St Mary’s Harbour, Isles of Scilly: A Visitor’s Guide to the Quay
St Mary’s Harbour is where most Scilly holidays begin. Our guide covers arriving on the quay, catching inter island boats, watching gig racing, the quay’s 400 year history and practical tips for visiting sailors.
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St Mary's Harbour is where most Scilly holidays begin and end. It sits on the northern edge of Hugh Town, and almost everything the islands need comes across its quay. Passengers, freight, fuel, post and fresh food all pass through here. If you visit the Isles of Scilly, you will almost certainly stand on this quay.
This guide covers what to expect when you arrive, the best things to do around the harbour, and the history behind its granite walls. It also has practical detail for sailors, from mooring charges to shower tokens. Everything was checked against official sources in October 2026, but times and prices can change.
Key Takeaways
- St Mary's Harbour is the main port of the Isles of Scilly, owned and run by the Duchy of Cornwall.
- 2026 is the final season for Scillonian III. Scillonian IV takes over in March 2027.
- Inter island boats to Tresco, Bryher, St Martin's and St Agnes leave from the quay every day in season.
- Visiting yachts can pick up one of 34 deep water visitor moorings. Anchoring inside the harbour is not allowed.
- The quay was begun soon after 1601 and is Grade II listed.
Where is St Mary's Harbour?
St Mary's Harbour sits in a wide bay called St Mary's Pool, on the north side of Hugh Town. The quay runs along the western side of the bay and doubles as a breakwater, as the Hugh Town entry on Wikipedia explains. Town Beach curves round the rest of the harbour, lined with cottages, pubs and boat sheds.
It is a busy working port. Harbour Assist, which supplies the harbour's management system, says it handles around 98% of all freight brought to the islands. It also serves fishing boats, inter island launches, local boats, visiting yachts and cruise ships. It is a lot of traffic for a small harbour.
In short, if something reaches Scilly by sea, it comes through here.
Arriving at St Mary's Quay
The Scillonian's final season
The Scillonian ferry from Penzance ties up at the quay, and her arrival is a daily event in summer. This year is special. 2026 is the last season for Scillonian III, which first sailed to Scilly in 1977. Baird Maritime reports that her final season runs until November.
Her replacement, Scillonian IV, is a 75 metre ship that can carry up to 600 passengers. Ships Monthly says she is due to enter service in March 2027. If you want to wave the old ship off, the quay is the place to be. Check the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group for farewell plans.
RecommendedHistoryHMS Colossus: The Nile Veteran Lost off Samson3 min read · SamsonRead the story →A new freight ship
Freight now arrives on a new ship too. Menawethan, a purpose built 45 metre cargo vessel, was named on St Mary's Quay on 8 July 2026, according to her builder Piriou. She replaces Gry Maritha, which had served the islands since 1989. Ship Management International says she carries 50 tonnes more cargo.
Getting off the quay
Once you step ashore, the shops of Hugh Town are only a short walk away. Vehicles on the quay are limited to permit holders dropping off and picking up. The harbour's own FAQ says that from 1 April to 30 September, no vehicles may use the quay between 9.30am and 10am, when tripper boats are busiest.
Things to Do Around the Harbour
Catch an inter island boat
The quay is the starting point for day trips to Tresco, Bryher, St Martin's and St Agnes. The St Mary's Boatmen's Association is a group of 10 independently owned boats running scheduled trips, wildlife cruises and evening sailings. It was formed in 1958 and includes every large passenger boat sailing from St Mary's.
Boat times change with the tide and the weather, so check on the day. The Scilly Live board here on Explore Scilly shows the boatmen's departures before you walk down. Look out for the wooden classics too. Guiding Star, the oldest launch in the fleet, was built in Cornwall in 1933.
Watch the gig racing
Pilot gig racing is Scilly's own sport, and the harbour is the finish line. Tregarthen's Hotel, which overlooks the finish, says island crews race into the harbour on Wednesday and Friday evenings through the season. Tresco Estate adds that women usually race on Wednesdays and men on Fridays.
The highlight is the World Pilot Gig Championships, held over the early May bank holiday weekend. Crews travel from across the UK and beyond, and the quay fills with supporters. According to Tresco Estate, the opening race can involve more than 130 gigs, with a start line over a mile long. Book your accommodation early.
Walk the quay and Town Beach
On a calm evening, a stroll along the quay is one of the simple pleasures of St Mary's. Look for the old cast iron cannon turned upside down and reused as bollards, recorded in the Historic England listing. From the end of the quay, the views stretch across the water towards the off islands.
RecommendedHistorySS Thames: The Dublin Steam Packet Lost on Jacky’s Rock4 min read · Western RocksRead the story →At the far end of Town Beach, at Carn Thomas, is the St Mary's RNLI lifeboat station. Its Severn class lifeboat, The Whiteheads, has been on station since 1997, says Wikipedia. The RNLI says crews here have earned 26 awards for gallantry. The charity relies on donations, so drop a coin in the box.
