Isles of Scilly: 4-night Star Castle Hotel Inclusive Break

Enjoy an Isles of Scilly short break holiday, discovering the best that the scenic Isles of Scilly have to offer, with plenty of island-hopping. Uncover tales of shipwrecks and settlers as well as the fascinating deep-time story of these very special islands.

Highlights

Enjoy the Isles of Scilly at your pace with a small group, plenty of flexibility and experiences to suit all weathers such as guided walks, cycling, birdwatching, vineyard tours, star gazing and a special focus on Scilly's fascinating geology and mineral treasures.
Hear tales of maritime bravery and famous shipwrecks from one of Britain’s leading shipwreck experts.
Relax in top-quality accommodation on the main inhabited Island, St Mary’s, staying at the historic Star Castle Hotel which was built in 1593 and converted to a hotel in 1933.
Savor a pre-dinner drink in the Dungeon Bar and dine every evening in the award-winning restaurant in the former Officers’ Mess.
Explore some of the four inhabited ‘off-islands’ with short trips by passenger boats accompanied by a local guide.
Visit an uninhabited island to see seabirds and evidence of historical settlements.
Meet local experts, entrepreneurs, and generations of Scillonians during your Scilly Isles holiday. Find out why they love living on Scilly.

Overview

Join our small group on a relaxing short break on the picturesque Isles of Scilly, a subtropical sanctuary off the Cornish coast that holds its fair share of stories from times gone by. Starting on a Thursday, this 4-night tour is designed as an extra-long weekend, returning to the mainland on Monday.

We’re delighted to have secured accommodation for all our tours at the Star Castle Hotel. It is steeped in history – a complete example of an Elizabethan fort, built in 1593, in response to the threat following the Spanish Armada in 1588. Later, during the English Civil War, it was the final Royalist stronghold and refuge for the future King Charles II in 1646. With its modern extensions, it is a most comfortable and welcoming hotel.

Spend five days of your Scilly holiday exploring everything that the islands have to offer, from a vibrant garden hiding a monastery to discovering the sites where ancient ancestors laid their heroes to rest. History soaks the islands through, and you’ll learn how the tranquil Isles have weathered natural and manmade tempests over the years.

Your expert local guides and guest speakers will help you make the most of this island paradise, showing you which wildlife to watch out for and helping to unpick the history behind some of the most striking landmarks, and ‘read the rocks’ of Scilly and uncover their fascinating 300-million-year-old story. With pre-dinner talks on the islands’ rich maritime history and scattered shipwrecks, along with the rich tapestry of early settlers who called Scilly home, you’ll sink into island life and get that much more out of exploring the islands.

Scilly isn’t just a feast for the eyes, however – throughout this Isles of Scilly holiday, you can savour freshly caught fish, award-winning appetisers and simple good food at pubs, restaurants, bars and chippies tucked away across the islands.

Please note: Travel to or from the Isles of Scilly can be weather dependent and is prone to disruption, so please bear this in mind when booking on this tour and ideally allow for a little flexibility, especially at the end of the tour.

Activity Level: Easy, with optional longer walks (view our activity level definitions). Access to islands off St Mary’s will require climbing on and off passenger boats, and if visiting uninhabited islands you may need to disembark in the shallows.
Transport: Getting there: The Isles of Scilly can be reached by plane from airports in Cornwall and Devon; by helicopter from Penzance Heliport, or by ship from Penzance Harbour. Getting around: Primarily on foot, with passenger boats between the islands.
Accommodation: Four nights in the Star Castle Hotel on St Mary’s, a former artillery fort where the customers come first.
Weather: The Isles of Scilly benefit from a subtropical climate, meaning mild conditions and an average temperature ranging from 8 °C to 17 °C across the year. These conditions favour the islands’ flower growers, who typically harvest and export narcissi from October through to March, when the mainland can be facing face subzero temperatures. Rain is a possibility, so we recommend bringing light waterproof clothing, but any poor weather often passes quickly on the islands.

Other tours you may be interested in

Isles of Scilly 5 nights in September or April 2025, or 5 nights in Wales on our Charles Darwin focused tour in September.

