Euan Rodger, executive vice chair for Visit Isle of Scilly shares the island's highlights for October and November
Tresco Autumn Retreats
Escape the hustle and bustle of mainland life with a Tresco yoga retreat this autumn. The perfect way to ease into winter, there are a range of retreats on offer that will encourage you to wind down, reflect and simply soak up the beautiful every day. Tresco is the perfect host with cosy accommodation at The New Inn, beautiful deserted beaches, rugged landscape, and access to Tresco Island Spa and Abbey Garden throughout your stay. Our retreats are of course focused around yogic practice but they are also an amazing way to experience the islands and although mornings and evenings will be spent in the studio, the days are yours to explore. Whether that is an exhilarating dip in the ocean, a bracing walk to the north end of the island, or a hot chocolate in The New Inn resident’s lounge, you will leave with a greater understanding of island life as well as yourself. Our practitioners are experts in their field and offer yoga that is tailored to you whilst also reflective of the Tresco environment. In October you can join Lucy Aldridge on her Iyengar Yoga retreat – a practice that is characterised by precision and alignment in each posture, focusing on postural alignment and body awareness. With over 20 years of experience, Lucy has a wealth of knowledge and a deep connection with the Iyengar yoga method. Moreover, she knows the island intimately and will encourage you to seek out all that Tresco has to offer – she even includes a guided meditational island walk (weather dependent) on the itinerary. Some of Lucy’s retreat participants have been attending for as long as seven years and they return year on year due to the quality of the teaching. One writes that ‘the yoga retreat is an annual highlight due to Lucy’s positive and thoughtful energy and deep knowledge of Iyengar yoga.’ Why not visit Tresco in October and find out more for yourself. Islander Gem Hansen will also be offering her annual restorative retreat this November and it is the perfect accompaniment to the beginning of winter. Spend your days in the November elements and then meet Gem in the studio for healing stillness practice that promotes peace, tranquillity and increased awareness. Gem encourages you to calm your mind, relax your soul and become more in tune with your inner self. This retreat is the perfect excuse to pause in a busy and often overstimulating world and Gem’s passion for this practice will shine throughout the retreat. As a local, she will share her home with you and – whether a beginner or a seasoned yogi – she will show you how restoring yoga can truly be. Lucy and Gem offer several retreats throughout the year. From restorative and Iyengar, to meditation, faster flow and somatics, there is something for every time of year and every kind of yogi. No previous experience required – our practitioners will tailor their retreats to you.
Head to tresco.co.uk/staying/offers-and-breaks to find out more and book your stay.
Soothing skincare
Founded by Ella McLachlan, Phoenix & Providence is an organic skincare brand, handmade on St. Martin’s. Rugged, isolated and exposed to the elements, the isles are surrounded by famously clear waters, the sea being an intrinsic part of island life. It was Ella’s soul-enriching dips in these crystal waters that inspired the creation of Phoenix & Providence skincare. The range has been created to harness the nourishing benefits of seaweed and salt for skin whilst instilling a sense of ritual and calm into everyday living. Soothing and restoring, each product is hand-crafted with organic ingredients, infused with seaweed foraged by hand (and wheelbarrow) from the shores of sugar-fine sandy beaches, just meters from Ella’s family home. Products include a luxurious body oil, heavenly bath salts, a rich Innis seaweed and clay face mask, soothing hand balm and the best selling/ award winning Nurture Face Oil. After last year’s success of a collaborative partnership between the luxurious Tresco Island Spa and Ella, they now offer three treatments using the locally made seaweed skincare products. This includes the popular Phoenix & Providence Experience (£110). This 90-minute massage starts with a sea salt and seaweed scrub, followed by a full-body massage, a rejuvenating facial and face mask to finish. A truly luxurious Scilly experience. phoenixandprovidence.co.uk
Taking place between October 5 – 11, marvel at the Milky Way under some of the UK’s darkest skies on tiny St Martin’s. Immerse yourself in astronomy at the island's community observatory and enjoy nightly stargazing, talks and guided observation. Experience the wonder of true darkness in Scilly’s unpolluted night sky, as you join the small team of islanders to learn more about our vast universe. cosmosscilly.co.uk/dark-skies-week
Scilly food & drink in Cornwall
Visit Isles of Scilly and The Great Cornish Food Store in Truro have joined forces to create a Scillonian pop-up foodie heaven this November! On November 15 between 10am and 5pm, join a host of island producers including farmers, distillers, winemakers, fishermen and bakers for a day of tasting and talking. Each with their own station, the producers themselves will be on-hand in-store to offer ‘sips and samples’ to tell their stories and the island ethos behind each business. Loyalty card holders of the Great Cornish Food Store are in for a treat on Friday night…. a private tasting session including nibbles created by the Store chef with Scilly produce, plus bespoke gin, vodka and rum cocktails brought to you from the distilleries. greatcornishfood.co.uk
Beer & Cider Festival
From October 10 to 14 the recently refurbished Old Town Inn on St Mary's hosts their bi-annual Beer and Cider festival, showcasing products made locally on the islands and from across Cornwall. With live music, food and events this promises to be a great end-of-season party. Friday 11th kicks off with the Open Darts (doubles) tournament followed by a day of live music on the 12th. Sunday 13th welcomes a Sunday Carvery and live music before The BIG quiz finishes off the festival on Monday. oldtowninn-scilly.co.uk
