Isles of Scilly - self catering top tips?

[wakesandquakes]

Has taken ages for us to find a cottage and wondered how to best to the self- catering thing. I know its going to be more expensive, but wondered if there were any top tips on how to do it economically. When we go by car, typically I would take a couple of meals frozen in a cool box which does us for starters, but that's not possible, given the whole train, overnight sleeper (yeah!), ferry scenario we have this year.

So any top tips?

TIA!

[ineedaholidaynow]

My parents send a food parcel in the post a few days before they are going when they go to the Scillies. Obviously can't send perishables but can send staples. They usually fly so have restricted luggage allowance.

[wakesandquakes]

Oh we're on St Mary's if that helps.

[YonicScrewdriver]

www.tanglewoodkitchen.co.uk

Try them? (I don't know then, just googled.

[wakesandquakes]

Yonic - That looks delicious, but perhaps a tad more indulgent (and costly) than our normal home-cooked fare. Perhaps I just need to adjust by ideas of what we'll be eating / spending.

Ineedaholiday - Just need to work out the extra cost of sending a parcel compared with spending the extra on the island, which I guess is better for the local economy as long as it's not exorbitant really!

Good to know if there are no real tips which I'm missing, that's something anyway.
Thanks!

[YonicScrewdriver]

Could you take some frozen food in a cool box which is ok to cook from defrosted as well?

What I do though is take spaghetti (packs better than other pasta) and dolmio stir in sauce (not glass so lighter and can't break) as my emergency meals.

[thewalrus]

I would take a few supplies if you possibly can - coolbox suggestion above is sensible. The boat which brings supplies to the co-op supermarket and other shops is only twice a week - when we were there in May 1/2 term supplies in the shop were very low the day before the boat arrived. (I don't mean by that that you'd go hungry, but if you've got even slightly fussy kids and don't want to have to think about your meals loads it would be a bit tricky).
On a more positive note, we found the cost of food on St Marys was less than we were expecting. It is more expensive, but not ruinously so!
Have an amazing time - I really think it might be one of the nicest places in the world...

[wakesandquakes]

I'm really looking forward to it. We like islands, but have focused more on the Scottish variety, so it'll be interesting to have gorgeous beaches, but for it to be warm and to have to share them with others because hardly anyone else goes to wee Scottish islands as the weather is so varied even if the beaches are stupendous, but heh that's their charm. Normally we have a car and cool box, and the normal 3 frozen meals for the box. This time it's by train and carrying all our stuff and frankly I'm not used to that so hadn't thought we'd bother/be phsically able to take the cool box. Perhaps the cool bag and blocks might be an option, but still not sure about being able to carry them (on extended train / over night sleeper / ferry route).

[cathcustard]

No advice about food really, we just pack a few random bits in our holdalls.
But the Scillies are glorious, have a wonderful time.

[5Foot5]

If you are staying in St Mary's then there is a Co-op in Hughtown as well as other food shops.

We went a few years ago and took no supplies with us but we had no problem getting everything we needed there.

Love the Scillies. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

[wakesandquakes]

It's getting closer and honestly, everyone I've heard from has only good things to say, so sounds like we'll just be so in love with the place we'll not be thinking about food or any minor issues with where to get it (or how much it costs as it'll be a small price to pay for staying in such a special place). That's what I'm hoping and really looking forward to it now!

[Kez100]

We went ages ago but there was a warehouse type supermarket on outskirts of Hightown (on our walk home to Juliets where we stayed) and a coop in town. We joined a club (sailing club???...not sure) but they offered reasonable priced meals.

Love the sleeper.....I always sing skimbleshanks from cats in my head!

[Wonkyparsnip]

The coop is good but there's also a butchers/bakers called Plowmans in town which delivers to cottages.

[Lizlette]

My MIL lives there, and one of the supermarkets on 'the mainland' does delivery via the boat. Can't remember if its Tesco or Asda, and probably only worth it if you're there for a while, but might be something to consider!