Vet: the islands' vet is in Old Town on St Mary's and sees visitors' pets, with short surgery sessions morning and late afternoon, Monday to Saturday. Ring ahead.
• Clearing up: pick up after your dog everywhere. Bagged waste can go in any public bin, but bins are few on the off islands, so carry bags until you find one.
• Food: dog food counts towards your baggage on the boat and the planes, so many people post it ahead to where they are staying.
• Microchips: every dog must be microchipped, with your details up to date.
• Assistance dogs: the beach and lead rules do not apply to registered assistance dogs.

Rules from the Council of the Isles of Scilly dog control order, the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust and the Tresco Estate, checked October 2026.