Isles of Scilly Seal Trips: Where, When and How to See Grey Seals
Plan your Isles of Scilly seal trips with 2026 fares, the best boat routes from St Mary's, seal snorkelling on St Martin's, pupping season dates and simple tips for watching wild grey seals responsibly.
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Grey seals are one of the great sights of the Isles of Scilly. You will see them hauled out on granite ledges, bobbing in the swell or watching you from the kelp. A seal trip is one of the easiest ways to meet them, and you do not need any special kit or experience.
This guide covers the main Isles of Scilly seal trips for the 2026 season. It explains which boats go where, what they cost and when to go. It also covers swimming with seals off St Martin's and how to watch seals without upsetting them. Most trips leave St Mary's quay mid morning.
Key Takeaways
- The Eastern Isles trip from St Mary's is the most popular seal trip and takes about an hour and a half.
- 2026 fares with the St Mary's Boatmen's Association are £21 adult and £10.50 child for a wildlife or circular trip.
- You can swim with seals on a guided snorkel trip from St Martin's if you are 12 or over.
- Grey seals live around Scilly all year, and pups are born from late summer into winter.
- Always watch from a distance. A seal rushing into the sea has been disturbed.
Why Scilly Is So Good for Seal Watching
Scilly matters a lot for grey seals. The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust says the islands support over 60% of all grey seal pups born each year in the southwest. Scilly also sits at the southern end of the species' normal range, which is why the colony is so closely studied.
The seals are protected too. Natural England notes that Scilly was named a European Marine Site in 1996, with the grey seal as one of its key features. Researchers now count pups across the islands using drones, with Annet among the most important breeding sites, according to the Wildlife Trust.
In short, you are in the right place.
Seal Trips from St Mary's
Most visitors take a seal trip with the St Mary's Boatmen's Association. It runs wildlife and sightseeing trips most days in the main season, usually at 10.15 with a smaller choice at 14.00. Tide and weather decide which trips run, so check the boards on the quay or our Scilly Live board.
After a circular trip you can usually land on an off island at no extra cost, or come straight back to St Mary's. That makes a seal trip an easy half day, or the first part of a full day out with lunch on St Martin's, St Agnes or Tresco.
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This is the classic seal trip and, according to the Boatmen, their most popular circular route. The boat spends about an hour and a half among a dozen uninhabited islands in the east of Scilly. The Eastern Isles are one of the best spots for grey seals, with plenty of seabirds too. The trip lands at St Martin's.
It is often the calmest circular trip too, notes Friendly Guides, which helps if you get seasick.
Bishop Rock and the Western Rocks
This is the longest trip at around two hours. It passes Annet, a bird sanctuary where puffins nest from April to late July, then weaves through the Western Rocks past shipwreck sites and seal haul outs. It ends at Bishop Rock Lighthouse, the most south westerly point in Britain, and lands at St Agnes.
Book this one early in your holiday. The Boatmen warn that rough weather can stop it running for days at a time.
Norrard Rocks
The Norrard Rocks lie north and west of Samson and Bryher. They include Mincarlo, Scilly Rock and Maiden Bower. The Boatmen describe this hour and a half trip as a good chance to see seals and seabirds in one short outing. It lands at Tresco or Bryher, so you can spend the afternoon exploring.
Tickets and 2026 Fares
You do not need to book a set trip. The Boatmen's fares page explains that tickets work on any of their services. Buy them at the kiosk on the quay, the Tourist Information Centre or Tideline. If the kiosk is shut when your boat leaves, you can pay on board.
| Trip | Adult | Child (1 to 14) |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife or circular trip | £21.00 | £10.50 |
| Bishop Rock or Seabird Special | £23.00 | £11.50 |
| Direct return to an off island | £15.00 | £7.50 |
| Dogs | £2.00 | £2.00 |
Already have a direct return ticket? You can still use it on a circular trip and pay the supplement on the boat.
