Plan your trip

GETTING THERE

Isles of Scilly Travel (01736 334220, www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk) can transport you to St Mary’s by air or by sea. We took the Scillonian III passenger ferry from Penzance, which sails up to seven days a week from spring to late autumn. The crossing takes three hours; from £110 return.

Or fly with Skybus from Land’s End (15 mins) or Newquay (30 mins), Mon-Sat year round. Flights also available from Exeter (60 mins), March to October. Return flights from Land’s End from £178. Or hop on a chopper for 15 minutes – from April, Island Helicopters will fly from Penzance up to eight times a day, six days a week, from £230 return.

GETTING AROUND

Tresco Boat Services (01720 423373, www.tresco.co.uk/arriving/ tresco-boats) run ferries to the offislands of Bryher and St Martin’s, as well as Tresco. Times vary according to tide and weather so check the website or www.facebook.com/ TrescoBoatServices/ for up to date info. Return from St Mary’s to Bryher £12. Once on Bryher there are no cars so it’s shanks’ pony!

WHERE TO STAY

Country Walking stayed at the award-winning Hell Bay Hotel (01720 422947, www.hellbay.co.uk) on Bryher. In a quiet cove facing the Atlantic swell, it has 25 spacious suites – most with sea views – plus a heated outdoor pool, sauna, jacuzzi, spa treatment room and yoga studio to stretch and refresh after a day walking the island. From £140pp/pn for dinner, bed and breakfast. Camping, self-catering cottages and one B&B also on the island: see www.visitislesofscilly. com/explore/bryher for more info, and do book well ahead.

WHERE TO EAT

A three-course dinner is included at the restaurant at Hell Bay Hotel, which has three AA rosettes and serves delicious dishes like ballontine of ham hock with apple and candied walnut salad, followed by pan roasted fillet of wild sea bass, and prune and armagnac souffle and petit fours to finish. Bar menu also available at the hotel, or visit its Crab Shack for shellfish straight off the boat in summer. There’s also a shop on the island ( www.bryhershop.co.uk) for picnic supplies, and Fraggle Rock Bar Cafe ( www.bryher.co/fraggle-rock/) and Island Fish ( www.islandfish.co.uk) on the east coast too.