Cornish Coasts and the Isles of Scilly

A choice between two included excursions is offered during your visit to the Isles of Scilly – please select your place on just one of these excursions. It is not permitted to book both included excursions.

Step on board a local tender boat operated by the St Mary’s Boatmen’s Association to visit the spectacular Tresco Abbey Gardens.

Arrive ashore and walk to the gardens, where you will be free to explore at your own pace. The gardens are home to an astounding 20,000 exotic plants from 80 countries as diverse as Brazil, South Africa and New Zealand. Many species would not withstand the climate on the Cornish mainland, less than 30 miles away, yet even at the winter equinox, more than 300 plants can be found in flower here.

It was Augustus Smith who first built the walled enclosures around the Priory ruins, erecting tall windbreaks to protect the three terraces he carved from the rocky, south-facing slope looking towards St Mary’s. He was a wealthy merchant banker who purchased the islands from the Duchy of Cornwall in the 1830s. Work on the gardens commenced in 1834, incorporating the ruined walls of the old Benedictine Priory.

Today the lush paths which criss-cross the gardens are fringed by cacti, date palms, giant red flame trees, rarities like lobster claw, great white spires of echia, brilliant furcraea, strelitzia and eye-catching pink drifts of pelargonium. Specialist guides will be on hand to answer any questions whilst you enjoy the gardens.

Additional Information

Local tender boats will take you between the ship and Tresco. Getting on and off these boats often involves a steep step. The boats are uncovered and have basic bench-style seating. The times and duration of this excursion may change depending on tides and the local boat schedule. Please attend the destination presentation on board your ship for further details. Walking between 600 and 1500 yards is required from the quayside to the garden. However, a limited shuttle service will be available for those who require it. There will be up to one mile of optional walking at the gardens and you will encounter some uneven surfaces, gradients and steps.

A choice between two included excursions is offered during your visit to the Isles of Scilly – please select your place on just one of these excursions. It is not permitted to book both included excursions.

From your ship, step on board a local boat operated by the St Mary’s Boatmen’s Association. Embark on a boat tour of the coastal scenery of the Scilly Isles and marvel at the wildlife these waters boast.

Your adventure starts as you cruise around the islands, fringed by sandy beaches and lush greenery. The Scillies are a stopover place for many migrating birds in spring and autumn and a wildlife paradise year round. Your sea safari will take you to a seal colony, where you have the chance to observe these blubbering creatures. Throughout the tour, keep your eyes peeled for other wildlife, such as puffins, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, dolphins and basking sharks.

Throughout, your knowledgeable skipper will point out any sightings and share their broad knowledge with you before heading back to shore.

Additional Information

This excursion will take place on an open-air boat with very little or no under-cover seating. Binoculars are recommended and not provided. This excursion does not involve walking, but a good level of mobility is required to embark and move around on the boat. There are no restroom facilities on the boat. The route taken on the day will depend on sea conditions and tides; wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Visit Truro, Cornwall’s only city and the county’s administrative centre. Truro dates back to the 12th century, however, its main growth was with the development of the tin mining industry when elegant Georgian town houses and streets were built by local mine owners and merchants.

After an introduction from your local guide, you will have time to explore Truro at your own pace. The town is dominated by its cathedral, a fine example of Victorian Gothic revival architecture. Perhaps visit inside and admire its Victorian stained-glass windows and decorative interior. Wednesday is market day in Truro, and the lively Farmer’s Market can be found on Lemon Quay, just a short walk from the cathedral. Here you can browse the stalls and perhaps treat yourself to some Cornish delights. At the agreed meeting time, return to your tour vehicle for the drive back to Falmouth.

Additional Information

You will have approximately 90 minutes of free time in Truro. Walking is entirely at your discretion, but this excursion has been graded as moderate on the assumption of a good exploration. Whilst entrance to Truro Cathedral is free, you are encouraged to make a donation. The walking distance between the cathedral and market is approximately 300 yards.

This guided tour introduces you to the port city of Plymouth, rich in maritime heritage and home to the historic Barbican district with its narrow, cobbled streets, holding many tales of passing seafarers. Pilgrim Fathers once began their epic journey to the New World in 1620, starting from Plymouth on the three-masted Mayflower ship.

Your walking tour begins from the Mayflower Steps, where the passengers and crew once embarked on their expedition. Then, you will continue through the Barbican, wandering along the old harbour and into te walled streets, past Elizabethan warehouses and gardens, distinctive shops, art galleries, and cafes. As you stroll through, your guide will provide an insight into some of the areas past – mentioning the fortunate escape from extensive World War Two damage and showing you the well-preserved architecture.