Tour Map

T026 Itinerary Map

Day 1 – Arrival and Meeting on St Mary’s

Star Castle and Gardens

Check into your hotel and meet your fellow travellers.

After arriving on St Mary’s, you’ll be collected at the quay or airport and transported with your luggage to your hotel for the five days, the Star Castle Hotel on the east end of the island. Peer over the parapets, chat to the locals and get settled in, then enjoy the first group dinner of your Isles of Scilly holiday in the castle’s award-winning restaurant.

Days 2-4 – Exploring the Islands

Enjoy the islands at your pace, with flexible schedules and semi-guided tours.

Island life runs at a slower pace than on the mainland, and our itinerary reflects this. The weather also plays a part, so we will adapt the itineraries to suit the weather and tides, taking into account the special requests of the group. Whatever the conditions, there will always be plenty to catch your attention during your stay on Scilly. During this tour, some of the following will be included, depending on the weather and interests of the group:

A guided walk of the Garrison Walls excellently preserved defensive measures located right outside the Star Castle Hotel on St Mary’s.
A walking tour of the islands’ ancient ruins and enlightening artifacts that are changing our understanding of island life, through curated exhibitions on each of the inhabited islands.
An exploration of the fascinating geology of Scilly, from granite foundations to being shaped by glaciers, and looking at how sea level changes have shaped the landscape and history. Ideal for multi-generation families and young explorers!
After-breakfast and pre-dinner talks about the islands from local experts, covering topics including shipwrecks, diverse birdlife and the mammoth task of bringing lifesaving lighthouses to the islands.
Enjoying delicious meals across the islands, including the catch of the day, freshly baked bread, and local seafood.
Spending a half-day on Samson to see evidence of settlements from 5,000 years ago up until the last settlers left in 1855. This is an uninhabited island, reached by small passenger boat and then a paddle through the shallows – guaranteed to get your feet wet!
A day on Tresco, to include the famous Abbey Gardens, where tropical conditions support an abundance of exotic flora. Topped off with a cream tea and a visit to the island’s impressive figurehead collection, and perhaps a sighting of the local red squirrels.
Explore the English Civil War history still visible on Tresco and hear about the struggle to wrest control of the islands.
A visit to at least one of the other ‘Off Islands’: Bryher, St Agnes, or St Martins.
Take a boat trip beyond the main islands to see the puffin colonies, bobbing seals, and playful dolphins.
Witness sea life beneath your feet with a unique glass-bottomed boat trip.
Head out at dusk to meet up with the islands’ bat group and learn about find out more about the local and visiting bats that call Scilly home.
Time to catch up with fellow guests and share stories of your very own Scilly experience.

Our tours are designed to suit you, so there will also be plenty of free time to pop into galleries, head out on an adventure of your own or simply sit and enjoy the amazing views.

Day 5 – Tour Ends

Home time. Fly or sail back to the mainland.

Savour the final breakfast of your Scilly Isles holiday at the Star Castle Hotel, then (reluctantly) head to the airport, harbour or heliport to catch your ride home.

Note: this provisional itinerary is subject to change.

Reaching the Isles of Scilly

The Isles of Scilly can be reached by Skybus from airports at Land’s End (20 minutes), Newquay (30 minutes) or Exeter (1 hour); by helicopter from Penzance Heliport (15 minutes), or by the Scillonian ship from Penzance Harbour (2 hours 45 minutes).

For more information, please call or email us to receive a transport factsheet for ways to reach the Isles of Scilly, with hints and tips, based on our experience.

Single Supplement

Single room supplement £150 / $187

Activity Level and Terrain

Island Hopping

The activity level is rated as EASY (view activity level definitions) and is suitable for occasional walkers, with walks ranging from between 1-3 miles on paved roads, coastal paths and sandy beaches. This tour does involve climbing into and out of passenger boats to reach other islands, along with descending and ascending stone steps on quays. Additionally, the very short approach road to walk up to the Star Castle Hotel is steep, but it only takes about five minutes if coming up from the harbour or the town. You will never need to do this walk with your luggage on your Scilly holiday, as the hotel team take care of that!

