David Chadwick, Seasalt director, talks about the charity walk that took him and 86 others wading chest deep amongst the Scilly islands...

The very low spring tide of September 28th made it possible to island-hop across the Isles of Scilly on foot... Myself, James Discombe and Jill Christopher from our St.Mary's shop took advantage of this rare opportunity, and we joined a group of 86 hikers on a rather special inter-island charity walk.

Starting just before midday... in perfect weather and with a flat sea, we set off from St.Martin's in the east and waded in chest high water over to Tresco. James and Jill wore wet suits, but I braved it in a pair of swimming trunks. As we emerged from the water, James's mom Peggy appeared on the beach with some fruit cake for her boy!

From there we continued briskly through shallow water... to the uninhabited isle of Samson, then over to Bryher.

By 2 o'clock the tide was rising rapidly and the people at the back of the group were struggling to get through the fast flowing water on the final leg back to Tresco. Fortunately there were rescue boats on hand to give them a lift!

The rest of the afternoon was spent re-living the experience... in the garden of the New Inn, where the tired walkers enjoyed the late summer sunshine (and a few drinks), and talked excitedly about doing it again next year!