Continue past the Royal Citadel, located at the eastern end of the Hoe Promenade. Built in the 17th century to defend the coastline, this monument is still in use today by the military. As you pass along the Hoe Promenade, you can enjoy the waterside views of Plymouth Sound before you spot the nearby Hoe Park followed by Smeaton’s Tower Lighthouse – a red and white symbol of the city. It was originally built on the Eddystone Rocks in 1759 but was later moved stone by stone to its current location as a tribute to its designer.

After admiring the lighthouse exterior, a short walk will bring you back to the pier for your awaiting ship.

Additional Information

Expect to walk approximately three miles with some cobblestones and slight gradients along the way. This excursion is not recommended for those with mobility limitations.

This scenic excursion explores Dartmoor National Park, an area of rugged yet natural beauty that lies to the north of Plymouth in the very heart of Devon.

Departing from the pier, head towards Tavistock, a town within Dartmoor's western moor and your first destination on this tour. The vibrant and distinct atmosphere of Tavistock is matched with Victorian architecture, independent shops and the historic Pannier Market – granted its Royal Charter over 900 years ago. While here, enjoy some free time to explore before a traditional Devon cream tea at a nearby hotel. Tavistock is celebrated as being the birthplace of the traditional cream tea, dating back to the 11th century.

Standing 1,400 feet above sea level, your drive will head onwards to Princetown. Despite being the highest inhabited town in England, the infamous Dartmoore Convict Prison lies here, built in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars, and still in use today. After a short stop outside this site, your coach journey back towards Plymouth takes you through patchworks of tiny fields and villages; keep an eye out for small herds of wild ponies, which have lived on the moor since the 10th century – an integral part of Dartmoor's unique character and landscape.

Additional Information

There will be essential walking of approximately 500 yards with further walking during your free time at your discretion. This excursion has been graded based on the assumption of a good exploration during your free time in Tavistock. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Transforming a barren china clay pit into an inventive use, the Eden Project emerged with its two distinctive transparent ‘biomes’. This worldwide attraction was created in 2001 from a derelict industrial landscape. Now, the site is home to high-tech honeycomb plastic domes, forming the world’s largest greenhouses. These shelter a diversity of plants from across the globe, ranging from the depths of Malaysian rainforests, to the warm Mediterranean and locally from Britain.

After a coach journey from the ship, your independent visit will take you to view this flora and fauna including giant, tropical water lilies and the surprisingly pungent Titan arum – also known as the ‘corpse flower’. The entire site spans 15 hectares, dotted with outdoor trails through gardens and many exhibits on crop cultivation, the flowerless garden, plant myths, medicine and the industry as a whole.

When you enter the Visitor’s Centre, you’ll also find information on the construction and development of the Eden Project’s creation journey and the fragile yet fundamental relationship between people and plants.

Additional Information

The coach journey to and from the Eden Project will take approximately 75 minutes in each direction. You will have approximately four-and-a-half hours to explore the site at your leisure. The venue covers a large area and considerable walking is required to appreciate it fully. A park-and-ride service runs between the coach park and the Visitors' Centre, and a ‘land train’ or easy zig-zag pathways lead from there to the biomes. (There is usually a queue for the land train). The site is wheelchair-friendly with ramps provided. We recommend that you wear walking shoes plus loose, layered clothing and a raincoat as it’s hot and humid inside the biomes. Refreshments are not included on this excursion, but you can purchase food and drink or bring a packed lunch from the ship.

Visit Cotehele House, one of England’s best-preserved medieval houses, set in wonderful Cornish Gardens.

Departing from Plymouth, travel across the Tamar bridge and head inland, through the wooded Tamar Valley, to Cotehele House. Built largely between 1485 and 1539, Cotehele remained in the Edgcumbe family for 600 years, during which time the building was mostly unmodified, preserving its tranquil Tudor character.

During your visit you will see the collection of needlework, tapestries, weaponry and carved 17th-century furniture. There is also a fine, arch-braced Hall, with its bare lime-ash floor, which has a rare set of folding mid-18th-century chairs, still with their original leather. The chapel holds the earliest domestic clock in England, dating from 1485 and still in its original position.

Take some time to appreciate the Cornish Gardens at leisure before returning to your tour vehicle and crossing over the River Tamar to Plymouth. Before returning to your ship, enjoy a short drive through the city while your guide points out the highlights. The modern centre is the result of extensive rebuilding after significant damage suffered during World War Two.

Additional Information

Expect to walk approximately half a mile during this excursion with further walking at your discretion. Your tour inside the house will involve negotiating multiple steps, some of which are steep. This excursion is not recommended for guests with mobility limitations. There is no electricity within the house, therefore lighting is by natural daylight, so lighting levels are often low. National Trust members can receive a credit for the cost of entrance to Cotehele House. This will be applied onboard your ship. Please contact the Explore Ashore team on board and bring your membership card with you on this excursion.