If travelling to an uninhabited island, you may need to disembark in the shallows and walk to shore, so sturdy, waterproof footwear is essential. Rain is always possible, and participants should be prepared with lightweight waterproof clothing. The climate on the Scillies is mild, with average temperatures ranging from 8°C to 17°C over the course of the year.

Transport will be by licensed passenger boats between the islands, and primarily on foot the rest of the time.

Bicycles are available to hire on Tresco; and bike and electric buggy hire is available on St Mary’s.

If walking is an issue, alternative arrangements can be made during the scheduled longer walks, so please let GeoCultura know in advance. To enjoy the full experience, a good level of fitness is required – please call us to discuss this if you have any concerns.

The Tour Includes/Excludes

The Tour Includes:

The services of your tour host who will be with the group throughout the tour, staying at the hotel
Local experts who will accompany the group and give talks on selected days
All transportation costs when travelling between islands
All accommodation costs for the four nights
All breakfasts and four a la carte dinners
All service charges and most gratuities

The Tour Excludes:

Travel insurance. Guests should carry their own health and travel insurance.
Extra or optional activities not described in the tour
Lunches not included
Personal expenditures, any alcoholic drinks with meals, and extras at the hotel such as laundry bills
Transportation to the start venue or from the end venue of the tour. Participants will need to make their own arrangements for travel to and from St Mary’s. Please email or call us and we will provide detailed advice to explain the transport options.
Passport and visa fees

Alternate Activities

Your tour host can provide suggestions for alternate activities for individuals who prefer not to participate in certain parts of the tour walks or visits.

Accommodation

Nights 1-4: Star Castle Hotel, St Mary’s

Star Castle

St Mary’s only four-star hotel, which originally served as an Elizabethan artillery fort, the ‘location, setting and history are exceptional’. The Star Castle’s food was described by one guest as: ‘totally amazing, and so well balanced that the diner is never outfaced’. Typical dishes might feature venison with black truffle, or lobster and crab caught from the hotel’s own boat, with produce from the kitchen garden.

GeoCultura guests are most likely to be allocated rooms in the Garden Rooms. Subject to availability, there is an option to request and pay for an upgrade for a sea view room or a room in the castle. Book early if this is important to you. Details on request.

Star Castle Bedroom. Photo by Mark Bolton

Photo by Mark Bolton

Note: If required for reasons beyond our control, GeoCultura reserves the right to substitute alternative accommodation of equal or higher quality or adapt the itinerary if required.

Deposit and Payment Terms

Deposit: A deposit of 10% of the tour price is due upon registration for a tour.

Final payment: Full payment is due 60 days before a tour begins, or upon registration if within the 60-day window.

Cancellation by participant: A participant may cancel a registration after securing a confirmed place on a tour for any reason. The following refund terms will apply:

Greater than 60 days before tour begins: Any monies paid plus half of the deposit will be refunded
30 to 59 days before tour begins: 35% of tour price will be refunded
15 to 29 days before tour begins: 25% of tour price will be refunded
Within 14 days of tour or during the tour: No monies will be refunded

Cancellation by GeoCultura: GeoCultura reserves the right to cancel any tour due to low enrolment, inability to run the tour or concerns about the safety, health or welfare of participants. If a tour is cancelled before it begins, all monies paid will be refunded (including any deposit).

Please refer to our Terms and Conditions page for additional details.

One or two of the following leaders will be present on each tour.

Seren Welch

Seren has a passion for sharing the very best travel experiences Britain has to offer.

After graduating from Exeter Uni with a Masters in Tourism and Social Responsibility, Seren has worked in the industry for over 25 years. During her time with the National Tourist Board, she ran numerous campaigns promoting the UK’s heritage, culture and countryside from hidden treasures and royal history to Britain’s stunning gardens, national parks and famous film and TV locations.

In 2012 she assisted the Mayor of London’s team to tell London’s cultural story to the international media during the London Olympics, showcasing contemporary culture and culinary delights and flying the flag for London’s fashion.

