Silversea Expedition Cruises A ST MARY'S (Isles of Scilly)

Enjoy a scenic walking tour of the Garrison on the isle of St. Mary's and look across to Bryher and Tresco, marveling that even though you can walk between them, they are so utterly different. Be met by your local guide at St. Mary's quay for a short introductory talk about the history of the Isles.

Traces of human life on Scilly stretch back at least 8,000 years, when the islands were one large land-mass that was home to nomadic hunter-gatherers. Their flint tools still sometimes turn up today, on beaches and in fields.

Marvel at the beautiful views before ending up in Star Castle to enjoy a tea or coffee in the 16th Century Castle Dungeon Bar. Star Castle is now a hotel, but it was built as an impregnable fortress back in 1593 and gets its name from the shape of its eight-sided central keep, curtain wall and dry moat. Just to the right of the castle look for a campsite where a footpath branches right and takes you down to Steval Point Battery, which marks the island's most westerly point. On a clear day enjoy fabulous views over to St. Agnes and distant, lonely Bishop's Rock Light house.

Following refreshments explore Hugh Town (the largest settlement on the Island) at your leisure before returning to your ship. Hugh Town is the central hub, with its cluster of shops, banks, churches, post office, cafés, galleries, restaurants and pubs as well as its wonderful museum. It has three lovely beaches in very close proximity: Porthcressa with a children's play area close by; Town Beach, a perfect spot to watch the comings and goings on the Quay; and Porthmellon which also hosts the Sailing Centre.

Stay in Hugh Town for more sightseeing and shopping and return to the pier in your own time or walk back with your guide after refreshments at Star Castle.

This memorable excursion takes you on a marine safari boat trip for the chance to see amazing wildlife and spectacular scenery.

Board the RIB from the beautiful island of St Mary's and cruise around the Isles of Scilly in search of grey Atlantic seals and seabird colonies.

Sightings of puffins, guillemots, razor bills and fulmars may be possible, as well as some of the islands' many shipwreck sites.

On this trip there will be plenty of photo opportunities and the skipper will give a fascinating insight into the natural history of these unique islands

Depart from your ship by local boat and enjoy an hour and 30 minutes boat trip around the eastern Isles, as you sail along the water your skipper will give commentary on the local wildlife and if you are fortunate enough you may even spot glimpses of local birdlife, seals and sea life of the Scillies.

St. Martin's island, Vineyard

Your boat trip ends at St. Martin's; a quiet island which has some of the best beaches in the Scillies, offering some spectacular views. Away from the hustle and bustle of St Mary's, your visit to St. Martins will be relaxed and you can take time to enjoy the scenery.

Today, visit a thriving local business on St. Martins and sample wine and nibbles at the UK's most south westerly vineyard, the owners will take great pleasure in showing you some of the vines and wine making processes. The St. Martin's vineyard was established in 1996 by Val & Graham Thomas - originally as a holiday hobby. The St. Martin's Vineyard and Winery is sited on the south facing slopes of a tenancy farm originally used to produce bulbs and cut flowers by Derek Perkins, Val's father. The first of the vines trialed were white varieties - Reichensteiner and Madeleine Angevine. Now, they produce five varieties, three white, one rose, and one red.

Highertown, North Farm Gallery, local Chapel, Local Church Town, Flower Farm

After your trip to the Vineyard, the owner will escort you a little further into Highertown to enjoy some free time. Visit the North Farm Gallery, local Chapel or make a visit to the local Church town Flower Farm. Ponder what Island life would be like as you view the quaint businesses around you on a backdrop of beautiful cliff's and fine sandy white beaches.

The Isles of Scilly are an archipelago of five inhabited islands and other small rocky islets off Lands End - the most South Westerly point of the British Isles. With a total population of just over two thousand, an exceptionally mild climate, and countless golden sandy beaches, Scilly is a beautiful haven of peace and tranquility loved by visitors and locals alike.

The Isles of Scilly are an archipelago of five inhabited islands and other small rocky islets situated 28 miles from Lands End, the most South Westerly point of the British Isles. With a total population of just over two thousand, an exceptionally mild climate, beautiful flowers and countless white sandy beaches, they are also known for their friendliness, birds, clear turquoise sea and ancient sites and monuments. The Isles of Scilly are a beautiful haven of peace and tranquility loved by visitors and locals alike.