Hop on your sightseeing boat at the Plymouth Landing Stage, nearby the historic Barbican area, rich in seafaring heritage. Set sail beyond Plymouth Sound to the tranquil River Yealm, taking in the scenery and wildlife of the Devon coast. Nestled within an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’, the Yealm Estuary is a European Special Area of Conservation and lies within the South Devon Heritage Coast.

Returning towards Plymouth, you will sail past Drakes Island and take in the views of Mount Edgcumbe on the southeast coast of Cornwall. Heading towards the River Tamar, then drift into one of Western Europe’s largest Naval Dockyards where warships and nuclear submarines are based. During your cruise, a cup of tea and a scone with cream and jam will be served and a running commentary will be provided via the ship's PA system. Finally, return to the Barbican where you can continue your exploration independently or return to the ship by tender.

Additional Information

Your cruise is on board a sightseeing vessel with a large inside area with seating, w/c facilities and a bar selling drinks and snacks. There is an outside viewing area on the upper deck which is accessed via approximately ten steps which have a handrail. Embarkation and disembarkation are via a gangway which may be on a gradient. Whilst essential walking is very limited during this excursion, a good level of mobility is recommended to access and move around the vessel.

Take a walk around the Garrison on St Marys to see the Elizabethan defences and Star Castle Hotel, as well as the far-reaching view across to the outer islands and the famous Bishop Rock Lighthouse. The Isles of Scilly are comprised of just five inhabited islands within a windswept archipelago of numerous isolated rocky islets situated 28 miles from Land’s End, the most south-westerly point of the British Isles.

St Mary’s, the most populous island, is home to Hugh Town, the islands’ tiny capital, where a local guide will entertain and inform you about the rich history of one of the most impressive coastal defence systems in England, plus observations and insights on local wildlife and island life.

Perched high on a hill above Hugh Town, the Garrison is a well-preserved coastal fort with the Elizabethan-era Star Castle (now a hotel) at its centre. The main fortifications date from the 17th Century with a fascinating history spanning over 350 years, from providing a Royalist refuge in the English Civil War to being at the forefront of the Battle of the Atlantic in World War Two. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee at the Star Castle Hotel before returning to your ship.

Additional Information

Walking of approximately one-and-a-half miles will be required with some uneven paths and steep gradients. A high level of physical mobility is required to participate.

St Mary’s, the most populous island, is home to Hugh Town, the islands’ tiny capital, where a local guide will entertain and inform you about the rich history of one of the most impressive coastal defence systems in England, plus observations and insights on local wildlife and island life.

Your walk across St Mary’s touches on thousands of years of human inhabitation in the islands and their key role in England’s defence since Elizabethan times. The walk comes through the main part of Hugh Town, up over Buzza Hill where you can see a wonderful view across the archipelago.

From there continue down into the Old Town to visit the Old Town Church, where you can see the grave of Harold Wilson and look inside the medieval church. Continue across Old Town Bay, and then through Lower Moors to the west side of the island, with its picturesque harbour and pilot gig racing history.

Finally, return to the quay for the tender journey back to your ship.

Additional Information

Walking of approximately two-and-a-half miles will be required with some uneven paths and steep gradients. A high level of physical mobility is required to participate.

Discover the rugged landscape and the scenic waters of the Helford River by boat, with tree covered inland creeks and a wide range of bird species flying overhead. Departing the ship, take a short coach transfer to the Princes of Wales Pier to board your river cruise boat.

Leaving Falmouth Harbour, pass Falmouth Docks, Pendennis and St Mawes Castles and St Anthony’s Lighthouse. Then enter the Helford River: a popular, large estuary renowned for its scenery and marine ecology. By boat, explore the river and discover the inland creeks. The steep sides of the tree-covered creeks rise sharply from the water whilst the mud banks provide habitats for a wide range of bird species, including little egrets, grey herons, cormorants and various divers, grebes and ducks. Other points of interest on the cruise include Trebah beach (embarkation point for American troops on D Day), Manderley House (famed by the author Daphne Du Maurier, in her novel ‘Rebecca’), Helford Passage and Village, and a view of Daphne Du Maurier’s Frenchman’s Creek.

Afterwards, return to Falmouth Harbour and take the short coach transfer back to the ship.

Additional Information

The sightseeing boat has both inside and outside seating. Minimal walking is required but depending on the tide levels on the day, there may be up to 25 steps to board the boat. These steps can be slippery when wet and have no handrail. The Explore Ashore team on board can provide additional information regarding the expected boarding process on the day. If the weather conditions are not suitable for cruising on the Helford River, you will instead enjoy a cruise on the River Fal.

Your trip begins with a short drive to Trebah Gardens, a 26-acre sub-tropical Cornish ravine garden, which is rated among the 80 finest gardens in the world and one of Cornwall's top five. This floral paradise is home to a unique collection of rare and exotic plants, trees and shrubs.

