your scilly swimming adventure

We are delighted to be returning to this enchanting archipelago for a leisurely week of swimming and exploring these stunning isles. Your SwimQuest Guides will be working alongside the experts at Adventure Scilly to show you the very best swimming the Isles of Scilly have to offer. This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a truly wonderful and rewarding place to swim, with many possibilities across the five inhabited islands and many hundreds of other isles and rocky outcrops. You will swim along the coast and from island to island, accompanied and encouraged all the way.

about the isles of scilly

The Isles of Scilly lie just off the coast of Cornwall in southwest England. The islands are covered in heathland, and fringed by bright white sandy beaches. On this trip you will be part of a small group of 10-12 swimmers, staying in Mincarlo on St Mary's.

IS THIS FOR ME?

During the week, we will complete two swims a day. Swims will be a mixture of island-to-island crossings and coastal swims. You should be comfortable swimming in open water, and should be prepared for the cold water temperatures. It is fine to swim with or without a wetsuit, however if you are swimming without - please ensure you have acclimatised beforehand (water likely to be around 15-16^oC in July and 16-17^oC in August). Ideally you should have some open water experience and be able to swim at least one kilometre in the sea. If you’re unsure, please don’t hesitate to contact the office for a chat. This trip is ideal for anyone looking for a magical week away, with a combination of swimming, wonderful food and time to relax amongst like-minded swimmers. Throughout the week, you are more than welcome to swim both or just complete one swim a day – it is your holiday.

AT A GLANCE

Places available from £1,712pp
This trip is ideal for anyone looking for a swim vacation with a combination of swimming, wonderful food and time to relax.
Non-swimmers are welcome to join the trip and can be on the boat if they wish. A 10% discount is offered to non-swimmers.
Max group size 12
Water temperature is between 14-17^oC
Everything is included except evening meals, and lunch on one of the days when we will eat at a local restaurant.

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Six night’s accommodation at Mincarlo, based in a twin share or double share room. Private rooms are available. Please see the Accommodation tab for more details on rooms and supplements.
Breakfasts and packed lunches (except lunch on one day when we will take you to a local cafe)
All transport to and from swim starts
A fully guided swimming itinerary, based on two swims a day
Qualified SwimQuest Guide/s
Safety boats as required
Optional stroke video analysis and one-to-one swim coaching sessions (conditions permitting)
A 10L SwimQuest dry bag and a SwimQuest swim cap
VAT
ABTOT Financial Protection

The only costs that are not covered are your travel to and from St Mary's, any alcohol purchases, evening meals, lunch on one day, wetsuit hire (please bring your own wetsuit if you would like to swim in one), a private room supplement should you wish to take a room of your own, and any additional items or activities you wish to participate in outside of the tour schedule.

about MINCARLO

Owned and run by Nick and Bryony Lishman, Mincarlo is a fantastic B&B on St Mary's, with sea views, comfortable rooms and delicious and plentiful breakfasts. Enjoy Mincarlo’s peaceful location overlooking Town Beach and St Mary’s harbour, with private steps down to the beach for those eager early morning dippers.

ROOM OPTIONS

There are various room types available to you, all of which are en-suite - please indicate your preference on your booking form. If your preference isn’t available, we will be in touch with you to arrange an alternative room.

THE ITINERARY

N.B. Please note, this is a rough guide to the week. We will adapt the week carefully for each individual and the prevailing weather and tides. All swim activities are planned with safety as the paramount concern. Swim distances are adaptable and we can deal with a mixture of abilities on this tour.

