· I visited St Helena by travelling on the RMS St Helena, which sails on a round voyage to Capetown three or four times yearly. You may have to stay on the Island for two or three weeks if you want to use the ship for returning to UK. There is an alternative of a short visit while the ship does its south Atlantic shuttle to Ascension, then carrying on to Capetown and flying home. Contact Curnow Shipping in Helston on 01326 563434 or fax 01326 564347.
Mike Easterbrook
· I used to live on St Helena. As long as you have the time and the money, the easiest way to get there is on the RMS St Helena, which is half cargo ship and half passenger ship. It has all the comforts that you would expect of a passenger ship, but in micorosm, as it only takes a few hundred passengers. The island itself does not have much in the way of tourist infrastructure - but this is no bad thing. It has a few small comfortable hotels, though. The pace of life is slow, and you have to be prepared to make your own entertainment, but I would certainly recommend a trip as there is nowhere else on earth quite like it. The web address of the RMS St Helena is www.rms-st-helena.com: you can order a brochure from there.
Anna Jeremiah
· There is no airfield on St Helena. The last lap of the trip to the island is made on RMS St Helena, the only regular channel for all inward and outward traffic of people and goods. She's a passenger cargo liner, owned by the island authorities, managed and operated by Curnow Shipping Ltd., 48 Killigrew Street, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3AP (01326 211466). The ship operates between Cardiff and Cape Town calling at Tenerife, Ascension Island and St Helena. Sailings and cabin prices vary seasonally.
The ship is small enough to give a comfortable, easy-going atmosphwere: most of the crew are islanders, and the cabins and food are excellent. Prices on board and on the island are reasonable.
Visiting St Helena itself is like taking a trip back in time to the 50s; it's reminiscent of smaller country towns before postwar modernisation. Life is relaxed and leisurely.
R Clough, Durham
