Twenty-eight miles off Cornwall's tip, St Mary's rewards cruise visitors with white-sand beaches that look Caribbean, an Elizabethan garrison with sweeping island views, and a harbor town with no chain stores in sight.
Cruise ships anchor in St Mary's Roads and tender passengers to St Mary's Quay in Hugh Town — the island's only town is right at the pier.
💡 Pro move: Mobility note: tendering involves boarding small boats and climbing gangways — passengers with limited mobility should confirm feasibility with the ship before booking.
All cruise ships use tender operations; only very small vessels on high spring tides have occasionally docked alongside.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Most cruise lines | St Mary's Roads anchorage → tender to St Mary's Quay📍 | Tendered |
| Small expedition ships (rare) | St Mary's Quay (high spring tide only)📍 | Docked |
St Mary's packs a full shore day into a small island — walk ancient ruins, laze on Caribbean-blue beaches, or hop a boat to the famous Tresco Abbey Garden.
A 1.5-mile loop along Elizabethan garrison walls starting just 10 minutes uphill from the pier. Pass Star Castle, historic cannons, and powder houses with 360° views across all five inhabited islands.
Explore the Garrison →A 20-minute tripper boat ride reaches the world-famous sub-tropical garden on Tresco — 20,000 plant specimens from 80 countries, thriving in Scilly's Gulf Stream microclimate. The #1 attraction in the islands.
Find Tresco boat tours →Bant's Carn and Halangy Down Ancient Village on the island's north side offer a well-preserved Iron Age settlement and a Bronze Age entrance grave dating to 2000 BC — a short bike ride or 40-minute walk from Hugh Town.
Find heritage tours →RIB boat tours depart from the quay to spot Atlantic grey seals on rocky haul-outs, puffins (May–July), dolphins, and seabirds around the uninhabited islands. Small group, high-impact.
Find wildlife boat tours →A 7-minute walk from the pier brings you to Porthcressa, a crescent of white sand with turquoise water that looks Mediterranean. Combine with lunch at The Mermaid Inn or a Cornish cream tea — jam first, then cream.
Explore Hugh Town beaches →St Mary's Bike Hire is right near the quay. A standard or electric bike lets you lap the whole island (about 9 miles of coastal road) in a half-day, with stops at Pelistry Bay, Peninnis Head, and Old Town Bay.
Find bike hire options →St Mary's is small enough to explore on foot — the coast path circles the whole island and Hugh Town is just steps from the tender pier.
From St Mary's Quay, follow the road up to the Garrison gate. Walk the Elizabethan ramparts clockwise past Star Castle Hotel, old cannons, and powder houses. Sweeping views of the off-islands throughout. Return downhill to the quay.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Head northeast out of Hugh Town along the coast path to secluded Pelistry Bay. At low tide, a sandy causeway connects to Toll's Island — check tide times before you go. Return the same way or loop inland via Halangy Down.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Climate normals for St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, England (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F / 11°C | 47°F / 8°C | 18 | 8:17 AM | 4:52 PM |
| Feb | 50°F / 10°C | 47°F / 8°C | 15 | 7:35 AM | 5:43 PM |
| Mar | 50°F / 10°C | 47°F / 8°C | 15 | 6:38 AM | 6:30 PM |
| Apr | 51°F / 11°C | 49°F / 9°C | 10 | 6:32 AM | 8:18 PM |
| May | 54°F / 12°C | 52°F / 11°C | 9 | 5:39 AM | 9:04 PM |
| Jun | 59°F / 15°C | 57°F / 14°C | 9 | 5:16 AM | 9:35 PM |
| Jul | 63°F / 17°C | 61°F / 16°C | 8 | 5:33 AM | 9:28 PM |
| Aug | 63°F / 17°C | 61°F / 16°C | 10 | 6:15 AM | 8:42 PM |
| Sep | 62°F / 17°C | 60°F / 16°C | 11 | 7:01 AM | 7:38 PM |
| Oct | 58°F / 14°C | 56°F / 13°C | 14 | 7:47 AM | 6:33 PM |
| Nov | 55°F / 13°C | 52°F / 11°C | 19 | 7:38 AM | 4:40 PM |
| Dec | 53°F / 12°C | 50°F / 10°C | 19 | 8:17 AM | 4:23 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
The tender/quay pier is right in Hugh Town — the island's only settlement. Shops, cafes, and the beach are within a 5-minute stroll, making walking the default mode for most visitors.
Local taxis (Toots Taxi, DJ Cabs) cover the whole island. Fares are short given the island's size; book ahead on busy port days as supply is limited.
A seasonal community bus runs a circular route around St Mary's from April to October, stopping at beaches, viewpoints, and villages — the cheapest way to cover ground.
A 70-minute guided minibus tour circles the island with scenic photo stops. No advance booking — purchase tickets directly from the driver on a first-come basis (mid-March to early October).
Regular boat services from Hugh Town quay connect to Tresco, Bryher, St Agnes, and St Martin's — essential if you want to explore beyond St Mary's during your port day.
Upcoming cruises that call at St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, England. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.