10 holiday activities for teenagers on St Martin’s, Isles of Scilly

St Martin’s is the perfect destination for a family holiday in the UK. Renowned for its white sandy beaches, stunning coastline and relaxed atmosphere, it’s one of the five inhabited islands of the Isles of Scilly archipelago. A holiday on Scilly is all about enjoying nature and being outdoors.

There’s a range of holiday activities for teenagers on St Martin’s to suit all levels of adventure. So, whether you’re staying on our beautiful island or visiting on a day trip, we’ve compiled our list of the top 10 things to do. Helping you have fun while creating precious family memories 

#1     Kayaking

No matter what your level of experience, there’s a kayaking adventure for you. Messing around off Par Beach for complete beginners and exploring along the shoreline of St Martin’s. Alternatively, venture further afield to visit uninhabited islands, discover deserted beaches, ancient settlements and have encounters with wildlife.

#2   Paddleboarding

Paddle boarding is the fastest growing sport in the UK and one of our favourite holiday activities for teenagers on St Martin’s. Par Beach, where we are based, is the perfect location for trying paddleboarding for the first time. With crystal-clear water, this sheltered bay offers a safe place to paddle. We’ve a self-guided paddleboard tour of St Martin’s which takes about two hours for those with more experience wanting to explore a little further

#3   Glass bottomed boat tours

Seaquest is the only glass bottomed boat on Scilly. Combine a boat trip with the chance to peer beneath the waves, for those who don’t want to get wet! The wildlife trips give you the chance to see seals, puffins and marvel at the marine life in the shallows.

#4     Snorkelling with seals

This unique holiday activity will give you the chance to have a close encounter with a seal. Seal Snorkelling Adventures run trips twice a day, giving you the opportunity to snorkel with the Atlantic Grey seals found around the Eastern Isles. The minimum age is 12, and they provide you with all necessary equipment. Our top tip – remember to keep looking behind you as the seals do love to have a nibble of your fins  

#5     Star Gazing

St Martin’s is fortunate to have incredibly Dark Skies, rated <1 on the Bortle Scale. Our Community Observatory opened its domes to the public in 2019. COSMOS run Twinkly Tuesday sessions from 9pm – 10pm which you can book on their website. Head along, see the equipment and, weather permitting, look through the telescopes and wonder at our night sky. There is also a drop in session on Friday afternoons for solar gazing.  

#6     Walk to the Daymark

The Daymark (a red and white striped navigation aid for shipping) is the iconic symbol of St Martin’s. No trip to the island is complete without a visit. There are so many reasons to stroll up there: taking in the rugged heath of Chapel Down, breath-taking views of the mainland, glimpse the Sevenstones Lightship in the distance, a beautiful vista across Great Bay and Little Bay to White Island, the ruins of a Napoleonic signalling station and, if you’re lucky, sightings of dolphins and porpoises off Daymark Head.

#7     Follow a gig race

In the old days each island had a gig, a six oared rowing boat. Crews would race to visiting ships to put their pilot on the ship, claiming the pilotage fee for their island. These days crews still race each other, but now it’s just for fun. Seaquest follows the ladies gig race on Wednesday evenings. Jump on board, enjoy the spectacle and cheer on the island gig, Dolphin!

#8     Snorkelling

Snorkelling off the beaches of St Martin’s is fabulous. The great thing about being on an island is there will always be a sheltered bay to snorkel from. You don’t have to go far to see an incredible variety of marine life, and to marvel at the natural beauty beneath the waves. There’s seagrass off Par Beach and kelp forests off Little Bay and Great Bay. Old Quay at high water is a favourite spot of ours to snorkel. 

#9     Anyone for tennis?

St Martin’s has an outdoor tennis court which visitors can hire from 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday. Book the court at St Martin’s Stores for £5 per player per hour before heading down to play. Racquets and balls are provided.

#10   Fishing trips

During the summer months, Adam Morton, local boatman and owner of Adam’s Fish and Chips, offers angling trips on his boat Kestrel. These fishing trips last for 2-3 hours and give you the chance to catch mackerel or pollock. Adam provides all the fishing gear. To book, call Adam on 07379 566248

St Martin’s offers plentiful holiday activities for teenagers

As you can see, there’s an enormous variety of holiday activities for teenagers on St Martin’s. Making it a wonderful destination for a family holiday. From kayaking and paddleboarding to snorkelling and star gazing, there’s something to suit all interests and levels of adventure. We hope our recommendations allow you to find the perfect balance between enjoying the relaxing pace of St Martin’s and also creating happy holiday memories with your adventures on the Isles of Scilly. 

St Martins Watersports hire kayaks, paddleboards and snorkel sets from St Martin’s. We’re always happy to share our local knowledge to ensure you have a memorable outdoor adventure. The best moments happen at sea!