We’ve just had a fantastic weekend to round the season off with a bang! A couple hired out the whole guesthouse for their wedding weekend. We provided the beds & breakfasts for the bride & groom and their families and they made full use of the guesthouse and its stunning ever-changing views. They tied the knot a stone’s throw away at the new Registry Office overlooking Porthcressa bay and celebrated in style after the ceremony up at the Star Castle. It was a great weekend, enjoyed by all. The bride & groom (Sarah & James) and family were a lovely, lively bunch who made the best of the weekend despite a bit of stormy weather and a rough trip over on the Scillonian.

The Logan/Howlett gang!

Now the holiday season has really wound down and, as the weather gets a little greyer, the days a little shorter and the number of guests reduces, it feels like the perfect time for us to reflect on what has been a great third season here at the Wheelhouse.

Rough seas during the first weekend of November but still beautiful

Looking back, the season started off in inauspicious style with an early Easter whipped by a bitterly cold easterly wind. Fortunately we had some great guests staying with us, who wrapped up warm and definitely made the most of their time on Scilly. The occasional traditional hot chocolate in the Turk’s Head helped to warm the cockles! Luckily for us many of our guests re-booked there and then for Easter 2014, which is much later in the year and hopefully will be a lot warmer!

Bright yellow gorse with a beautiful aroma in the April sunshine.

As ever the World Pilot Gig Championships jolted the season into life. We had the usual crowd staying with us and it made for a great weekend. This year we decided to get out and about and watch the racing to get in on a bit of the action!!

Town Beach full of colour and giggers!

To top off this Gig Weekend, two Wheelhouse regulars and Devoran Gig Club rowers, Andy and Sharon, got engaged on St. Agnes.

Congrats Andy and Sharon!

In May we had a lovely spell of sunny weather though still with a chill wind in the air.

Bright, sunny and beautiful in May

The Wheelhouse’s very own ‘Puffin Ladies’ came for their annual visit and walked their socks off! The Foxgloves were incredible, particularly stunning along the tiny lanes on St. Agnes.

The Puffin Ladies in the garden (Margaret, Peggy, Margaret & Gillian)

June was a little bit mixed weather wise, but still good for walking and the long evenings were enjoyed by all.

June in bloom!

The sun going down on a warm June evening

As soon as July arrived the weather just got warmer and warmer as the Islands basked in the sun.

A real scorcher in July – unbeatable!

Unforgettable sunsets, evening after evening.

A packed breakfast room at the beginning of July

We had a group of lovely ladies from the Isle of Wight come to stay with us (‘from our island to your island’, they said).

From the Isle of Wight (Barbara, Laura, Ruth & Christina)

As August came the beautiful sunshine seemed to stretch on forever.  Porthcressa did us all proud, with the front all smartened up, the beach filled with holiday spirit and yachts-a-plenty in the bay.

Families on the beach and swimmers in the sea!

Another magic August evening with 32 yachts in the bay!

The Mediterranean-like heat wave allowed us to serve breakfast outside on the patio every morning for six long weeks.  A first for us and many of our guests!

Breakie served on the patio throughout July & August

Get that holiday feeling breakfasting outside in the morning sunshine!

‘Tea by the Sea’ at the Wheelhouse really took off this summer. The garden was in full use most afternoons. Visitors enjoyed a cream tea or two whilst soaking in the stunning views of Porthcressa, surrounded by abundant agapanthus! The perfect spot to have a cuppa and watch the world go by.

‘Tea by the Sea’ served in the garden

One of our Cream Teas served in the garden with Agapanthus in full bloom!

September arrived before we knew it. We had a full house and whilst the weather was varied the ever-changing views as the tides came and went made sure Scilly looked just as lovely as in those summer months. The 50^th Newquay Gig Weekend was a highlight and some of our guests sung themselves hoarse at the Mermaid!

Brooding September skies

October has just whizzed by. It was another busy month here and we enjoyed plenty of warm sunshine. We’ve had a good mixture of first time guests here to enjoy the islands and the friendly faces we see every year who come for a bit of birding and wildlife watching. Not all the rare birds played ball this year, but it was a good year for watching dolphins and porpoises. One of our regulars set his tripod up on Porthcressa bank and spotted a pod of dolphins crossing the edge of Porthcressa Bay just beyond the yellow anchoring buoys.

A beautiful start to an October morning overlooking Porthcressa bay

Porthcressa beach during our mild October, still plenty of sunshine!

It’s oh-so-quiet now we are into the winter season, where we mostly cater for people working on the Islands, with a few short-breakers thrown into the mix.  We meet all sorts of interesting people – we have two Team GB Olympic Fencing instructors staying with us tonight! En garde!

We have really enjoyed this season.  A big thanks to our team, Da, Vic and Diane, for all their hard work.

The team 2013 – Da, Vic, Jen, Dan and Diane

We have met so many lovely people who have stayed with us, sorry we haven’t mentioned you all! Thank you also to our regular followers on our Facebook page and our Twitter feed – you know who you are!

We very much look forward to seeing you all back here next year or in the very near future.

Let’s hope for more of the same glorious sunshine next season, so more people get the chance to fall in love with the natural beauty of the Isles of Scilly.  Remember when you’re back home talking to friends and family to get out your Scilly snaps and spread the word about the magic and charm of the islands!

Here’s a quick photo to finish with – another wonderful evening on Scilly….

The stunning skies over Porthcressa beach this evening (7.11.13)

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