Tresco Boat Services
We connect Tresco and Bryher with the rest of the Isles of Scilly, offering island‑hopping day trips, wildlife cruises, scenic tours, and year‑round arrival and departure transfers.
See the Isles of Scilly from a whole new perspective with Tresco Boat Services.
Step aboard our ferry Firethorn or zip across the water on our jetboats, Lightning and Thunder, as you island‑hop, discover the archipelago, and watch for seals, seabirds, and other incredible wildlife.
We’re on the water all year round. From April to October, we run a full daily schedule of sailings to the surrounding islands. In March, we operate every day, with most trips arranged on a phone-to-book basis.
Through the quieter winter months from November to February, we offer a limited service on a phone‑to‑book basis, along with scheduled sailings to St Mary’s on Thursdays and Saturdays when weather and tides allow.
Seasonal Boating Schedule (1st April - 31st October)
| Between Tresco & Bryher | Daily |
| St Mary's | Monday - Saturday |
| St Martin's | Monday, Wednesday, Friday |
| St Agnes | Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday |
| Samson | Weather and tide dependent - please call to enquire |
| Wildlife Trips | Weather and tide dependent - please call to enquire |
| Evening trips between Tresco & Bryher | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday (May to September) |
| Evening trip to St Mary's | Thursday - please phone 01720 423373 to book - limited spaces |
Boats to other islands generally leave Tresco and Bryher mid‑morning, returning in the late afternoon. There are usually several sailings each day between Tresco and Bryher, as well as regular trips to St Mary’s.
As weather and tides can affect our schedule, we confirm the following day’s boating each afternoon. We also publish an indicative weekly plan, but this is subject to change, so please always check the confirmed times the day before you travel.
Find out more about our services, check the latest boat times, and get in touch below.
Book a Boat (Office open Mon - Sat 8:30am - 4pm)
Scheduled Boating for Friday 29th August
Tresco boating for Friday 29th August
10.00 New Grimsby to Bryher and St Mary’s
11.00 New Grimsby to St Martin’s
1.30 New Grimsby to Bryher and St Mary’s
2.45 Carn Near to St Mary’s
Evening trip to Bryher: 6pm New Grimsby to Bryher, returning at 8.30pm from Quay
CANCELLED! Trip to follow the Gig Race: 7.10 New Grimsby- THE GIG RACE HAS BEEN CANCELLED
Returning:
From St Mary’s: 12.45 to New Grimsby; 2.30 to Carn Near; 4pm to New Grimsby (via St Martin’s)
From St Martin’s: 4.30 to New Grimsby
From Bryher: 1.15 Bar to New Grimsby; 5pm Bar to New Grimsby
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Bryher boating for Friday 29th August
09.45 Quay to Tresco
10.00 Quay to St Mary’s
11.00 Quay to St Martin’s
1.15 Bar to Tresco
1.30 Bar to St Mary’s
Evening trip to Tresco: 5.50 Bar to New Grimsby, returning at 8.30 New Grimsby to Quay
CANCELLED! Trip to follow the Gig Race 7.15 Quay- THE GIG RACE HAS BEEN CANCELLED
Returning:
From St Mary’s: 12.45 to Bar; 4pm to Bar (via St Martin’s)
From St Martin’s: 4.30 to Bar
From Tresco: 1.30 and 5pm New Grimsby to Bar
Scheduled Boating for Saturday 30th August
Tresco boating for Saturday 30th August
09:45 New Grimsby to Bryher
11:10 New Grimsby to St Mary’s
1:30 New Grimsby to Bryher and St Mary’s
Returning:
From St Mary’s: 12:45 to New Grimsby; 4pm to New Grimsby
From Bryher: 1:15 Bar to New Grimsby; 4:30 Bar to New Grimsby
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Bryher boating for Saturday 30th August
10:00 Quay to St Mary’s
11:00 Quay to Tresco
1:15 Bar to Tresco
1:30 Bar to St Mary’s
Returning:
From St Mary’s: 12:45 to Bar; 4pm to Bar
From Tresco: 1:30 New Grimsby to Bar; 4:30 New Grimsby to Bar
Our Boating Services
Find out more about the services we offer
Island-Hopping Daytrips
In the main season, you can sail daily between Tresco and Bryher, with regular trips to St Mary’s, St Martin’s, and St Agnes on set days of the week. We post the confirmed times each afternoon for the following day, and there’s also a weekly plan to help you plan ahead – just remember it can change with the weather and tides.
Jetboat Specials
If our scheduled times don’t quite fit your plans, we can arrange a ‘special’ trip on one of our jetboats for a supplement. Just give us at least 24 hours’ notice, and we’ll confirm your departure time the afternoon before your trip. To find out more or make a booking, call 01720 423373 or drop us an email using the link below.
Arrival & Departure Transfers
Whether you arrive by air or sea, we’ll take care of your onward transfer to Tresco or Bryher. Simply share your travel plans with your accommodation provider, and they’ll pass them on to us (if you’re staying on Tresco, you can do this using the link below). Most transfers are on our scheduled boats, but we can also arrange a jetboat ‘special’ for a supplement.
Wildlife Spotting Trips
Set out in search of seals, seabirds, dolphins, and more on a wildlife‑spotting adventure to some of the archipelago’s lesser‑known corners. Choose a leisurely 90‑minute cruise aboard our larger ferries (under‑14s half price, under‑3s free) or an exhilarating one‑hour dash on our high‑speed jetboats.
Gig Race Spectator Boats
Six rowers, six oars, one coxswain – gig racing is the Isles of Scilly’s national sport and a proud celebration of our island heritage. On Wednesday and Friday evenings from May to September, step aboard a spectator boat and cheer on our crews as they battle it out on the water. Check the boat boards and this page for details.
Fishing Trips
Join the crew from Scilly Fishing Charters and head out to catch your own supper - choose a relaxed, family‑friendly trip in sheltered waters or a deep‑sea tuna catch-and-release adventure.
Evening Boats
From May to September, end your day with an evening boat trip to dinner on another island. Several nights a week you can hop between Bryher and Tresco, and once a week cross the water to St Mary’s. Most evenings you can simply step aboard, but if advance booking is needed, it will be shown on the schedule.
Please Note
You must travel with your luggage; we will not be responsible for unaccompanied items.
We can carry kayaks, bikes and outboard engines by prior arrangement. Other freight items should be sent via the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company.
We do not carry camping gas - this can be purchased from Bryher Campsite on arrival.
