Useful Facts
Arrival and Departure Information
Helicopter. The Heliport Shuttle Bus meets all helicopter flights. They will bring you directly to the guesthouse and when dropping you off will make an arrangement to collect you for your return journey. The cost for this is £6.00 per person, return.
Heliport Shuttle (01720) 422126.
Skybus. Paulgers Passenger Transport meets all Skybus flights. They will bring you directly to the guesthouse and when dropping you off will make an arrangement to collect you for your return journey. The cost for this is £3.50 per person one way or £6.50 per person, return.
Paulgers Passenger Transport (01720) 423701.
Scillonian. If you are arriving by Scillonian and your luggage is clearly labelled for “Sylina Guesthouse”, it will be delivered by a local carrier Company; “Island Carriers” for a nominal fee of £1.20 per item. This saves waiting on the quay for it to be unloaded. As we are approximately a 40 minute walk from the quay, most people choose to pre-book a taxi. We recommend Jim Johnson of St. Mary's Taxis who charges £5.00.
St. Mary's Taxis (01720) 422555.
Bike Hire
St. Mary's has two bike hire outlets; St. Mary's Bike Hire, 07769 638 506 or Book a Bike on Scilly, contact Andrew Guy, (01720) 422786 or 07887 841 033. www.bookabikeonscilly.com.
Boating
Inter island boating is a big part of any holiday to Scilly. We have St. Mary's Boatmen's Association; www.scillyboating.co.uk where you can visit every island, every day, throughout the main season plus they offer circular trips to see the seals and birds including puffins (April to late July) and the lighthouses. There is no need to book for these trips, just check the boat boards for times and turn up. Alternatively there are several independent operators who carry just 12 passengers which is ideal for a more intimate day out. These trips do need booking but can be done while you are on the island.
Books
We have accumulated a large selection of books over the years which we are happy for you to read and if you haven't finished to take home with you. If you bring books over with you and don't want to carry them home then please add them to our growing collection.
Bus
The community bus service operates from mid April to mid October. Pick up is at the end of our lane (1 minute walk). The fare in to Hugh Town is £1.50 per person. Please note that this is operated by a private individual so Senior Citizen Bus Passes are not accepted.
Cart Hire
For those guests looking for an alternative way of getting around the island (other than walking, bus, taxi or cycling), 2, 4 and 6 seater electric carts (golf buggies) are available for hire on a daily or weekly basis. These could be a practical option for people with limited mobility or just a novel way of sight seeing. For more information or to book please telephone The Scilly Cart Co. (01720) 422121.
Cashpoints
There is just one cashpoint on the islands at Lloyds Bank; there is also a branch of Barclays where you can withdraw cash over the counter during normal banking hours. You are able to get “cash back” at various establishments including the local Co-op store and Douglas the Chemist.
Credit Cards
Credit/debit cards are not widely accepted across the islands so payment will need to be cash or cheque with a cheque guarantee card.
Dress code
Casual dress is perfectly acceptable in the majority of restaurants on the islands. However, when dining in any of the hotel restaurants a smarter dress code is required.
Horse Riding
There is only one horse riding establishment on the islands; St. Mary's Horse Riding Centre, for further information please look at their website www.horsesonscilly.co.uk or contact Claire on (01720) 423855. If you leave a message on the answer phone your call will be returned as soon as possible.
Mobile phone signal
Mobile phone signal on the islands is very "patchy". Some providers eg. T Mobile have no signal here at all. Due to the location of our Guesthouse, we get a very good signal, the best coverage being with Vodafone, O2 and Orange. If you are reliant on your phone whilst on the islands, it would be wise to consult with your service provider, prior to arrival, to establish if you can obtain a signal on the islands.
Penzance Accommodation
We recommend Keigwin House; www.keigwinhouse.co.uk, 01736 363 930 or 07557 057 773 which is owned and run by ex-islanders Fran and Stuart Brint. This is an excellent base if you are travelling to or from the islands by Helicopter, Scillonian or Skybus from Lands End.
Swimming Pool
We are now lucky enough to have year round swimming at Normandy Swimming Pool. This is open to both residents and non residents. For the current timetable please look at www.activescilly.co.uk or for further information please call (01720) 423645.
Taxis
There are several good taxi services on the island, which charge approximately £5.00 for up to 3 people or for four people or more it is £1.50 per person.
DJ Cabs: (01720) 423775
Island Taxis: (01720) 422635
Scilly Cabs: (01720) 422901
St. Mary's Taxis: (01720) 422555
Q Cabs: (01720) 422260
Train Travel
If you are intending to travel by train we advise that you do not book an Apex ticket for your return journey. Your departure from the islands can sometimes be subject to delays due to weather or technical issues. It would be wise to purchase a flexible ticket as Apex tickets are non transferable and non refundable.
Torches
Street lights are only located in the centre of Hugh Town. During the months of early and late season when the evenings get darker earlier it is useful to bring a torch with you if you intend walking back to the guesthouse in the evenings.
Sun
The sun here on the islands can be extremely strong due to the lack of air pollution. Sunburn can occur even on a cloudy day. Whether on land or on the water, cooling sea breezes can disguise the intensity of the suns rays. The use of a high factor sunscreen (ie 30+) is highly recommended.
THIS INFORMATION IS INTENDED AS A GUIDE ONLY, WE TRY TO KEEP IT AS UP TO DATE AS POSSIBLE BUT CAN NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS. YOU MAY WISH TO CONFIRM FARES BEFORE TRAVEL. |
