Outstandingly beautiful, remote and unspoilt, the Isles of Scilly are every open water swimmer's dream. Just off the coast of Cornwall, this special place boasts ice-white beaches, Caribbean-like blue waters and picture-perfect harbours and bays. Now in its 11th year, the Scilly Swim Challenge showcases some of the very best swimming the UK has to offer, offering participants the chance to swim and walk between the islands, safe in the knowledge they will be looked after by a team of open water experts. The combination of swimming in the cold sea with the backdrop of the beautiful islands & changing (often challenging) conditions is an incredible experience.
In 2025, we will be offering the chance to enter either the One-Day Scilly Swim Challenge, or the Two-Day Scilly Swim Challenge.
The second largest island in the Scilly archipelago, Tresco offers beautiful gardens and luxury accommodation on land, but also secluded bays, pristine deserted beaches and aquamarine seas. The Tresco 360 offers you the chance for a complete circumnavigation of the island. To make it more interesting (and safer!) it will be a staged swim, split into 3 legs for a total of about 10 km (1.4 km, 3.8 km, 2.6 km). At each stop there will be time to rest, access your bag, refuel, have a little look round and then restart for the net swim. So, this is the opportunity for a stunning 10 km swim solo or then a beautiful setting for a swim with 1 or 2 friends. For the relays, those who do not swim a leg, will walk to the next stop. And it's up to you to split up the legs between members of the relay.
The focus of the Challenge events is on the swim journey as a group, from one island to another, in varied open water conditions. Emphasis is placed on the challenge aspect (i.e. NOT a race), getting everyone around the course with expert safety cover in place.
An epic, staged 15km swimming journey. The 15km swim is split into 6 swims, with a short walk in between each:
Please note, registration for the 1 day challenge will take place on Monday 1 September in the afternoon, and the post-challenge party will take place on Wednesday 3 September in the evening.
A slightly more leisurely version of the one-day event, spread across (yes, you’ve guessed it) two days!
DAY ONE
DAY TWO
Please note, registration for the 2-day challenge will take place on Saturday 6 September in the morning, and the post-challenge party will take place on Sunday 7 September in the evening.
Please note, registration for Tresco 360 will take place on Wednesday 3 September
NB. weather can be unpredictable, and we run these events with your safety as the main priority. Although we have always managed to swim, it may be the case that swim itineraries have to be adapted to suit weather conditions. Exact timings and event details will be sent out closer to the event date.
The Scilly Swim Challenge started in 2014 and was set up by Dewi Winkle (a Yorkshireman), Nick and Bryony Lishman (Scilly natives /Scillonians). SwimQuest have known and worked with Nick and Dewi for many years - with John Coningham-Rolls, Nick and Dewi working together on some of the first swimming holidays in Scilly, back in 2007.
The Scilly Swim Challenge has now become part of SwimQuest’s family of swimming events and holidays. After an 11th sell-out year, both SwimQuest and the team on Scilly are incredibly excited to welcome swimmers again in 2025.
Visit the SwimQuest website at www.swimquest.uk.com/ssc