Dogs and Isles of Scilly

[catalac08]

Did not maker it this year but next year hopefully. Just a couple of thoughts about IOS.

Are there any restrictions regarding dogs on beaches and if so where? Having two this is a consideration.

Also thinking of going mid June to mid July; looking at the temperature charts July is almost as warm as August and presumably less busy. I assume that the first 2 weeks in July should be good as before school holidays and the french holiday month. Is there anything else to bear in mind for a visit to the IOS, excluding the absence of marinas, the need to change anchorages depending on the wind and weather forecast and all of that pilotage/anchoring/mooring saily stuff?

I was told that when thinking of going to IOS that if the wave height at the Seven Stones Weather Buoy was currently 1M or more to give it a miss and wait for another day-seems to make sense any comments on this?

 

[Iliade]

Once you are within the island chain most of the anchorages seem to be pretty well protected, so long as you exercise a little caution w.r.t. gales and their fetch.

Being able to take the ground is a huge advantage.

I'd suggest that the pilot books are over dramatic in order to ensure the continued lack of AWB's and crowds! We were absolutely stunned by the beauty of the area. It's like Him Upstairs has taken a Caribbean island chain and dropped it in the oggin just off the coast of blighty. Who says god(s) have no sense of humour?

There were several boats with dogs there in August. No apparent issues, though in June/July several areas are closed due to nesting birds and beached seals. You'd definitely want leads available to stop them chasing wildlife off cliffs etc.

Certainly in August the weather changes have to be seen to be believed. One minute blue skies, then the 11 o'clock storm, followed by sunshine again for 11:30 most days.

The sea is cold so wetsuits help.

Entering the chain past Spanish Ledge was uneventful the day after three days of storm conditions. However, a few days later I was very spooked outside the western end of the chain as the lee shores were pretty daunting (and that was in the inflatable, which can take 'anything') Nothing to put a finger on, just spooked...

 

[Scillypete]

Are there any restrictions regarding dogs on beaches and if so where? Having two this is a consideration.


I was told that when thinking of going to IOS that if the wave height at the Seven Stones Weather Buoy was currently 1M or more to give it a miss and wait for another day-seems to make sense any comments on this?

Dogs are fine, the only beaches with restrictions are Porthcressa from 1st May to 30th Sept if 'anchored' in Porthcressa then you will be landing at litte Porth which does not have the same restriction. The only other beach with a no dogs rule for the same dates is Porthmellon which is the harbouside of St Mary's. All other islands have no such restrictions except for Tresco where the leaseholder of the island demands that all dogs be kept on a lead (yeah rightoh) so it is up to you as you know how your dogs will behave or not. The dogs will love it there is some fantastic walking on all the islands.

1Mtr at Sevenstones hahahaha, if you took notice of that you would hardly ever find the opportunity to come to Scilly. If the weather has nothing nasty in the offing then it is quite doable and there are places to find more comfort at anchor depending on how adventurous you want to be and of course your draft/ability or not to take the ground.