Home > What's on Scilly ... a guide from the official Isles of Scilly Tourism website > Sites of Interest ... from the Official Tourism Website

The Garrison, St. Mary's ... is an internationally important site due to the fact that many of its features and ancillary structures have not been significantly altered since they were constructed.This outstanding coastal fortification had its origins in the late 16th century when a star-shaped castle was constructed on a pronounced promontory. The defences were strengthened in 1601 with the addition of a cross wall fortified by integral gun batteries. In about 1650 the promontory was encircled by a Civil War earthen breastwork enhanced by nineteen gun batteries. During the mid 18th century an impressive curtain wall – strengthened by substantial gun batteries – replaced the Civil War defences
Porth Hellick Down Burial Chamber, St. Mary's ... a large and imposing Scillonian Bronze Age entrance grave, with kerb, inner passage and burial chamber all clearly visible.
Bant's Carn Burial Chamber and
Harry's Walls, St. Mary's ... an unfinished artillery fort, built above St Mary's Pool harbour in 1552-53.
Innisidgen Lower and Upper Burial Chambers, St. Mary's ... two Bronze Age communal burial cairns of Scillonian type, with fine views. The upper cairn is the best preserved on the islands.
Cromwell's Castle, Tresco... standing on a rocky promontory guarding the lovely anchorage between Bryher and Tresco, this round tower is one of the few surviving Cromwellian fortifications in
Old Blockhouse, Tresco ... substantial remains of a small 16th-century gun tower protecting Old Grimsby harbour, vigorously defended during the Civil War.
King Charles' Castle, Tresco ...the ruins of a mid 16th-century coastal artillery fort, later garrisoned - hence the name - by Civil War Royalists. Reached from New Grimsby by footpath.
The Maze ... known by some as the ‘Game of Troy’, on the west side of Castella Down is a circular maze of rounded beach stones, deserted on the springy turf. Rebuilt in 1988, it is said to have been constructed by a lighthouse keeper, centuries ago!
Bishop Rock Lighthouse ...the Bishop Rock Lighthouse, is the tallest lighthouse in the
Don’t miss the iconic 18th and 19th century cottages on the now uninhabited islands of Samson and Tean. Recent conservation work funded by the Isles of Scilly AONB Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) and English Heritage means that these buildings are now more easily accessed and understood by visitors. The cottages are managed by the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust.
· In 1651 the
· October 22nd 1707: four naval vessels under the command of Sir Cloudesley Shovell struck the Western Rocks with the loss of around 2000 men. The tragedy prompted Parliament to offer up to £20,000 to solve the longitude problem, the successful resolution of which by John Harrison changed the face of international sea navigation.
· March-June 1857: George Eliot completed Mr Gilfil’s Love Story during her stay at the post office on St Mary’s, accompanied by her common-law partner, the philosopher George Henry Lewes
· 1860: Alfred Lord Tennyson, poet laureate, visited Tregarthen’s Hotel on St Mary’s where he allegedly composed Enoch Arden
· 1875: German liner Schiller wrecked with the loss of more than 300 passengers. The rescue efforts of Scillonians forged a bond between the