Isles of Scilly Travel
Check the St Mary’s departure for your date, passenger category, vehicle space and ticket conditions.
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St Mary’s to Penzance Ferry Route Guide
Start in St Mary’s and plan the crossing to Penzance: choose the departure terminal, compare the dated sailing and arrange the connection after landing. Use the reverse guide for the return journey.
Check the dated return sailingIsles of Scilly TravelConfirm operator and passenger category
Route guide
Travel from St Mary’s to Penzance
This page covers the St Mary’s to Penzance direction. Check the departure from St Mary’s specifically: the return timetable, vessel and intermediate calls can differ from those in the opposite direction.
Departing St Mary’s. Arrival is at Hugh Town, from where much of the settlement is walkable. Local transport and inter-island boats connect with beaches and the other inhabited islands.
On arrival in Penzance. Use the terminal named on the confirmation. Ports with several quays, marinas or ferry companies can have different boarding points even when the destination name is the same.
Use the dated timetable for the departure and arrival time. Do not calculate this direction from the outward crossing time: daylight, overnight and multi-stop sailings can have different durations.
Corridor context. The Penzance to St Mary’s ferry is the sea link from mainland Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly. It is currently available through the Direct Ferries booking inventory and was rechecked for EUFerry on 20 September 2026. Because ferry schedules are dynamic, the live booking results should always take priority over a typical frequency quoted in a guide.
For the opposite direction and the original crossing details, see Penzance → St Mary’s.
Ferry companies
Ferry operator for St Mary’s–Penzance
Compare the exact sailing and the conditions for your passenger and vehicle category.
Ports & terminals
St Mary’s departure and Penzance arrival
St Mary’s
Arrival is at Hugh Town, from where much of the settlement is walkable. Local transport and inter-island boats connect with beaches and the other inhabited islands.
Read the St Mary’s port guide →Penzance
Use the terminal named on the confirmation. Ports with several quays, marinas or ferry companies can have different boarding points even when the destination name is the same.
Read the Penzance port guide →On the crossing
Prepare for the vessel and journey booked
Facilities depend on the vessel assigned to the departure. Treat the booking result and operator confirmation as the source for the exact ship and onboard services.
Seating and accommodation
Use the dated timetable for the departure and arrival time. Do not calculate this direction from the outward crossing time: daylight, overnight and multi-stop sailings can have different durations.
What to keep with you
Keep tickets, medicines, weatherproof layers and essentials with you. On a vehicle ferry, access to the garage is usually restricted once the ship is at sea. Check whether the selected ticket includes a seat, cabin or only passage.
Vehicles, bicycles and assistance
Check the passenger and vehicle categories for the selected operator and vessel. Foot-passenger access, car space, bicycle arrangements, luggage and assistance may differ between services on the same corridor.
Before departure
Tickets, identification and check-in
Booking confirmation
Keep the final confirmation accessible and check whether a QR code, printed ticket or exchange at the terminal is required. The supplier’s instructions override general guidance.
Identification
Carry the identification and travel documents required for the countries and territories in your itinerary. Domestic routes can still have operator identification rules.
Arrival time
Vehicle check-in often closes earlier than foot-passenger check-in. Use the time on the ticket and allow extra margin for traffic, parking or terminal access.
Onward travel
On arrival in Penzance
Use the terminal named on the confirmation. Ports with several quays, marinas or ferry companies can have different boarding points even when the destination name is the same.
Use the terminal named on the confirmation. Ports with several quays, marinas or ferry companies can have different boarding points even when the destination name is the same.
Compare options
Return travel and alternatives
For the return, use the Penzance to St Mary’s guide. Check both directions before choosing accommodation. If no sailing appears, use the official timetable to distinguish a sold-out departure, a seasonal service and an operator absent from the comparison search.
Connect the St Mary’s to Penzance crossing with your land journey
Build the itinerary in sailing order: reach the departure terminal at St Mary’s, complete ferry check-in, then plan the transfer from the arrival terminal at Penzance. Compare that full sequence with the route in the booking result; a place name alone does not identify the quay or the passenger entrance.
Plan the two ends of the crossing: St Mary’s departure and local travel guide · Penzance arrival and local travel guide.
For the return, the journey starts at Penzance. Use the Penzance to St Mary’s guide to check that departure separately; the last useful connection and the terminal approach at Penzance may differ from the outward trip.
Map orientation: St Mary’s area in Google Maps · Penzance area in Google Maps.
The map searches show the named places. Use the terminal address and reporting instructions on your operator confirmation for navigation to check-in.
Frequently asked questions
St Mary’s to Penzance ferry FAQs
Where does the St Mary’s to Penzance ferry leave?
Arrival is at Hugh Town, from where much of the settlement is walkable. Local transport and inter-island boats connect with beaches and the other inhabited islands.
How long is the crossing?
The planning guide is Check the dated return sailing. Confirm the departure and arrival shown for the exact date, since vessel assignments and intermediate stops can change.
Which operator should I check?
Isles of Scilly Travel. This page covers the St Mary’s to Penzance direction. Check the departure from St Mary’s specifically: the return timetable, vessel and intermediate calls can differ from those in the opposite direction.
Can I take a vehicle or bicycle?
Check the passenger and vehicle categories for the selected operator and vessel. Foot-passenger access, car space, bicycle arrangements, luggage and assistance may differ between services on the same corridor.
How do I arrange my return?
Check the Penzance to St Mary’s timetable before booking the outward journey. A return may use a different vessel, schedule or intermediate-stop pattern.
What if the route is not in the comparison form?
Use the official operator timetable and booking link on this page. Some local routes and passenger categories are not sold through the comparison provider; a blank result alone does not establish that the route has closed.
What should I plan after arrival?
Use the terminal named on the confirmation. Ports with several quays, marinas or ferry companies can have different boarding points even when the destination name is the same.
Compare live sailings
Check Prices & AvailabilityPlan your St Mary’s to Penzance crossing
Search the exact date, passengers and vehicle details, then verify the route and operator before booking.