Launching this summer is the brand new, inaugural Ocean Scilly festival. Taking place from August 23 to September 1 across all five inhabited islands and many of the uninhabited, this nine-day nautical festival will be a broad, fun-filled celebration of the seas that surround the isles. Championing all waterborne activities, such as kayaking, paddleboarding and sailing, as well as up-close sealife experiences and the vast maritime heritage. The programme, which is available now to pick up, will be jam-packed with special activities such as Paddle and Pizza on Tresco, unique pedal paddle boarding around the smallest island of St. Agnes, sailing sessions on St. Mary’s, kayaking the crystal waters of St. Martin’s and coasteering around the rugged and wild landscapes. As you’d expect, boating is well-covered with sealife safaris out to uninhabited islands, glass-bottom boats trips to explore the sandy-bottomed sea, and of course, the ever-popular RIB trips out to the Eastern Isles to snorkel with the friendly Atlantic Grey Seas.
Given the gig-rowing history and Scilly’s place as host of the World Pilot Gig Championships, there will be a range of talks, taster sessions and open gig sheds to introduce visitors to the sport, with evening spectator boats going out to watch the domestic races. For the more sedate at heart, there will be talks on shipwrecks, of which Scilly has the highest concentration within the British Isles, talks on the lighthouse heritage demonstrating the oft dangerous waters that swirl the isles, plus conversations on seabird and aquatic wildlife with the IOS Wildlife Trust. Visit Isles of Scilly have also partnered with the RNLI for talks on their 200th anniversary and there will be exciting water-based demonstrations with the lifeboat team in St. Mary’s Harbour and off the quay.
The event culminates in the weekend finale with three full days of SwimRun races hosted in partnership with Scilly60. Over the weekend there will be five Swimrun adventures, with varying course for beginners, intermediates and advanced. Beginners can expect a gentle introduction with a less completive edge and a more social element, for intermediates they’ll cover 7km of running and 1km of swimming, whilst advanced athletes will set off on the Full St. Mary’s, involving a full circumnavigation of the largest island; 12km of running and 3km of swimming. For those looking for the ultimate challenge, the Archipelago Swimrun should do the trick; for experienced open water swimmers and trail runners, this one is 30km of running and 8km of swimming… between the islands! Both travel providers to the islands are offering a discount throughout Ocean Scilly. Isles of Scilly Travel are offering 10% off travel from Land’s End Airport and Penzance between August 19 and September 5 with the code OCSC24. islesofscilly-travel.co.uk
Penzance Helicopters are offering 10% off between August 22 and September 2 with the code OCEANSCILLY. penzancehelicopters.co.uk. Find the full list of events online at visitislesofscilly.com/experience/whats-on/ocean-scilly-2024-p3397673
Taste of Scilly
The island’s annual Food and Drink Festival takes places this year between September 12 and 22, spanning all five inhabited islands and celebrating the Scillonian producers and zero-mile produce, plus the eateries and drinking holes in which to enjoy them. Scilly really packs a punch in term of fresh, locally grown produce and makers from the organic Salakee Farm on St. Mary’s to Scilly Chilli on Bryher; St. Martin’s vineyard with its south-facing gentle slopes rolling down to the sea, and SC Dogs, Scilly’s only rum and vodka distillery, creating premium spirits and currently cultivating the first ‘plough to bottle’ spirit.
The food and drink offer on Scilly is unique in terms of provenance, frequently you can not only determine where your food has come from but know the fisherman or farmer by name! Scilly has long been popular with chefs and foodie talent; Rick Stein, John Torode and James Martin have all filmed here in recent years using the best of island produce and cooking in some of the most scenic locations in the UK.
The last two years has also seen several wonderful guests on the festival programme such as British Grill chef Simon Stallard, who cooked three beach feasts on three different islands; chef James Strawbridge who partnered with local pub the Seven Stones Inn and the world-renown wine connoisseur Oz Clarke who hosted a talk with Holy Vale Vineyard on St. Mary’s. The programme, which can be found now, will feature pop-up feasts, specialty cuisine nights, mainland guests, farm walk and talks, evening supper boats to enjoy a night off the island and a plethora of events and experiences to satisfy any foodie.
Isles of Scilly Travel are offering 10% off travel from Land’s End Airport and Penzance between September 7 and 25 with the code TASC24 and Penzance Helicopters are offering 10% off between September 11 and 23 with the code TASTESCILLY. Find the full programme online at visitislesofscilly.com/experience/whats-on/taste-of-scilly-festival-2024-p3145373.
Tresco Tapas
Spend an evening feasting on the local flavours of the islands with a quintessentially Tresco Tapas night at the Flying Boat. Watch the sun set behind Bryher with a drink in hand and a plethora of plates in front of you. From produce grown in Tresco Abbey Garden to delicious seafood from sea to plate, your taste of the islands begins with a cocktail using island spirits such as Westward Farm Gin and SC Dogs Rum. Book your table at the Flying Boat on Friday September 13 and 21 or Saturday September 16 and 22 for an evening of delicious dining. tresco.co.uk
Rockpool Safari
Join the Reid family for a Scilly Rockpool Safari to discover what lies beneath. Immerse yourself in picturesque surroundings, vibrant colours and crystal-clear waters, and discover the amazing intertidal inhabitants of Scilly. From huge spiny starfish to tiny solar-powered sea slugs, iridescent seaweeds, bright pink anemones and the unmistakable orange of a seven-armed starfish! You’ll witness first-hand the symbiotic relationships between the animals that you find, take away skills to rockpool wherever and whenever you like – safe in the knowledge that you are doing so without disturbing their specialised habitat. A rockpool safari is a unique experience for everyone. scillyrockpoolsafaris.co.uk
Island Fish
Owned and run by the Pender family who have been fishing out of Bryher for hundreds of years, Island Fish drop their pots anywhere from Bishop Rock to the Eastern Isles, to bring the island’s fresh local fish and shellfish to visitors from April through to December. In addition to fishing, Island Fish have a café, deli and shop, which is located directly as you disembark the boat at Bar Quay. On the sunny outdoor tables, you can enjoy a huge variety of shellfish; from a freshly picked crab sandwich just minutes after the crab has come ashore and been cooked to Lobster and Bacon Burgers, Crab Quiche, Chowders and Seafood platters. islandfish.co.uk