DAY ONE

We will meet you at Mincarlo and allow time to settle into your room. After which, we will complete a safety-briefing, before a short acclimatisation swim in the local bay. In the evening (weather permitting) we will enjoy dinner on the terrace with a chance to get to know fellow guests.

day two

This morning we complete a fabulous 1.5 - 2km swim, starting by the east coast of Gugh and making our way to Woolpack Point and then on into Porthcressa Bay where we will finish the swim on the beach. After lunch on St Mary’s, we will complete a 1.5km swim in the bay at Porth Cressa, with the stunning coastline of St Mary’s to our left.

day three

We will start the day with a short 1km inter-island crossing from Cromwell’s Castle on Tresco, passing Hangman Island and finishing at Annaquay. In the afternoon, we will swim 1.5km, from Rushy Bay to the sandy bar on the east end of Samson. The beaches are sandy and beautiful - stretch out and enjoy this stunning water.

day four

Starting from just outside our cottages, this morning we will complete a 2km swim from Tresco to Tean. We will start the swim from Northward on Tresco near the slipway and make our way in between St Helen’s Island and Foremans Island finishing near Old Man Bay, with the option to extend to Coldge point if morale is soaring! In the afternoon, we will swim from Tean to St Martins - a beautiful swim with lots of outcrop islands to the south.

day five

This morning we will start at Higher Town on St Martin’s and finish at Bar Point on St Mary's. This is a fantastic 3km inter island swim (swim as much or as little as you wish). After lunch, we will head to the Eastern Isles - impressive uninhabited islands. We will make our way to the south west of Great Ganilly Island and swim in the bay which is often populated with seals.

day six

This morning we will complete a beautiful coastal swim around St Agnes (1-2km). After lunch, enjoy an afternoon at leisure back on St Mary's and a chance to relax at the cottage or explore on foot.

day seven

A short pre-breakfast swim in the local bay and then after breakfast it is time to prepare for the onward journey home.

TRAVEL & TIMINGS

This trip officially begins on Tuesday afternoon at 1pm. The trip finishes on Monday morning at 9.30am, usually after a leisurely dip and breakfast. Accommodation: Mincarlo, Carn Thomas, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, TR21 0PT

BY PLANE

Skybus flies to the St Mary's all year round from Land’s End and Newquay, and from Exeter between March and November. Your Skybus flight takes just 15 minutes from Land’s End to St. Mary’s, 30 minutes from Newquay Airport, and from Exeter it’s an hour. You’ll travel in an 8 or 19-seater plane. For more information on flying to the Isles of Scilly, click here or call +44 (0)1736 334220. If you have any problems booking your travel, please do not hesitate to call the Island Office on +44 (0)1720 422849, The Isles of Scilly travel team will be happy to help.

BY FERRY

It is also possible to book a 2 hour 45 minute ferry from Penzance to St. Mary’s, on board the Scillonian III. The Scillonian III runs between March and November six days a week, seven in high season. Generally speaking (exceptionally low tides withstanding), it leaves Penzance at 9.15am arriving in Scilly at 12 noon. It then leaves Scilly at 16.30 arriving in Penzance at 19.10pm. For more information on getting to the Isles of Scilly by boat, click here or call +44 (0)1736 334220.

WHAT TO PACK

Don’t forget your camera!

In addition to your everyday clothing and personal travel items, we would also recommend packing:

At least two swimming costumes
A wetsuit should you wish to wear one - our Partners at Zone3 offer a wide range of wetsuits, including the eco Yulex natural rubber range HERE and you get 20% OFF all full price Zone3 products with code : SWIMQUEST
Two pairs of swim goggles
Swim ear plugs if you are used to wearing them
Tow float (required) - if you haven’t got one yet, you can find a great range from Swim Secure HERE and receive 15% off with code: 15SwimQuest23
A beach / swim towel (the villa provides room towels)
Sandals, aqua shoes or flip flops which you would be happy to get wet if necessary
Warm clothes - although we have ordered the sunshine well in advance, it’s not always like the glorious pictures on our website, so please do bring warm clothes and layers for after your swims!
Suncream, sunhat and sunglasses
Insect repellent
Comfortable sportswear (optional - running / stretching / yoga)
Dryrobe / equivalent (if the luggage limit makes brining bulky items difficult - Dryrobes are available to hire for £50 per week from Adventure Scilly).