For the past 10 years, she has been a consultant to WGBH Masterpiece in the US, helping them to tell the location story behind some of the best loved British period dramas, from Downton Abbey to All Creatures Great and Small.

As a lover of ‘off the beaten track’ travel gems, Seren has worked with Geocultura to shape elements of our tours to deliver those extra special experiences to our customers, such as the South of England Tour.

Away from travel and tourism, Seren’s interests include sculpture which she now teaches on her farm in Kent.

Dr Vickie Heaney

Dr Vickie Heaney’s background is in zoology with a PHD specialisation in seabirds, and the Isles of Scilly provide plenty of birdlife for her to study and conserve.

As a Seabird Ecologist with the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, Vickie’s work includes monitoring the Isles’ avian visitors, and improving conditions through initiatives like the Seabird Recovery Project. Among other outcomes, this has been credited with bringing successful breeding populations of Manx Shearwaters and Storm Petrels back to Scilly.

Vickie’s other passion is printmaking, and from her studio on St Mary’s she creates limited runs of linocut prints inspired by seabirds, nautical themes and island life, together with hand decorated ceramics with striking designs.

With Jess Vian, Vickie runs Isles of Scilly Tours. During the winter months, her ornithology expertise takes her to the far south, helping to engage expedition cruise ships passengers about wildlife in places like the Falklands Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica.

Jess Vian

Like many, Jess caught the Isles of Scilly bug from a young age after visiting the islands on holiday. After moving to the islands to work the 2001 summer season, Jess has never looked back. Throwing herself into island life, she has held an impressive number of roles over the years, working in the agricultural, tourism and transport industries.

Jess has a particular interest in the history of Scilly, with a specialisation in the lighthouses that dot the coastline and surrounding islands. Additionally, she has previously chaired the Isles of Scilly Museum Association and continues to support the organisation, as both a Trustee and the current Vice Chair.

Alongside Dr Vickie Heaney, Jess runs Isles of Scilly Tours, helping to guide visitors across and around the islands. Outside of guiding, Jess manages her smallholding of goats, chickens and ducks, and runs a small business making soap from goats’ milk.

Professor Bob Holdsworth

Bob Holdsworth

Bob is a Professor at the Department of Earth Sciences at Durham University, and has a lifelong association with Scilly. First visiting the islands at the age of four, Bob has returned several times every year ever since. Scrambling around the wild rock landscapes of Scilly and hunting for beautiful sea-polished pebbles on its shores had a profound, positive influence on his choice of future career.

Exploring and studying geological landscapes in the field is a real passion for Bob, and he likes nothing better than sharing his experiences and understanding with novices and experts alike. He is a regular contributor to media stories about geology, especially earthquakes, and is widely recognised for his skill in making the subject accessible and engaging.

A Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and of the Geological Society of London, Bob has written over two hundred and twenty papers and chapters on aspects of geology worldwide, with a strong focus on the geology and evolution of the British Isles. Scilly is just a microcosm of that passion for archipelagos, and Bob has also helped to write visitor guides about the fascinating earth history of Scilly http://naturalhistoryofscilly.info/geology-tour.

Richard Larn OBE, Cornish Bard and Knight of Mark Twain

Richard Larn

Richard has had a storied history in the Royal Navy, having served for 27 years in a variety of significant roles. After teaching himself to dive in 1947 in the River Thames, his passion for exploring shipwrecks took off, and since then Richard has dived all over the world and on hundreds of wreck sites.

Richard’s career highlights include discovering and investigating the wreck of HMS Association off the coast of the Isles of Scilly, and using his ingenuity to help raise the Mary Rose in 1982, a feat which earned him a personal letter of thanks from the then-Prince Charles.

Other notable moments include Richard being awarded an OBE for his work in cataloguing UK shipwrecks through the National Maritime Record, and discovering the wreck of the Admiral Gardner which yielded millions of copper coins.

Richard has written over 60 books on the subject of shipwrecks, including nine about the Isles of Scilly, and will be talking about his adventures, British naval history and a number of key Scilly shipwrecks.