St Martins's Campsite COVID Update

Caroline and I are really looking forward to the 2021 season and to welcoming you lovely campers over to St Martin’s in the very near future. (May 17th)

 

Understandably, again in 2021 there will have to be a few new routines during your holiday, but we will all do our very best to ensure you have a most wonderful Scilly experience. 

Everyone that holidayed with us last year fully embraced the changes and the vast majority said that it actually made for an even better and more exciting experience.

Travel to Scilly

It is mandatory for face covering to be worn on the Scillonian, Skybus, Helicopter, inter islands boats and on all of the quays.  

All the travel providers have their own detailed information on what to expect on your journey to the islands.   As this is changing regularly, please refer to their websites:

https://www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk   

https://www.scillyboating.co.uk     

  

Luggage 

Please make sure all bags are clearly labelled with your name, ‘Campsite’ and a St Martin’s red tag (available on Penzance Quay). 

Bring only the very bare basics of luggage - think of it as a backpacking holiday.  The fewer bags we all have to handle in the present pandemic the better. 

Isles of Scilly Travel are limiting luggage to 25kg. 

 

They have permitted that campers can increase this slightly to allow for essentials like tents, bedding, etc   They will not carry any boxes of food.  All excess camping gear must be booked in advance.   

Please visit their website https://www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk/covid-19

Arrival on St Martin’s

Despite us having to keep our distance,  (alas no hugs or kisses),  it will be great to see you all arriving on St. Martin’s. 

As usual please all help unload everyone’s luggage off the boat and help load all camping gear onto the trailer, do remember to sanitise afterwards.

If booked, we will transport your luggage to the campsite, where we will all help to unload.

You can camp in any available pitch;

Please keep well inside the pink pegs (including guy ropes):  these pink pegs define each pitch and allow a suitable gap between each tent.  

 

For the sake of Caroline’s OCD, please keep it neat.

On the Campsite

Please keep to the current government guidance on social distancing, social bubbles and contact with people outside your household. 

Hand sanitiser and soap will be provided for use in our facilities.  

Please bring your own sanitiser for use in your tent and out and about.  Also bring face coverings as you cannot always buy them over here.

 

Alas No post or packages, unless it is medication or Very urgent.

 

Please, no friends or extended family to visit the campsite from elsewhere on St. Martin's or the other islands.

Shower Block 

To enable us to meet the industry guidelines for COVID secure accommodation and due to having shared facilities: 

 

Face coverings must be worn when in the shower block.  Sanitiser is provided at both entrances:  please use on entry and exit.

Only have a max of 3 persons inside each of the men’s and ladies at any one time:   2 for the toilets and 1 in the shower room. 

Our ‘Peg’ system worked very well last year otherwise a little polite shout from the entrance may be required at times.  

• Any children 10 years or under must be accompanied by parent/adult.
• At busy times please queue outside at the recommended distance.
• The windows and entrance doors will be left open for ventilation.
• The basins are for hand washing only; For hygiene, No teeth brushing, shaving or strip washing at the basins -  please do this back at your tent and carefully pour any spittoons and wastewater down the wastewater sink at the toilet block.
• Hair driers will have to be turned off again this year - sorry.
• To help prevent congestion please do your makeup back at your tent.

Caroline and I will thoroughly clean the facilities regularly, at which time they will have to be closed. We have installed an extra unisex toilet so you should not get caught short!

No chemical portaloos or any form of portable showers to be used on the campsite. 

Laundry

Sanitiser to be used on entry. Only one person at a time please, we will sanitise the tokens

Washing up

The washing up sinks will need to be closed, but hot water can be drawn from them (and from the laundry at busy times) to be taken back to your tent.  All dirty water to be disposed of at the wastewater sink  at the toilet block  

Standpipes and Rubbish area

Please sanitise after use.

Sorry but there will be no re-cycle shelf this year nor can we have the wetsuit dunking barrel. 

 

Campsite Barn 

 

Only one person at a time in the campsite barn - adults only.  Please sanitise before and after entry.

 

Charging Gadgets

 

There are sockets and charging lockers in the barn for use, along with sanitiser spray. Adults only for the charging please.

Please, if you can, bring your own solar panels and power packs for charging your gadgets, this helps us limit the amount of traffic and ‘touch points’ in the campsite barn. 

 

Croissants, Pain au Chocolat and Baked Potatoes will not be available this year, just too many hoops to jump through for this one.  Sorry! 

 

Locker Storage Barn

Face covering to be worn; please sanitise on entry and again on exit.  Please sanitise any barrow or trolleys after use. 

Settling your bill

We will email this to you, the evening before you depart.  You can either settle this by BACS or phone us with your card details.

Departures

The camping trailer will be left in the middle field for you to load, we set off 30 mins before the scheduled morning boat time. Again this year all camping departures must go on the morning boat (approx.10.30). As ever on the quay we all help unload the trailer onto the boat.  

Sorry no goodbye hugs and kisses but a socially distanced Mexican wave is surely allowed! 

Places to Eat and things to do on St. Martin’s

Fortunately, even a global pandemic cannot spoil the natural beauty of this amazing island, or the spirit of the locals.  Although we are faced with many hurdles, we have all improvised and adapted, to help ensure that you have a fantastic holiday.

 

For all up to date information on where is going to be open and what you can do while you are staying on St Martin’s, please visit our Island website  http://www.stmartinsscilly.co.uk/covid-19.html and look on the appropriate pages. 

 

COVID 19 on your holiday:

 If you, or any of your group develop any COVID symptoms during your stay you must self-isolate immediately; Call Ben & Caroline on 01720 422888 then we can assist you and talk you through what happens next.

 

We have set up a separate isolation field, this way we can keep you as comfy as possible and the rest of our campers at a distance. We have installed a dedicated toilet but alas no hot shower.

You will receive a test kit, and then depending on the results,  if necessary we will initiate the system that is in place to safely transport you back to the mainland so that you can continue your self -isolation at your own home. 

 

 

Our Council have produced a very good COVID FAQ that can be read here:

  FAQs for Visitors 010720.pdf