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I appreciated our leader's efforts to show us as wide a range of plants and ecosystems as possible.
J.S. Cumbria
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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The Wild Flowers & Gardens of the Isles of Scilly
Tour Code: GBR23An 8-day tour to discover the wild flowers and gardens of the Isles of Scilly.
8 days
from
£1,695 (Inc ferry)
£1,695 (Inc ferry)
Land only price
from
£1,575
£1,575
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
The Isles of Scilly are a world apart, an island paradise with sparkling turquoise seas and deserted white sandy beaches lapped by gentle tides under a cloudless sky. Everywhere is within walking distance or just a short boat ride away. Small fields with high hedges are awash with wild flowers and even the stone walls are colonised by an abundance of interesting plants. The famous exotic flora of the islands owes much to the Tresco Abbey Garden, the once flourishing cut flower industry, and their escapes, as well as the benign climate and the warming effect of the Gulf Stream. However, the Isles of Scilly have a unique flora in their own right with plants of a Lusitanian and Mediterranean origin. Orange Bird’s-foot (Ornithopus pinnatus), Least Adder’s-tongue Fern (Ophioglossum lusitanicum) and Dwarf Pansy (Viola kitaibeliana) do not occur on mainland Britain. Others such as Small-flowered Catchfly (Silene gallica), Four-leaved Allseed (Polycarpon tetraphyllum), and Small-flowered Tree-mallow (Lavetera cretica) are found elsewhere but are never as abundant as they are in Scilly. This tour will explore all five of the inhabited islands and admire the vast range of flora they have to offer, both within Tresco Gardens and in the wild.
- Stunning island scenery
- Outstanding flora containing many rare species
- Leisurely paced tour visiting all five inhabited islands by boat
- World-famous Tresco Abbey Gardens with its collection of exotic tropical plants
- Grey Seals
- Abundant birdlife including chance of rare migrants
- Unique Scillonian way of life
- Led by expert naturalist guide
Grading
Day walks of varying duration, (all of which are optional).
NULL
DETAILED INFORMATION
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Meet at Penzance; sail to St Mary's
Day 2/7
Natural history excursions on St Mary's, St Agnes, Bryher, Tresco and St Martin's
Day 8
Morning excursion before afternoon return to Penzance
What's Included?
- Ferries
- Accommodation: Comfortable guest house, all rooms with private facilities.
- Food:
Breakfast included in holiday price only; allow approximately £30 per day for lunches and evening meals.
Reviews
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Dawn was an excellent leader. Very good at identifying plants and giving both the English and Latin names, and teaching us the distinctive characteristics. She planned itinerary well and arranged boats and meals.
C.S. Warwickshire -
Accommodation was very convenient and comfortable. Our guide was extremely likeable and helpful with an excellent depth of knowledge.
E.R. Surrey -
Dawn really planned extremely well for the botanical experiences and we did get the opportunity to do other things too so the holiday provided a good balance. Thank you to Dawn and all the other members of the group.
C.F. Kent
Dates & Prices
2025
Departures
Availability
Cost
Tue 6th May – Tue 13th May
FULL
£1,695
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,575
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£345
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Andrew Cleave
Tour Leader: Andrew Cleave
Having taken early retirement from his job teaching and running an Environmental Education Centre a few years ago, Andrew is now able to concentrate on writing, photography, lecturing and tour leading. His published works, numbering over 30 titles so far, cover a range of natural history and environmental subjects, and include field guides to Trees, Wild Flowers, Seashore Life and Birds, Biology Revision Guides and numerous articles in magazines and journals. Andrew is a frequent lecturer to National Trust and RSPB groups, and has also run courses on dormouse conservation and ecology. He is a committee member of the Lundy Field Society and is presently involved with a survey of the island's flora. He has travelled extensively, especially in Europe, and led tours for Naturetrek in various parts of the Mediterranean region and Galapagos. Andrew was appointed MBE in 1995 for services to Environmental Education.
2026
Departures
Availability
Cost
Tue 5th May – Tue 12th May
FULL
£1,795
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,575
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£295
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
