How much does it cost?

From £2,549 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,443 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. Railtrail Tours provides an experienced Tour Manager for the full 7-day trip.

Which hotels are used?

Two nights at the Queens Hotel in Penzance and four nights at the Star Castle Hotel on St Mary's.

When does this tour run?

Two departures are listed for 2027, in April and July; the July departure carries a £220 per person supplement.

Railtrail Tours · Escorted tour

Isles of Scilly Discovery 2027

Escorted rail and ferry tour from Penzance to the Isles of Scilly

Railtrail Tours runs this 7-day escorted rail holiday from Penzance to the Isles of Scilly, an archipelago off the tip of Cornwall reached by ferry. Travelers make their own way by train from their home station to Penzance, where the tour begins with a night at the Queens Hotel. A ferry crossing of around two hours and forty five minutes then carries the group to St Mary's and the Star Castle Hotel, the base for four nights. From there, days settle into a gentle rhythm: a walking tour of St Mary's paired with a wine tasting from the hotel's own HolyVale Vineyard, a ferry to Tresco to see its Abbey Garden, and a crossing to St Agnes for coastal paths and a wildlife cruise looking for puffins, dolphins and seals. A Tour Manager travels with the group throughout, and all excursions and admissions are included. The trip suits travelers who want an easy, guided introduction to the Scilly Isles rather than an independent itinerary, with a rated activity level of Moderate.

What to know before you look closer

The lowest advertised price of £2,549 is for joining and leaving the tour at the hotels; adding rail travel from your home station costs more, from £2,619 in Standard Class or £2,859 in First Class, and fares vary by home station region and month.
The July 2027 departure carries a £220 per person supplement over the April date.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Penzance
Arrive Penzance
Journey from your home station to Penzance and check in to the Queens Hotel for an overnight stay. Free time to explore before the first evening meal together.
Day 2overnight: St Mary's
Ferry to St Mary's
Ferry from Penzance Harbour to the islands (around 2hr 45mins), arriving at St Mary's and walking to the Star Castle Hotel, our hotel for the next four nights. Free time to explore before the evening meal.
Day 3overnight: St Mary's
St Mary's and wine tasting
A gentle introductory walk around St Mary's, free time for lunch, the old town, or the beaches, then a wine tasting at the hotel from their own HolyVale Vineyard.
Day 4overnight: St Mary's
Tresco and Tresco Abbey Garden
Ferry to the island of Tresco to visit Tresco Abbey Garden, one of the best sub-tropical plant collections in the Northern Hemisphere, before returning to St Mary's for the evening meal.
Day 5overnight: St Mary's
St Agnes and wildlife cruise
Crossing to the unspoilt island of St Agnes to explore beaches, pubs, and coastal paths, followed by a wildlife cruise to spot puffins, dolphins, and seals, before returning to St Mary's for the evening meal.
Day 6overnight: Penzance
Free time and return to Penzance
A day at leisure in St Mary's before a late-afternoon ferry back to Penzance and an overnight stay at the Queens Hotel for the final evening meal.
Day 7
Return home
After breakfast, farewell to Penzance and travel home from the station.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Ferry from Penzance Harbour to St Mary's, a crossing of around 2 hours 45 minutes, then walk to the Star Castle Hotel.
Day 3A wine tasting at the Star Castle Hotel from its own HolyVale Vineyard.
Day 4Ferry to Tresco to visit Tresco Abbey Garden, one of the best sub-tropical plant collections in the Northern Hemisphere.
Day 5Crossing to St Agnes for its beaches and coastal paths, followed by a wildlife cruise to spot puffins, dolphins and seals.

Included

6 nights bed, breakfast & evening meal
Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)
Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described
All excursions & admissions as detailed
Services of experienced Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £2,549 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $3,443 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. Railtrail Tours provides an experienced Tour Manager for the full 7-day trip.
Which hotels are used?: Two nights at the Queens Hotel in Penzance and four nights at the Star Castle Hotel on St Mary's.
When does this tour run?: Two departures are listed for 2027, in April and July; the July departure carries a £220 per person supplement.