Porth Hellick Down Burial Chamber

About

Porth Hellick Down Burial Chamber is one of the larger surviving entrance graves on St Mary's in the Isles of Scilly. Its Bronze Age builders set a stone-lined chamber inside a circular mound, with a passage leading in from the outer kerb and four great capstones roofing the burial space. Passage and chamber meet at an angle, partly obstructed by a projecting stone. Other cairns on the down place it within a wider prehistoric cemetery. Visitors often include the monument in a coastal outing and appreciate the explanatory boards and island setting. English Heritage recommends arriving on foot or by bicycle, with onward travel from Hugh Town planned around island transport. The site is separate from the harbour and cannot be reached by a mainland driving route. Dogs on leads are welcome; shops, food and toilets are in Hugh Town.

Historic SiteDog friendlyDogs on leads

Open in daylightFrom English Heritage's calendar

Open any reasonable time in daylight

From English Heritage's published calendar, updated 1 October 2026, with dates up to 16 March 2027.

Opening times may change at short notice.

Open during reasonable daylight hours; check the official visitor page for access notices before travelling.

English Heritage recommends access on foot or by bicycle. The outdoor burial mound and stone passage have uneven surfaces; no step-free route is confirmed. Plan sea or air travel separately.

Photo: Porth Hellick Burial Chamber. Des Blenkinsopp, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Porth_Hellick_Burial_Chamber_(geograph_6454812_by_Des_Blenkinsopp).jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.

Dogs at the location: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs on leads are welcome.

Dog walks in the grounds: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs on leads are welcome. Normal admission or the advertised opening arrangements apply.

Leads: Keep dogs on leads.

PricingFreeFree for all visitors

Free entry for everyone

Entry

Free for everyone

Pricing details

Free for everyone, independently of membership. Any opening restrictions, parking or transport charges apply separately.

ParkingNo car park

Arrive on foot, by bike or by public transport.

Parking details

Island arrival point at St Mary's harbour, not a mainland driving destination. Continue on foot, by bicycle or by locally arranged island transport; no site car park is confirmed.

Named St Mary's ferry landing used as a legitimate island arrival point; the official monument location is on the east side of St Mary's, with onward walking or cycling required.