IOS-Walk
Tresco walking route
Key Facts
- Location: Tresco, Scilly Isles
- Terrain: Easy to follow coastal path; mixed grass, sand, rock
- Access: Ferry
- Map: OS Explorer 101 Isles of Scilly
- Starting point: Carn Near Quay
Tresco walk summary
The circular walk around the coast path of Tresco starts at Carn Near Quay. The easy estate ‘road’ through New Grimsby soon turns into a narrower, bracken-covered path to Cromwell’s Castle on the boulder-strewn shore before ascending to the ruins of King Charles’ Castle. From here the views are extensive – reaching Land’s End to the east and Bishops Rock Lighthouse to the west with all of the islands in between.
The route then climbs Gun Hill in the north of the island and crosses the heather-clad moor via the sea-cave at Piper’s Hole to reach the delightful, castaway-café of Ruin Beach. After refreshments the grassy path south follows the bone-white beaches to reach the dune-backed Pentle Bay, named in the top ‘Under-the-Radar’ beaches by the Wall Street Journal.
The route back to Carn Quay affords plentiful views of Abbey House and, if time permits, many options for a detour to visit the world-renowned sub-tropical garden and wildlife-rich Abbey Pool. Download our free route and GPS (from left hand bar).
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