Isle of Wight

Day 1

We depart the local area and travel to the south coast to catch the ferry to the Isle of Wight, arriving at 3* Trouville Hotel mid-afternoon.

Day 2

This morning, we enjoy a visit to Ventnor Botanical Gardens with its exotic plant collection. We return to the hotel for the afternoon at leisure.

Day 3

Today we visit the yachting town of Cowes. We enjoy a 2 ½ hour Cruise through Cowes Harbour, world famous for yachting out into the Solent with fantastic views of the island coastline, Osborne House and Norris Castle. We then cruise on across the eastern Solent with views of the massive sea forts and into the Portsmouth Naval Base, home of the Royal Navy, past and present.

Day 4

This morning, we enjoy a scenic drive along the coast to the Needles, followed by time at leisure in Yarmouth.

Day 5

Today there is an optional visit to Osborne House (entrance is at own cost, English Heritage members are free). Osborne House reflects Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's passions, tastes and style. Ornate furnishings and artefacts from The Royal Collection fill rooms and corridors where Victoria entertained heads of state, inventors, princes and princesses, and ruled the vast British Empire.

Day 6

We catch the ferry and make our way home, arriving back late afternoon.

D=Dinner, B=Breakfast