Seal Trips from St Agnes and Tresco
St Agnes Boating Wildlife Safari
If you are staying on St Agnes, St Agnes Boating runs a Wildlife Safari every Wednesday. A guide from the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust comes along to help spot seabirds, seals and puffins. Book a place online, and note that the St Agnes weekly boat pass does not cover the safari.
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Tresco Boats Wildlife Trips
Tresco Boats runs wildlife trips too, and skippers change the route based on weather, tide and recent sightings. Its fast jetboat trips last about an hour and cost £40 per person. Slower trips on its larger ferries cost £15, with under 14s half price and under 3s free. Call 01720 423373 to book.
Prices were correct when we checked in October 2026, but always confirm before you go.
Swimming with Seals on St Martin's
For a closer look, you can snorkel with seals off St Martin's. Seal Snorkelling Adventures runs 2.5 hour trips from Higher Town. A short RIB ride takes you to the Eastern Isles, where curious seals often come to you. Groups are capped at 10 people, so it never feels crowded.
What to Expect
Wetsuits and snorkel gear are included, and you get a hot drink and a snack on the boat afterwards. Trips run at 09.15 and 12.45 and cost £85 per person, according to Isles of Scilly Travel. You do not need snorkelling experience, but you must be happy swimming in open water.
Age Limits and Getting There
The Visit Isles of Scilly listing gives a minimum age of 12, and under 16s must have an adult with them. For morning trips there is a £5 pick up from St Mary's at 08.45, plus a 09.00 pick up from Tresco on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Trips can be cancelled in poor conditions.
Best Time for a Seal Trip
Grey seals live around Scilly all year, so any trip that runs has a fair chance of seals. The main boat season runs from April to October. The Boatmen say most of their boats are laid up from November to March, with only a limited service at busy times in winter.
Pupping Season
Seal pups are born from late summer into winter. Natural England's 2010 survey ran from August to December to cover the pupping season. Pups keep their white fluffy coat for about three weeks, the Wildlife Trust notes. Mothers and pups are easily disturbed at this time, so give them plenty of space.
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If you visit between April and late July, choose a trip that passes Annet or the Norrard Rocks. You can see seals and puffins on the same outing. The Boatmen also run a weekly Seabird Special with wildlife expert Will Wagstaff, usually on Sundays near high tide, which is a treat for birdwatchers.
How to Watch Seals Without Disturbing Them
Seals spend around a fifth of their time on land, resting, digesting food and giving birth. The Cornish Seal Sanctuary says this is when they feel most at risk. Disturbance often happens when people are too close, too loud or too easy to see, whether on a boat, a kayak or the shore.
Signs a Seal Is Disturbed
Watch the seals' body language. Move away quietly if you notice any of these:
- Looking at you: the seal has seen or heard you and is on alert.
- Splashing or calling out: it feels threatened and wants you to back off.
- Rushing into the sea: this is a serious disturbance, and you are far too close.
Simple Rules to Follow
- Keep your distance from seals resting on rocks or beaches.
- Stay side on rather than heading straight towards them, as GOV.UK guidance advises.
- Never feed or touch seals, even on a snorkel trip.
- Report disturbance to the Cornwall Marine and Coastal Code Group on 0345 201 2626.
Local skippers know these waters and the seals well. Sit back, keep your voice down and let the seals decide how close they come.
Tips for Your Seal Trip
- Bring binoculars. Seals on distant ledges are easy to mistake for rocks.
- Pack layers. It is colder on the water, even on a sunny day.
- Bring a waterproof. Expect some spray in the open boats.
- Check times on the day. Trips change with the tide and weather.
- Go early in your stay. It leaves spare days if a trip is called off.
Plan Your Seal Trip
Seal trips are one of the best value days out on Scilly. Pick the Eastern Isles for an easy first trip, the Western Rocks for drama, or a snorkel off St Martin's for something you will talk about for years. Check today's boats on our Scilly Live board before you head down to the quay.
