Key Facts

• Location: Isles of Scilly
• Size: 38 hectares
• Terrain: Sandy paths; two small hills
• Access: Inter-island ferry from St Mary’s
• Height gain: 130 metres
• Map: OS Explorer 101
• Starting point: Bar Point, north east of island; Grid ref. SV 879 132

Samson walk summary

The circular walk around Samson offers a blissful walk and plenty of opportunity to re-imagine the lives of islanders of the past as you explore the haunting ruins of their homes and farms. On most days you’ll see few other people and can enjoy the soft white sands, shallow, clear water and silence. Explore Samson’s Neolithic sites, walk up North and South hills for amazing views of the Scilly Isles, and wild swim at Bar Point to finish the walk perfectly.

Samson walking route

For the free-range coastal route, start at Bar Point, the main landing beach. Head S on the beach for about 400m, find the footpath on the bank and reach the neck of the island and the ruins between East and West Porth. Drop down onto the foreshore and rock-hop along the high-water mark to reach the S tip of Samson, after 1.4km. Just after Tarbarrel Rock leave the foreshore for the faint path along the grassy bank and round Shag Point before returning to the foreshore at West Porth. Follow the rocky foreshore to reach Samson’s N tip with views across to Bryher. Walk around Ballard Point to return to Bar Point. The various inland walks to the ancient burial sites of North Hill and South Hill, along with the ruined buildings are illustrated on the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust’s information board a short walk inland from Bar Point.

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