Eat and drink with a harbour view
Several pubs, cafés and restaurants look out over the harbour. Browse our Eat and Drink directory to find places near the quay, with opening times and menus.
Is there a St Mary's Harbour webcam?
Many people look for a live view of the harbour before they travel. The official harbour website does not host a live camera. Most views come from local hotels and businesses, and these come and go. For boat times on the day, the Scilly Live board is the quicker check.
A Short History of St Mary's Quay
The quay is older than most visitors realise. The Historic England listing says Francis Godolphin began it soon after 1601, alongside Star Castle and the Garrison walls. Before then, Old Town on the south of the island was the main settlement. The new harbour is what made Hugh Town grow.
The quay was rebuilt in 1740 and again in 1748. Between 1835 and 1838, Augustus Smith, Lord Proprietor of the islands, had a new pier built north to Rat Island. It was lengthened in 1889 for the flower trade, which shipped Scilly's early spring flowers to markets on the mainland.
Modern changes followed. A Council of the Isles of Scilly planning statement records that the quay was widened in 1994. A 23 metre extension followed in 2015, letting deeper ships berth and adding new passenger and freight space. The whole structure has been Grade II listed since 1975.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| c.1601 | First quay begun by Francis Godolphin |
| 1740 and 1748 | Quay rebuilt |
| 1835 to 1838 | New pier built north to Rat Island for Augustus Smith |
| 1889 | Quay lengthened for the flower trade |
| 1975 | Quay listed Grade II |
| 1994 | Quay widened |
| 2015 | 23 metre extension completed |
| 2026 | Menawethan enters service and Scillonian III sails her final season |
Sailing into St Mary's Harbour
St Mary's is the islands' main harbour for visiting yachts, and the harbour's leisure page sets out the options. There are 34 deep water swinging moorings for visitors. The 28 yellow buoys take boats up to 12 metres, and the 6 green buoys take boats up to 18 metres. Call the harbour on VHF channel 14.
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Mooring charges
These prices come from the harbour's published tariff, checked in October 2026. The harbour says prices usually rise each year in line with inflation.
| Berth | Standard rate | Half day |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow visitor buoy (up to 12m) | £26.00 | £14.50 |
| Green visitor buoy (up to 18m) | £31.00 | £16.00 |
| Red visitor buoy (small boats) | £14.50 | Not listed |
| Alongside, up to 12m | £30.50 | Not listed |
| Alongside, 12m to 18m | £36.00 | Not listed |
| Alongside, over 18m | £48.50 | £15.00 |
| Water taxi | £5.00 | Not listed |
The inner berths along the quay wall dry out, sitting about one metre above chart datum. Boats can dry out or raft up here, with fresh water and electricity from coin operated bollards. Larger boats may be able to lie on the outer berth on some nights, but this must be arranged with the Harbour Master first.
Facilities ashore
- Toilets and showers: In the main quay building, with four showers including one fully accessible. Open 24 hours in season. Showers take a £1 coin or a token from the harbour office.
- Rubbish: The harbour team collects waste from boats each morning. Recycling bins for glass and tins are on the quay.
- Fuel: Diesel and petrol from Sibley's fuel kiosk on the middle berth. Call on VHF channel 12 or 07810 301050, 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 8am to noon on Saturday.
- Water taxi: Runs between your boat and the shore from 8am to 5pm. Book on VHF channel 14 or 01720 422768.
Who Runs St Mary's Harbour?
Unusually, St Mary's is a private harbour. The Duchy of Cornwall owns and runs it, and the Duke of Cornwall is the statutory harbour authority, according to the harbour's Marine Safety Plan. Most of Hugh Town's land was sold to its residents in 1949, but the harbour stayed with the Duchy.
That could change one day. The Duchy has consulted islanders on handing management to a trust port, run for the harbour and community with no shareholders. For now, the Marine Safety Plan for 2026 to 2029 still names the Duke of Cornwall as owner and operator.
Tips for Your Visit
- Harbour office: On the quay. Call 01720 422768, or 07789 273626 out of hours for emergencies only.
- Free walking maps: Pick one up next to the harbour office before you set off.
- Drivers: Keep off the quay from 9.30am to 10am between April and September.
- Working area: High visibility clothing must be worn behind the harbour building, where freight is handled.
- Pontoon: Fine for drop offs and pick ups, but you cannot stay alongside.
Whether you are stepping off the Scillonian, waiting for a boat to Tresco or cheering home a gig crew, the harbour is where island life is easiest to see. Give yourself time to linger. And if you are here before the end of the 2026 season, watch Scillonian III come in one last time.
