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The Daily Insight

How big is St Mary's Island?

Author

Rachel Newton

Updated on February 21, 2026

Mary's. St. Mary's is the Isles of Scilly's largest island (population 1,800) and the gateway to the rest of the islands. Covering an area a little more than 6 square miles, it's still not exactly bustling but with its air and sea links, it's more than likely to be your first port of call when you visit.

Also to know is, how big is St Mary's Scilly?

6.32 mi²

Similarly, how do you get to St Mary's Island? The only way of getting to the islands is by boat. To reach St. Mary's Island, you have take a 20 min ferry ride from the Malpe Beach. Malpe is 4 km from Udupi town and 58 km to the North of Mangalore.

Simply so, how long is the boat trip from St Mary's to Tresco?

From your arrival on St Mary's, it's just a short boat transfer to Tresco. The crossing from Penzance to St. Mary's take around 2hrs and 45 minutes, giving you a unique perspective of some of Cornwall's most iconic coastline.

What is the local name of St Mary's Island near Malpe?

St. Mary's Islands, also known as Coconut Island and Thonsepar, are a set of four small islands in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Malpe in Udupi, Karnataka, India. They are known for their distinctive geological formation of columnar rhyolitic lava (pictured).

Related Question Answers

Do you need a passport to go to Scilly Isles?

Whilst you do not require a passport to travel to the Isles of Scilly some form of identification will be required at the airport and photographic ID is preferred. Passengers are requested to check in 1 hour before their scheduled departure time and the luggage allowance is 15kilos per person.

Can you drive on Scilly Isles?

No, it isn't really possible to bring your car to the Scilly Isles, as all large freight must be craned on and off the Scillonian. You really don't need your car, as the road on St. Martin's is less than a mile long. Perfect for exploring on foot!

Which is the best Scilly Isle to stay on?

The best place to stay on the Isles of Scilly is undoubtedly Star Castle Hotel. The family-run hotel is just a short walk from the centre of St. Mary's and if you are flying in they will arrange a transfer to come and pick you up from the airport.

What is the best time of year to visit the Scilly Isles?

Scilly is particularly pleasant between May and September and the majority of visitors choose this period for their holiday. However, the Easter holidays and October half term on Scilly can be lovely – the perfect destination for an early or late break.

What is there to do on Tresco island?

Top Attractions in Tresco
  • Tresco Abbey Garden & Valhalla Collection. 647 reviews. Sights & Landmarks.
  • Cromwell's Castle. 131 reviews. Sights & Landmarks.
  • Old Blockhouse. 4 reviews. Sights & Landmarks.
  • King Charles's Castle. 4 reviews. Sights & Landmarks.
  • St Nicholas Church. 4 reviews. Boat Tours & Water Sports.
  • Tresco Boat Services.

Is Isles of Scilly worth visiting?

Take your final few hours on the islands to explore St Mary's, the Isles of Scilly's largest island. 1400: While on St Mary's, the Isles of Scilly Museum is worth a visit, detailing the past and present of this amazing archipelago.

Where should I stay in the Isles of Scilly?

Best Places to Stay in Isles of Scilly
  • i. Troytown Farm Campsite.
  • Flying Boat Cottages, Tresco. Tresco, Isles of Scilly, South West England.
  • Hell Bay Hotel. Bryher, Isles of Scilly, South West England.
  • Bryher Campsite.
  • Polreath Guest House.
  • Sea Garden Cottages, Tresco.
  • Star Castle Hotel.
  • St Martin's Campsite.

Which is the largest of the Isles of Scilly?

St. Mary's

Are there puffins on the Scilly Isles?

The Isles of Scilly is one of only a handful of sites in the UK where you can go puffin spotting. They live in burrows between the rocks – in Scilly, their home is on the protected island of Annet and the other uninhabited islands not far from St. Agnes.

How do you get around the Isles of Scilly?

Getting around St. Mary's. One of the simplest pleasures on Scilly is to get out and explore – by foot, by bike, by bus, by taxi, by boat! The easiest way to get about is on foot – there are some lovely, scenic coastal and inland walks (pick up a map from the Tourist Information Centre).

How long is the boat trip from Penzance to Scilly Isles?

Serving the islands for over 40 years The crossing from Penzance to St. Mary's take around 2hrs and 45 minutes, giving you a unique perspective of some of Cornwall's most iconic coastline.

When can you see puffins in Scilly?

The Isles of Scilly is one of only a handful of sites in the UK where you can go puffin spotting. They arrive in mid-April, although early May marks the start of their breeding season. Pairs of puffins usually mate for life although if they are not reunited they can find another partner.

What can you do on the day in Scilly Isles?

Treat yourself to a day to remember: Sail from Penzance or fly from Land's End or Newquay, or book the Fly + Sail ticket. Explore our heritage - Enjoy a guided tour by bus or taxi for a fantastic introduction to St. Mary's or hire yourself a bike or golf buggy.

