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4/5 Paws
Take your dog on an island escape and stay at this elegant townhouse on St Mary’s – the largest of the inhabited islands that form part of the Scillies archipelago. St Mary’s Hall Hotel oozes contemporary comfort; set within traditional surrounds, the property was originally built by Count Leon de Ferrari just before the Second World War. With it’s prime position on a quiet street, close to Hugh Town and the harbour, it’s a great base for you and your canine pal to explore the islands.
A welcoming spot that is both dog and family friendly with a selection of rooms and suites, a flourishing Mediterranean garden and a recently refurbished steak house-style restaurant, serving a local and sustainable dishes that showcase the freshest island produce. There are five versatile dog-friendly suites with direct access to the gardens via a decked area, perfect for taking your friend out for a blast of fresh air. Dogs are also allowed to join you to dine in the Hall restaurant, as well as in the bar and the pretty subtropical gardens. Dog beds, blankets and bowls available on request and the hotel is positioned just minutes from two of the island’s beaches and 20-minutes from the Garrison walk. St Mary’s Hall is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the islands with your dog in tow, who will receive tons of attention and fuss from the friendly staff.
You can travel to the islands in a tiny seaplane from Land’s End or Newquay – an exhilarating 20-minute experience with spectacular aerial views of the archipelago – or by the Penzance Helicopter, which takes just 15-minutes to reach the islands. For sea lovers, there’s also the Scillonian lll – a two-and-a-half hour crossing from Penzance harbour.
Located at the top of Church Street, St Mary’s Hall is brilliantly positioned, just a minutes’ walk from the centre of Hugh Town where you can wander the cobbled streets, lined with artisan shops, cafes, delis, galleries and artist studios. Perfect for your dog’s needs too, it’s three-minutes’ walk to Town beach, dog-friendly all year-round, offering a superb spot for a dip, or sit and watch the day-boats return with their fresh catch – where you can also spot the Scillonian coming and going.
A ten-minute minute walk will take you to the bustling harbour, where you can take the inter-island boats to explore the rest of the archipelago. Head south of the island to explore Porthcressa Beach and Peninnis Head, before crossing the airfield runway to Porth Helick, with its famous granite rocks and ancient burial site. Discover the nature reserves, home to rare wildlife, before winding back to Old Town, where you will find Scilly Spirit gin distillery and pottery by the acclaimed ceramicist, John Bourdeaux. There’s also the Garrison walk with its fascinating history and spectacular views across to the off-islands.
It’s worth noting that Town Beach, Porthcressa and Porthmelon have seasonal bans through May to October and that dogs must be kept on leashes in the nature reserves. Pelistry Bay and Bar Point Beach – located further out of town – are dog friendly all year-round. We particularly love 30-minute walk through the centre of the island, meandering across the nature reserve to Holy Vale vineyard, a beautifully tranquil vineyard that is dog friendly, offering wine tours and tastings throughout the week.
Well behaved dogs are welcome to join you in the Grill Room – a rustic steakhouse-style set up with feature brick walls, wooden flooring and low lighting. It’s a contemporary space with a window-view into the kitchen to watch the chefs in action; tuck into local and sustainable island produce that celebrate a field-to-table ethos – from 28 day dry-aged steaks, local lamb and venison to fresh lobster, crab and whole catch of the day, caught straight from the island’s waters. The hotel also serves light bites and drinks throughout the day in the bar area and terraced gardens, where your pal is also welcome to join you. If you’re after more formal dining with crisp linen tablecloths and fresh cut flowers there is ‘Everes’s Room’ but please note this is a dog-free zone.
Elsewhere on the islands, we highly recommend The Beach at Porthmelon for light bites and a stunning view, Dibble & Grub, serving Mediterranean-style tapas on gorgeous Porthcressa Beach (dog-friendly outside), as well as St Austell Brewery’s island offering, The Atlantic for pub-classics and local ales, and Ned and Finn’s – a great lunch spot with outdoor seating, serving delicious smoothies, artisan coffee, and homemade cakes.
There’s an additional fee of £25.00 per stay for your dog to come too.
St Mary’s Hall Hotel is brilliantly set up for us four-legs – the suites are spacious and comfortable and I loved being able to run straight out to a courtyard for play time, with one of my favourite spots – Town Beach for the softest sands and clearest sea water to paddle – my tail went into overdrive. You will also find many great walks from the doorstep, providing the perfect base to explore St Mary’s from. I headed homeward one salty but happy cockerpoo!
4/5 Paws
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