One of the great things about the Isles of Scilly for kids is just the lack of traffic (especially if you stay on one of the smaller islands) and the low crime rate, which means that parents are a bit happier about letting children explore on their own than usual. Add to that the fact that the islands are small enough to walk round, older children in particular can be very independent. That said, you might want some inspiration on things to do together as a family during your stay.
The fun all starts on the way over. We went by plane and it’s a teeny, tiny one that doesn’t fly too high. So you can play spot the landmarks as you pass above: we saw the Eden Project, St. Michael’s Mount, Newton Abbot Racecourse, Land’s End and more. Another big bonus is being able to see inside the cockpit during the flight and as children are usually boarded first, you can pick your seat. The best one for would-be-pilots is directly behind the cockpit.- Tales of shipwrecks spark the imagination and nowhere more than at Valhalla, a collection of ship’s figureheads within the Abbey Gardens on Tresco.
Swing in a hammock with a sea view on St. Agnes or try to find your way through the stone maze. Better still both are very close to Troytown Farm where they make and sell the most wonderful ice cream.- Walk between the islands. At low tides at certain times in the year it is possible to walk between some of the islands, especially between Bryher and Tresco. Make sure you check on the tide information, but it’s a really fun thing to do. If you visit at times when the tides aren’t favourable, you should still be able to cross the tombola (a narrow strip of sand) between St. Agnes and Gugh.
- Spot the twitchers. The Isles of Scilly is a bird watching paradise as many migrating birds accidentally visit there, so there are a number of rare sightings to be had. Many birdwatchers visit for just this reason and can be seen around the islands with their high tech birdwatching and camera equipment. See if you can spot what they are looking for and capture a picture of something unusual.
Walk around the airport. We took a walk around St. Mary’s that included a loop around the edge of the airport. One moment you are in the middle of nowhere and the next you come across a warning light and buzzer system telling you when to keep clear because a plane is about to take off or land. It’s very exciting to see a small plane take off so close to you and there aren’t many places that you can do that.- Go on a boat trip. You can take special tours that will take you wildlife spotting (the Eastern Isles are a good place to spot seals) or you can just take a ferry to another island to explore. The distances are small, so it’s a good way to test your sea legs.
- A day on the beach. There are some stunning beaches in the Isles of Scilly and they are often deserted. Take a picnic and settle in for some sandcastle fun.
See red squirrels up close. On Tresco it’s easy to spot the squirrels as they dart around. There are feeders near to the entrance to the Tresco Abbey Gardens and you can watch them eating and playing.- Hire bikes or even a golf buggy to explore the islands. It’s easy to get around on foot (and on some of the islands there are no cars), but sometimes it’s nicer to have some wheels, plus driving the golf buggies looks a lot of fun.
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