How much is the ferry from Penzance to Isles of Scilly?

2020 Fares
2020 Scillonian Ferry Penzance to St. Mary´s 2020 Standard Single Adult (16+) from £57.50 Child (2-15) from £30.00 Infant (under 2) From £18.00
2020 Skybus Land's End Plane Land's End to St. Mary's 2020 Standard Single Adult (16+) from £90.50 Child (2-15) from £72.50 Infant (under 2) From £30.25

How do I get to Tresco from London?

Train, travel via Exeter • 9h 29m
  1. Take the train from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids.
  2. Take the train from Exeter St Davids to St Erth.
  3. Travel from St Just Terminus to Tresco.

How do you get to Scilly Isles from Penzance?

Fly + Sail Fly from Land's End Airport on Skybus to St. Mary's (20 mins). Return on Scillonian passenger ferry from St. Mary's Harbour arriving into Penzance Harbour (2hrs 45 minutes) Fly + Sail tickets are available from March – November .

Is Malpe beach open?

The most important thing to know is that malpe beach is closed on . On the other hand, malpe beach remains open for visits on the following open days of the week - and the entrance timings and opening hours on these days are from .

Why is Udupi famous?

Udupi is one of the top tourist attractions in Karnataka. It is notable for the Krishna Temple. It lends its name to the popular Udupi cuisine. It is also known as Lord Parashurama Kshetra, and is famous for Kanakana Kindi.

How do you get to St Mary's Island Malpe?

To reach St. Mary's Island, you have take a 20 min ferry ride from the Malpe Beach. Malpe is 4 km from Udupi town and 58 km to the North of Mangalore. From the Mangalore airport, prepaid taxis are available.

Is St Mary's Island Open?

St Mary's Island, Malpe is another very popular tourist attraction around Udupi and Mangalore. Located off the coast, St Mary's island can be reached by ferry service operated from Malpe harbour. Ferry service opens at about 9 am and closes at 5 pm and per person fee is Rs 100.

What is the best time to visit Mangalore?

September to April are the best months to visit Mangalore, given the pleasant winters. The temperature does not exceed above 30 degrees, and the humidity is also minimal, which makes the weather quite pleasant to explore the various beaches. Summers are too hot, and humidity reaches its highest.

Which is the biggest island in Karnataka?

St. Mary's Islands, also known as Coconut Island and Thonsepar, are a set of four small islands in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Malpe in Udupi, Karnataka, India.

How do you get to St Mary's Island from Bangalore?

From Bangalore there are frequent bus service to Mangalore, almost one bus in every half an hour. From there you can rent taxi to Malpe Beach, there is local bus playing in this route too and from Malpe beach, ferry ride to St Mery Island.

How do you get to Malpe Beach?

Driving from major nearest cities/towns
  1. From Mangaluru to Malpe Beach, the distance is 60 kms and takes about 1 hrs on road. [
  2. From Goa to Malpe Beach, the distance is 300 kms and takes about 6 hrs on road. [
  3. From Bengaluru to Malpe Beach, the distance is 408 kms and takes about 8 hrs on road. [

How far is Malpe beach from Udupi?

6km

What is famous in Udupi for shopping?

City Shopping, Udupi Overview Udupi is also reputed to be a storehouse of traditional clothing and textiles. Kanjeevaram, Dharmavaram and Banaras silk sarees can be found at reasonable rates. Other traditional and modern garments and various types of jewellery are particularly famous among female shoppers.

Does Udupi have an airport?

Udupi does not have an airport. Nearest airport is Bajpe Airport. You can easily get regular trains to Udupi from other major cities of the country. There are regular buses from other major cities of the country to Udupi.

How do you get to St Mary's Island from Hyderabad?

There is no direct connection from Hyderabad to St. Mary's Islands. However, you can take the bus to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, take the walk to Hyderabad airport, fly to Mangalore, then take the travel to St. Mary's Islands.

How did Udupi get its name?

Udupi - Origin of Name. "Udupi" is derived from the word "Udupa" which means Moon in Sanskrit and is associated with the establishment of the ancient Chandramouleshwara temple. Geographically the region is separated from the rest of south interior peninsula by the towering heights of the Western Ghats.

How many islands are there in Karnataka?

Estuary View Resort is an Ayurveda Resort located at on a hill overlooking the Devbagh Island and Kali River at Sadashivgad, Karwar (Karnataka, India). With an area of 1.5 sq km, Anjadiv Islands (Anjadip or Angediva) is the largest of the karwar Panchdiva chain of five Islands.

How can I reach Udupi?

Nearest airport to Udupi is located in Mangalore, which is at a distance of nearly 54 km from here. Udupi is well connected with all major cities on the Konkan Railway line. Buses ply on a regular basis to Udupi from Mangalore, Mysore, and Bangalore.