Getting to Hell Bay
Hell Bay may have a sense of being at the very edge of England, but getting here is surprisingly easy, by helicopter, plane or sea…
As you travel in ever-smaller conveyances, you feel your cares diminish, until you arrive at a place where life is integrated with landscape.
– The Standard
By Helicopter
Penzance Helicopters offer a truly unique journey to the islands – as well as the quickest and most direct route to Bryher.
Fly from Penzance Heliport – conveniently located just off the A30 and a mile from the railway – and choose to fly to either our neighbouring island of Tresco, or St Mary’s. All passengers have a 20kg luggage allowance, and dogs are welcome.
Take the shuttle to the quay (complimentary on Tresco; chargeable on St Mary’s) then the next scheduled boat to Bryher (or contact Tresco Boats in advance for a ‘special’ at a time to suit you). Provided you’ve let us know your travel plans in advance, we’ll be there to meet you off the boat and take you on the last half a mile of your journey to the hotel.
By Plane
Skybus flies to the neighbouring island of St Mary’s from Land’s End and Newquay Airports throughout the year, and Exeter Airport in the summer season.
The journey takes 20 minutes from Land’s End Airport, 30 minutes from Newquay, and from Exeter it’s an hour. All passengers have a 15kg luggage allowance, and dogs are welcome onboard Skybus.
Take the shuttle to the quay then the next scheduled boat to Bryher (or contact Tresco Boats in advance for a ‘special’ at a time to suit you). Provided you’ve let us know your travel plans in advance, we’ll be there to meet you off the boat and take you on the last half a mile of your journey to the hotel.
By Sea
The Scillonian ferry sails from Penzance to St Mary’s in around 2hrs and 45 minutes, granting a unique perspective of some of Cornwall’s most iconic coastline.
You’ll immediately start slowing to the pace of island life, and it’s not unusual to spot pods of dolphins, seabirds or even basking sharks on route. All passengers have a 25kg luggage allowance, and dogs are welcome onboard.
On arrival at St Mary’s, board our inter-island ferry the Firethorn and Bryher is just half an hour away. Ensure all your bags are labelled with green Bryher labels (available on Penzance Quay) and they will be transferred for you. Provided you’ve let us know your travel plans in advance, we’ll be there to meet you off the boat and take you on the last half a mile of your journey to the hotel.
Travel FAQs
How do I get to Hell Bay Hotel?
The swiftest way to reach the island is to fly direct to Tresco with Penzance Helicopters. From Tresco, it’s just a short boat crossing to Bryher (around 5 minutes!), and our team will be there to meet you on arrival to take you to the hotel.
Alternatively, Penzance Helicopters also serves St Mary’s. You can also travel by Skybus from Land’s End, Newquay or Exeter, or sail aboard the Scillonian III from Penzance to St Mary’s, before a short onward boat transfer to Bryher.
However you choose to travel, please let us know your travel plans in advance so we can be there to meet you off the boat and take you the last half mile of your journey to the hotel.
I have limited mobility. Will this impact my travel to Hell Bay?
We do everything we can to make Hell Bay Hotel welcoming and accessible for guests with mobility difficulties, and we are always happy to talk through the practicalities of your journey before you travel.
Please be aware that all routes to Hell Bay Hotel – whether by helicopter, plane or ship – involve a short boat transfer to Bryher. Depending on the tide and quay being used, this may include navigating steep quay steps and stepping on and off boats.
Our boat crews are always very happy to assist, but for safety reasons they are unable to physically carry passengers on or off boats.
For guests with very limited mobility, we recommend planning your arrival and departure around high tide wherever possible. This usually reduces the number of quay steps to navigate and means you are more likely to use Bryher’s high-tide Church Quay, which is solid concrete and avoids the need to walk across soft sand.
Once you arrive on Bryher, we will meet you and transfer you the final half-mile or so to the hotel, provided we have your travel plans and any accessibility requirements in advance. This transfer is by 4×4 vehicle, with portable steps available to make getting in and out easier.
If you have any specific mobility requirements, please let us know before you travel so we can make the most suitable arrangements.
Please note that, once on the island, there is no public transport between the hotel and Bryher’s other amenities. Our Porter team will always do their best to help with transport where they can, but their main role is to assist guests on arrival and departure.
If you would like to talk through any aspect of your journey or stay, please contact the Island Office on +44 (0)1720 422947 or email us. We will be very happy to help you plan ahead.
What happens if there is disruption to my travel to or from Bryher?
The Isles of Scilly are well served by a reliable network of air and sea links. However, we are an offshore destination, and travel can occasionally be affected by adverse weather or other operational factors.
We strongly recommend that all guests take out suitable travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances, including delays and cancellations caused by travel disruption. Unfortunately, we are unable to advise on or recommend specific travel insurance policies, but you should ensure your cover includes domestic travel disruption, including delays or cancellations caused by weather.
Because of our offshore location and the possibility of disruption, we also strongly suggest leaving plenty of time between your return from the islands and any important or time-sensitive commitments.
Travel providers will issue advisories when disruption is expected. These may be shared in advance or on the day of travel. For the latest updates, please see the Isles of Scilly Travel website (for Skybus and Scillonian) or Penzance Helicopters website.
Please note that we do not receive additional information beyond what is provided by the travel operators.
In the event of disruption, your travel provider will do their best to get you to your destination as soon as possible. This may involve using a different mode of transport from the one you originally booked, as they will prioritise the earliest suitable onward travel.
As your accommodation provider, we are unable to make alternative travel arrangements on your behalf. This is the responsibility of your travel provider, and we would always recommend following their advice, as they have access to the latest operational information and available options.
Of course, we will always do our best to help and support you where we can. However, we cannot be held liable for any additional costs, loss or damage resulting from travel delays or cancellations, which is why we strongly recommend that all guests have appropriate travel insurance in place before travelling.