Great Bay

Top choice


On the remote north side of the island, this large expanse of sand is aptly named – it's great indeed, both in size and scenery. It feels wonderfully unspoilt, and the quality of the water is incredible. At low tide it joins up with its neighbour Little Bay, and from the western end you can cross to White Island.

Along the cliffs from Great Bay is the island's famous red-and-white-striped Day Mark, a navigation aid dating to 1683.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Scilly Flowers

0.34 MILES

For many years, in the days before tourism, flower-growing and fishing were the industries that sustained life on this outlying island. Based at…

2. Lawrence's Bay

0.39 MILES

A huge, south-facing curve of soft sand, not far from the island's main facilities.

4. St Martin's Vineyard

0.66 MILES

The UK's smallest and most southwesterly vineyard produces its own range of white wines. Tours are conducted by owners Val and Graham Thomas.

5. Par Beach

0.69 MILES

This beach is nearest to St Martin's main drag, so it's usually the busiest – but on the upside, it's the only place on the island where you can hire…

6. Perpitch

1 MILES

This horseshoe cove is the one to pick if you want to wild swim: if you're lucky, you'll have it pretty much to yourself.

7. Tresco Abbey Garden

2.41 MILES

Tresco's key attraction – and one of Scilly's must-see gems – is this subtropical estate, laid out in 1834 on the site of a 12th-century Benedictine…

8. Watermill Cove

2.44 MILES

There's not much space at this minuscule cove, but it's a good destination if you're planning on sunbathing in solitude. A minor road leads fairly close…