How many nights to spend on Scilly Isles?

[samthepigeon]

Myself and two friends are planning to go to the Isles of Scilly next year (April onwards) and trying to decide how many nights to do. We are staying in a self-catering place on St Mary's.

One of us suffers fatigue, and struggles to do too much physical activity. Personally, I don't need a relaxing holiday, and am not a big fan of sitting on a beach/sitting around (fatigue friend is happy to be left in a cafe while we two do other things). Walking for us fit two is fine (prefer a walk with an end point, not just for the sake of walking), but we don't really need to do water sports etc (we do them sometimes, but it isn't a big interest for us). We all want to go to Tresco gardens, too, and a boat trip or two to the different islands. Cost is a small consideration - the islands are quite pricey, and we don't want to do things just for the sake of filling the time.
Can anyone with inside knowledge suggest how many nights would be good?
Thanks.

It takes a while to get there so probably not worth the trip for anything less than 3 nights. Plus the weather is variable so your activities could be hampered by that.

The islands get a lot of elderly visitors and so is well set up for people with limited energy or mobility, as well as walkers. You might want to consider hiring a golf buggy to visit different parts of St Mary’s.

A lot of people go for a week which would allow you a day on the other main islands, Tresco, Bryher, St Agnes, St Martins and 3 days on St Mary's which works well. Though can do less as well but if want to see all the islands would say a week.

A golf buggy!!! Really? Wow!!

https://scillycarts.com/ very popular with the less mobile.

I think this is quite funny - thanks for the suggestion! quite pricey though, but I can see the attraction I suppose if you can't get around. Are the islands really full of old doddery people?

No, of course not but it has people who have been going for years, and keep going back because it’s such a special place. They bring their children, their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

”Doddery old people” is a bit unkind.

You can hire bikes as well if buggys are not your thing. Islands are car free so ideal for getting around. Pity water sports are not your thing - good spot for paddle boarding, kayaking etc but if you are going in April the water will be quite chilly. If any of you are into photography or art it is good spot.

I would suggest 3/4 nights would be plenty. 5 max.

Sorry, I didn't mean to be unkind. I just have images of older people whizzing around in golf buggies then shuffling into tea shops with their walking frames. It will happen to the best of us, I am sure!

I would love to go there. Don't know if you're a fan but Mark Steele did a good show from Scilly some time ago. V funny and enlightening. Getting there can be rough. .I think they call it the vomit comet?

And I'm a doddery younger person. Can absolutely happen to the best of us for no good reason. Golf carts sound amazing! We got one on holiday at an attraction. The staff whizzed us up because of mobility issues. My son thought it was amazing 😂

It will happen to you if you’re lucky and avoid the alternative 😵‍💫

@samthepigeon years of experience of the Isles. In all honesty, not the best place for someone with fatigue, most things are at least a bit of a walk and it's not flat. A golf buggy is a game changer and will get you everywhere on St Mary's.
Boat trips out to the islands are great but again a fair bit of walking when you get there. There are some trips just on the water which would probably suit your friend better.
If the weather is poor there isn't a lot to do if you're not a walker. There are few pubs though!
There are cars on St Mary's and a couple of taxi services, so that might be helpful too.
Enjoy.

In good weather it's like the Caribbean...one of the most stunning spots you will have ever seen.

In bad weather...it's like Scotland on a bad day, and I hope you like pubs, because that's all there is to do!

(Fond memories of being weatherbound in a yacht in a small bay on the uninhabited side of St Martins for 3 whole days...😬)

If you have/can borrow a wheelchair and have someone who is willing to lift it in and out of boats and push then you can experience a lot of the islands (but it does require a fit and capable friend - there a few hills you would need to trust them on). Speaking from experience as a well qualified* wheelchair pusher who has successfully helped someone around various Scilly Islands.

The golf carts are a laugh and we actually used them not with the person above but to explore St Mary's with two young children who were not yet able to cycle the distance or walk at sufficient (any) speed. It meant we were able to have time to explore the far side of the island instead of getting there just in time to turn around again and missing everything nice along the way. Fun for all ages. :)

*of the adventurous "I'm sure it'll be fine, let's give it a go, what's the worse that could happen?!"

We had a whole fortnight there when we went. Admittedly we didn't have the issue you have with friend who isn't active, but the things you say interest you are very much what we do, i.e. we like walking but are not in to water sports.

We stayed on St Mary's self-catering but managed to visit all the other inhabited islands. In fact we went to Tesco twice. Mostly we walked - well that is a given really on the Scillies! Though we did hire bikes one day. It is a lovely place but be warned, accommodation books up very quickly. You might actually have left it a bit late for next year.