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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

has anyone been to the Scillies?

34 replies

elliott · 12/02/2006 22:18

Reports, please! Is there enough to keep a couple of preschoolers happy for 7-10 days? Any accommodation recommendations? thanks.

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Original poster
elliott · 13/02/2006 09:29

.

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Bink · 13/02/2006 10:14

Did you see old Scilly thread ?

Depending on your children's novelty-requirement factor, 7-10 days might be OK (endless undemanding sandcastling) or a bit too long - I'm sure St. Mary's has a children's library, and we did a little quiz/treasure hunt walking tour, and visiting of gardens, and lots of boat trips - but so far as I remember there's v little in the way of laid-on entertainment. Basically all quite sleepy.

wheresthecoddingnecklace · 13/02/2006 10:14

yes

nice but dull imo

bettys · 13/02/2006 10:20

Yes, we've been loads & love it there. You might find it difficult to find accommodation though - when are you going? Best bet is to ring the tourist office.
If you like going on boats/bikes/walking/rock pooling/sailing you'll love it.

wheresthecoddingnecklace · 13/02/2006 10:21

we were on tresco theo

that is relaly nowhere land

bettys · 13/02/2006 10:42

We always stay on Bryher - even smaller! I find Tresco v different in atmosphere, a bit more sedate & posher. I think you have to really want to wind down to enjoy the Scillies properly. My ds can spend hours shrimping/exploring

wheresthecoddingnecklace · 13/02/2006 10:43

yes htink i am not relaxed enough
think maybe dsses were too small
nwo woudl epsend hours playing football or cricket ont he beaches

moondog · 13/02/2006 10:48

Oh would love to go.
Told dh to arrange it for next year's birthday-want the helicopter too.
Which is the nice hotel?
Hell Mouth or Bryer or something??(Althoguh presume there are a good few?)
Sounds ace.

After years of travelling have decided there's nowt like the British Isles.

Original poster
elliott · 13/02/2006 11:20

Thanks, knew someone would know!
We really like not having a car on holiday so it sounds good from that pov. Ds's are generally pretty happy with just exploring beach, but not big enough to cycle. Can you hire bikes with child seats or (even better) a trailer for the kids? Are there likely to be other families there they can hook up with?
Any accommodation recommendations? I like great food and would like to stay at a nice hotel and feel pampered, but it has to be informal enough for the kids and have appropriate food and room facilities (no shared bedrooms!)
We are well used to lowering the average age on our holidays by a good 30 years - don't know what it is, but often prekids we would end up somewhere full of grey haired couples!

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Original poster
elliott · 13/02/2006 11:21

moondog, the hotel I've seen recommended on MN is Hell Bay on Bryher. Got my eye on that one!
I can't decide if I am being ridiculous though - mainly I just want to go because I want to see what its like - but it isn't exactly a budget option for a family holiday!

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bettys · 13/02/2006 11:22

We've stayed here 3 times, and found it fantastic. Helicopter also definitely the best way to get there.

bettys · 13/02/2006 11:25

Bryher is a childs paradise & our ds has always found children to play with. We've also stayed in self-catering places as well as Hell Bay on Bryher but they are like gold dust so I'm keeping our favourite a secret!

Bink · 13/02/2006 11:31

It may have had its fifteen minutes, but I've heard Hell Bay can be a bit Notting-Hill-on-Sea. So .. probably excellent amenities & food, but well, I wonder, maybe the kind of families that always expect to be first in the queue ..? Perhaps that's unfair - you should try it and tell us! (Here's a tripadvisor report that's quite vivid.) As you'll have seen by now, we like the gentle staidery of Tregarthen's (and it's quite nice being on St. Mary's as there are (very slightly!) more options for stuff to do).

Original poster
elliott · 13/02/2006 11:32

Bettys - just spent a few minutes reading all your posts on the scillies - very informative and it does sound like the kind of place we'd like!
We did a holiday last year somewhere taht another MN raved about and loved it, so that's a good start...
Think we would need to fly via bristol or exeter, which is hideously expensive...but as long as I don't tell dh how much it costs

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Bink · 13/02/2006 11:33

oh, bettys, cross-post: was only repeating hearsay & didn't meant to suggest anything applied to you! Sorry!

bettys · 13/02/2006 11:39

Would agree re Hell Bay in school holidays - we've always been there off-peak (September ) when it's bit more low-key.

Original poster
elliott · 13/02/2006 11:41

interesting bink - will have to check out tregarthen's too!

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Original poster
elliott · 13/02/2006 11:42

unfortunately we probably do need to go in school holidays...

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elliott · 13/02/2006 11:45

Can you tell me more about tregarthen's re small children - any interconnecting rooms available? What about mealtime arrangemetns?
Thanks!

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Bink · 13/02/2006 11:55

Children's mealtimes - traditional 5pm high tea etc. - they definitely do.

Interconnecting rooms - not generally, I think - though I think there is one "suite" set in the gardens. However, they're trying to catch up with the times, so you could call & see what they might offer?

One thing that (so far as I know) they still don't have, & though we don't need it any more (ours now 6 & 5) I think they should, is a kids' playroom with battered lego & ancient picture books, you know the sort of thing. Would be my no.1 requirement if holidaying with two pre-schoolers. Interesting to find out if Hell Bay has?

lockets · 13/02/2006 11:57

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Original poster
elliott · 13/02/2006 11:59

thanks bink - have e-mailed them. Yes, I know the kind of playroom you mean! And yes, I find that when beaches pall, ds's would happily play with any old battered toys... tHink bettys mentioned that hell bay does have something similar.

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dinny · 13/02/2006 20:48

Hi, Elliott, I'm from Scilly. When are you planning on going?

I'm from St Mary's (obviously the best island ) Re accomodation, I'd say self-catering personally. My Mum and Dad have holiday cottages but they are totally booked for the season (people just rebook year after year). You might find that's a prob if it's this year you're planning on going...?

dinny · 13/02/2006 20:50

Moondog, if I were going to stay somewhere nice on Scilly I'd stay at St Martin's Hotel.

Original poster
elliott · 14/02/2006 15:12

Hi dinny - I'm afraid my plannign horizon doesn't extend to 2007....would probably go for a hotel as it does seem that s/c is hard to come by...

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