Enjoy a tour with an expert guide and marvel at the water gardens complete with koi carp, the one-hundred-year-old tree ferns and 18-feet giant rhubarb. The paths through the gardens lead down to a private and secluded beach on the Helford River. Following your tour of the gardens, you may spend some free time exploring them on your own. Returning to your coach, enjoy a scenic drive back to Falmouth along the Cornish coast.

Head towards Pendennis Castle, where you pause for photos. With its coastal setting, Pendennis offers panoramic views of Falmouth, St Mawes and the Fal Estuary. From here it is just a short journey back to your ship.

Additional Information

Trebah is a ravine garden, so there are steep sections on some paths and about 30 steps. The total walking distance covers approximately one mile, and we do not recommend this tour for those with limited mobility.

Visit St Ives, with its narrow winding streets, harbour and sandy beaches. The town has long been a haven for artists and is now home to an outpost of the world-famous Tate Gallery. This excursion provides an opportunity to explore its treasures and understand why St Ives is known as the jewel in Cornwall’s crown.

Departing from Falmouth, pass through Cornish countryside and a patchwork of fields and rolling hills. Your journey will take you via the tin mining route, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site where relics of the mining era can still be seen along the roads. Reach the northern coast of Cornwall, with its wide, sandy bays, and arrive in the town of St Ives. The town first thrived as a bustling port, with around 400 boats pilchard fishing during the mid-19th century. Additionally, sailing ships were involved in importing coal and exporting tin, copper, stone, and fish.

Since the arrival of the railways in the late 1800s, St Ives grew into a popular holiday destination, famous for its beaches and quintessentially English atmosphere. After an introduction from your guide, you will have time to stroll through this colourful and quaint town with flower bedecked granite cottages, cobbled streets and narrow alleyways - all surrounding a sheltered harbour and golden beach. There are numerous craft shops and galleries in the town, as well as walking routes through the town or along the beach. At the designated meeting time, return to your coach for the drive back to Falmouth.

Additional Information

This excursion involves a drive of approximately one-and-a-quarter hours in each direction, with around two hours to spend in St Ives. Walking is entirely at your discretion, but a moderate amount will be required for a good exploration. Refreshments or venue entrances are not included.

Head away from Falmouth on a scenic journey into an area of Cornwall which you may recognise from Rosamunde Pilcher’s romantic novels and film adaptations.

Drive past the wide sweep of Mounts Bay to the village of Marazion, from where you can see the granite tidal island of St Michael’s Mount, crowned by its historic castle. Journey back through the countryside, through the harbour town of Penzance, on to Land’s End, the most westerly point of mainland Britain. Admire the dramatic scenery where cliffs plunge into the sea and the surf pounds the shore. The English Channel lies to the east and to the west is the Celtic Sea.

After taking in the view, continue your tour inland along the tin mining route, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Relics of the mining industry, such as chimney stacks and derelict engine houses, can still be seen along the winding roads, which are fringed by heather and green fields and dotted with historic stone cottages.

Then head back to Falmouth and your ship.

Additional Information

There will be walking of approximately half a mile to fully explore Lands End, but much of this is at your discretion.

Cornwall is home to many world-famous gardens and this tour takes you to visit one of the most intriguing: The Lost Gardens of Heligan, a restored Victorian garden.

Leave Falmouth behind and travel through the Cornish countryside, passing the cathedral city of Truro and the town of St Austell before arriving at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, where you will have free time to explore the different areas of the garden and enjoy the lush vegetation. The gardens at Heligan Manor were one of the glories of Victorian Cornwall, almost completely self-sufficient, they included a number of farms, quarries, woods, brickworks, a flour mill, sawmill, brewery, and productive orchards and kitchen gardens.

However, after World War One the gardens fell into disuse and gradually became lost in the overgrowth, where they would remain for over 70 years. The Lost Gardens of Heligan project, Europe's largest garden restoration, has returned the gardens to their former glory and has been documented both in books and on national television. Over 200 acres of working Victorian gardens and pleasure grounds, together with a complex of walled gardens are the result of ten years of restoration. Heligan is a unique time capsule, a testament to the Victorian vision and ingenuity which first created this subtropical paradise.

Enjoy a walk in the jungle with its dense vegetation and exotic plants, take a stroll in the pleasure grounds of The Northern gardens, go in search of the Mud Maid, Grey Lady and Giant’s Head sculptures hidden within the woodlands and admire the colourful displays within the Flower Gardens. After your visit you will return directly to the ship at Falmouth.

Additional Information

The gardens cover an area of approximately 200 acres, and you will have around two-and-a-half hours to explore at your own pace. The amount of walking is at your own discretion. The gradients of the pathways to some areas are steep and involve uneven ground, wooden boardwalks and steps.