Isles of Scilly boat timetable
Today's inter island boat times from St Mary's quay to Tresco, Bryher, St Martin's and St Agnes. We add the Boatmen's board as soon as it goes up, usually the evening before, and show their usual times for the days ahead. Pick an island to see when its boats leave and come back.
Times marked on the board come from the St Mary's Boatmen's Association. Pick an island to see just its boats out from St Mary's and back again. Until a day's board is posted we show their usual season pattern, marked usual service. The board on the quay is always the final word.
Before you catch a boat
- Leaves from
- St Mary's quay in Hugh Town, a few minutes' walk from anywhere in town. Look for the boards at the top of the quay.
- When times go up
- The boatmen set each day's trips round the tide and weather, and usually post them the evening before. Check again in the morning if the wind is up.
- Tickets
- From the kiosk on the quay, the Tourist Information Centre, Tideline, or on the boat. A direct return is £15 for adults and £7.50 for children in 2026; all the fares are in our boats guide.
- Coming back
- The last boat back is usually 16:45. You are told your return time and quay as you step off, and it may not be the quay you landed at.
- Season
- March to October for the daily boats from St Mary's. Winter boats are few and far between.
- Dogs
- Welcome on board, £2 each on the Association's boats.
Usual boat times from St Mary's
What a typical summer day looks like, island by island, before the board is posted.
| Island | Boats from St Mary's | Boats back to St Mary's |
|---|---|---|
| St Martin's | 08:45, 10:15, 12:30*, 14:00 | 14:30, 15:45, 16:45 last boat |
| Tresco | 10:00, 10:15, 11:15, 12:15, 14:00 | 14:15, 15:45, 16:45 last boat |
| St Agnes | 10:15, 11:45, 14:00 | 14:15, 16:00, 16:45 last boat |
| Bryher and Samson | 10:15, 14:00 | 14:30, 16:45 last boat |
This is the pattern the St Mary's Boatmen's Association publish for the main season. It is a guide, not a timetable: tides, weather and numbers move the times every day, so check the board above.
Boats to each island
The busiest run, with boats from about 10:00 to 14:00. You land at New Grimsby or Carn Near depending on the tide; Carn Near is the closer walk to the Abbey Garden. Tresco Boats also run their own trips from the island.
Boats land at Church Quay or, on a low tide, Anneka's Quay at the Bar. Bryher and Tresco are often paired as a two island day, with a walk across the sand at the lowest tides.
Usually the first boat of the day at 08:45, plus a 12:30 timed for the Scillonian. Boats land at Higher Town or Lower Town, at opposite ends of the island, so check which one you are coming back from.
Boats land at Porth Conger, by the Turk's Head. From May to mid September there is an evening boat at 18:00 on most fine nights, popular for supper on the island.
What the letters on the board mean
Each trip on the board ends with a code for the quay the boat lands at, which changes with the tide.
| On the board | Quay | Island | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN | Carn Near | Tresco | The southern landing, near the Abbey Garden |
| NG | New Grimsby | Tresco | The western quay, by the New Inn |
| LT | Lower Town | St Martin's | At the western end, near the hotel |
| HT | Higher Town | St Martin's | At the eastern end of the island |
| Q | Church Quay | Bryher | Bryher's main quay, used at higher tides |
| PC | Porth Conger | St Agnes | St Agnes's quay, by the Turk's Head |
| BAR | Anneka's Quay | Bryher | Also called the Bar, used when the tide is low |
| TBD | Quay to be decided | The boatmen will tell you on the day |
Isles of Scilly boats, answered
Is there an Isles of Scilly boat timetable?
There is no fixed printed timetable for the inter island boats. The St Mary's Boatmen's Association put up each day's trips on the boards at St Mary's quay and post them online, usually the evening before. We add that board to the top of this page as soon as it goes up, and show the Association's usual times for days that are not posted yet.
What time do the boats leave St Mary's?
In the main season the first boats to the off islands usually leave at 10:00 or 10:15, with more through the late morning and a last trip out at about 14:00. St Martin's often has an early boat at 08:45 and one at 12:30 for people arriving on the Scillonian.
What time is the last boat back to St Mary's?
Usually 16:45 from Tresco, Bryher, St Martin's and St Agnes, but it moves with the tide, the weather and the numbers. The boatmen tell you the return time and quay as you step off, so listen out and be there a few minutes early.
Why do the boat times change every day?
Scilly has a big tidal range, so the boats land wherever the water allows. That decides which quay they use and when they can get in, and strong wind or swell can stop a trip altogether. It is why the times are set daily rather than printed for the season.
What do the letters on the boat board mean?
They are the landing quays: CN is Carn Near and NG is New Grimsby on Tresco, Q is Church Quay and BAR is Anneka's Quay on Bryher, HT is Higher Town and LT is Lower Town on St Martin's, and PC is Porth Conger on St Agnes. TBD means the quay will be decided on the day.
Where do I buy tickets, and do I need to book?
Most people buy on the day, from the kiosk on St Mary's quay, the Tourist Information Centre, Tideline, or on the boat itself. Arrive a little early in the summer holidays, when the morning boats are busy.
How much are the inter island boats?
In 2026 a direct return with the St Mary's Boatmen's Association is £15 for adults and £7.50 for children aged 1 to 14, and under 1s travel free. Two islands in a day is £17. All the fares are in our guide to the Isles of Scilly boats.
Can I visit two islands in one day?
Yes, on days when the tide lets the boats link them. The board shows these as two island trips, for example Tresco and Bryher, landing on one island in the morning and collecting you from the other in the afternoon.
Do the boats run in winter?
The Association's boats run from March to October. From November to March the Association does not run, though some independent boats do at times, and Tresco Boat Services offer transfers to Tresco all year.
Can I take my dog on the boats?
Yes. Dogs are welcome on the inter island boats, and the Association charge £2 for a dog.
Island boatsSt Mary's to the off islands
Scillonian ferryPenzance to St Mary's, 2 hours 45
Menawethan freightAll year, times move with the tide
Skybus flightsLand's End, Exeter and Newquay
HelicopterPenzance to St Mary's and TrescoScilly LiveEverything today, with weather and noticesLive trackerWhere the planes and the Scillonian are nowTravelling today?
Boats, flights, the Scillonian, tides and weather for all five islands, in one place.