Be met by your local guide at St Mary's quay and enjoy a short introductory talk about the history of the Isles. Traces of human life on Scilly stretch back at least 8,000 years, when the islands were one large land-mass that was home to nomadic hunter-gatherers. Their flint tools still sometimes turn up today, on beaches and in fields.

Star Castle Garrison

Venture off by foot to enjoy a scenic tour of the Garrison on the isle of St Mary's and look across to Bryher and Tresco, marveling that even though you can walk between them, they are so utterly different. Marvel at the beautiful views before ending up in Star Castle to enjoy a tea or coffee in the 16th Century Castle Dungeon Bar. Star Castle is now a hotel, but it was built as an impregnable fortress back in 1593 and gets its name from the shape of its eight-sided central keep, curtain wall and dry moat. Just to the right of the castle you'll see a campsite and just right of this a footpath branches right and takes you down to Steval Point Battery, which marks the island's most westerly point. On a clear day there are fabulous views over to St Agnes and distant, lonely Bishop's Rock Light house.

Hugh Town

There will be an opportunity to explore Hugh Town at leisure, which is the main and largest settlement on the Island, before returning to the ship. Hugh Town is the central hub with its cluster of shops, banks, churches, post office, cafés, galleries, restaurants and pubs as well as the wonderful museum. It has three lovely beaches in very close proximity - Porthcressa with a children's play area close by; Town Beach, a perfect spot to watch the comings and goings on the Quay; and Porthmellon which also hosts the Sailing Centre.

Stay in Hugh Town for more sightseeing and shopping and return to the Quay at your leisure or walk back with your guide after refreshments at Star Castle.

St. Mary's is the largest island in the Isles of Scilly archipelago, and it is from the quayside in St. Mary's harbour that this stunning walking tour commences. Set off through the tiny capital Hugh Town with its small cluster of shops, restaurants and cafes set mere moments from the soft powdery sands and sparkling turquoise waters of Porthcressa Bay. From here the route continues up to Buzza Hill, home to a Bronze age burial chamber and a defensive gun tower. Pause here to soak up the magnificent sweeping views over Hugh Town and across to Samson, Bryher and Tresco before continuing to Peninnis Head, passing the 18^th Century ruins of Peninnis Mill. Venture to the end of the headland and be rewarded with the glorious vista over to the Western Rocks and Bishop Rock Lighthouse, standing tall and proud as the last outpost of the British Isles.

Peninnis Head is the southernmost point of St. Mary's and is characterised by rugged granite outcrops which have eroded naturally over time into rather spectacular and unusual shapes. It also provides fantastic views of Peninnis Lighthouse, perched on the very tip of the headland as well as the island of St. Agnes, Gugh and Annet, the latter which serves as a sanctuary for many species of seabirds.

The entire Isles of Scilly is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the UK's smallest but one of the richest and most diverse. Marvel in the peace and wonder that these isles offer before retracing steps back to Hugh Town, passing the holiday home of former Prime Minister Harold Wilson and enjoying views of Old Quay, a scheduled monument built in 1601. The walk concludes back at the quayside in the bustling working harbour for the tender back to the ship.

Tender ashore to the island of Tresco and be met by your local guide before 30 minutes walking for to Tresco gardens for a guided tour. Tresco is best known for its Abbey Gardens, laid out by the remarkable Augustus Smith - a wealthy merchant banker who purchased the islands from the Duchy of Cornwall in the mid-1830s. Work on the gardens commenced in 1834 on the site of the old Benedictine Abbey.

By building tall wind -breaks, Augustus Smith (a botanist and plant collector) channeled the weather up and over the network of walled enclosures he built around the Priory ruins, and the three terraces he carved from the rocky, south facing slope looking towards St Mary's. In this way he maximized the generous climate that Tresco enjoys thanks to the prevailing effects of the Gulf Stream. The climate is mild, with sunshine hours generally greate r than the UK average, rainfall less, and winter frost and snow unexpected.

Tresco Abbey Garden

Tresco is thought of as a perennial Kew without the glass-shrugging off salt spray and Atlantic gales to host 20,000 exotic plants. Many of those plants would stand no chance on the Cornish mainland, less than 30 miles away. Yet even at the winter equinox more than 300 plants will be in flower. All in all, the garden is home to glorious species from 80 countries, ranging from Brazil to New Zealand and Burma to South Africa. Subsequent generations have continued the development of the Garden, which is today a major attraction of the islands.