Helicopter from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly

Helicopters from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly

The helicopter service from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly was discontinued on 1 November 2012.

Helicopters used to leave from the Penzance heliport and fly to St Mary’s and Tresco. Daily helicopters were run by the company British International.

British International Helicopters from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly

Helicopters from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly departed Penzance throughout the day from the early morning to the early evening.

Flight time took approximately 20 minutes, making the trip quick and easy. As an added bonus, the ride offered great views of the Cornish coast and the islands.

The helicopter from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly cost 170 GBP for adults and 105 GBP for children return for a standard helicopter fare.

Discounts on helicopters were available if you booked a day trip, travelled at off-peak times, or travelled standby. You had to book well in advance if you planned to take a British International helicopter in peak season.

Other Ways to Get from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly

Now that there is no helicopter service, you can find a list of other ways to get from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly here.

Flights from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly

Flights from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly

Flights from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly are a great way to get from the British mainland to the islands off the Cornish coast when you are visiting the UK.

Daily flights are run by a company called Skybus. Their planes leave from Land’s End airport, Newquay airport, Exeter airport, Bristol airport, and Southampton airport.

Skybus Flights from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly

All flights from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly depart in the morning or early afternoon. During peak season, there are several flights an hour from the main airports in Cornwall, particularly Land’s End. Note that there are no flights on Sundays year-round.

The flight time on Skybus flights to the islands takes from 20 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on which airport you fly from.

Flights from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly cost 70 to 300 GBP for adults and 54 to 180 GBP for children each way, depending on where you depart from.

Discounts on flights are available if you book early or travel on non-peak days. Make sure to book well in advance if you plan to take a Skybus flight in peak season or for special events. You can make a booking online.

Other Ways to Get from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly

A list of other options for getting from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly can be found here.

Ferry from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly

Ferry from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly

The ferry from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly leaves from the Cornish port of Penzance. It’s a great way to get to the islands if you don’t want to fly.

Daily ferry services from Penzance to the Isles of Scilly are run on the Scillonian III.

Scillonian III Ferry to the Isles of Scilly

The Scillonian III ferry to the Isles of Scilly runs most days at 9:15am (except for Sundays). It departs from Penzance harbor and sails to Hugh Town on St Mary’s.

Saturday ferries leave at 10:30am from early July through early September and additional Friday and Monday ferries leave at 6:30am and 1:30pm during Gig Weekend in May.

Some boats are affected by tides and special events, so make sure to check the times before purchasing your ferry tickets. You can see timetables here.

The ferry ride on the Scillonian III takes 2 hours and 45 minutes on average. Times can vary depending on the season and the weather.

The ferry from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly costs 37.50 GBP for adults (over 16) and 19.00 GBP for children each way. If you just want to take a day trip to the Isles of Scilly, you can get return tickets for 35 GBP for adults and 18 GBP for children.

Make sure to book your tickets well in advance if you plan to take the ferry in peak season, as it is a popular route and can sell out. Tickets can be purchased online.

Other Ways to Get from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly

For a list of all options for getting from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly, see the How to Get from Cornwall to the Isles of Scillly page.