Isle of Wight Spring Gardens

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* Channel View Hotel mid-afternoon.

Day 2

This morning, we enjoy a visit to Ventnor Botanical Gardens: 22 acres of stunning gardens located within the unique micro-climate of the Ventnor Undercliff. This unique location is overlooked by tall cliffs to the North and the English Channel to the South, which provides a mild climate with only 28 inches of average rainfall. We return to the hotel for the afternoon at leisure in Shanklin.

Day 3

Today we visit the Carisbrooke Castle. Sitting high and proud at the heart of the Isle of Wight, Carisbrooke Castle has been an artillery fortress, king's prison and a royal summer residence. Today it's the quintessential romantic castle, with lots to see and enjoy, experience far reaching panoramic views from high castle walls, wander the moat to discover King Charles I's Bowling Green or enjoy the tranquil Princess Beatrice Garden.

Day 4

After a leisurely breakfast, we make our way along the Military Road to Mottistone Gardens (NT), set in a sheltered valley these magical gardens are full of surprises, with shrub-filled banks, hidden pathways and colourful herbaceous borders. Created from an abandoned farmyard, these 20th-century gardens are experimenting with a Mediterranean-style planting scheme to take advantage of the warm, southerly location. Here the tall leaves of exotic plants fill the borders whilst a young olive grove is establishing itself on the high banks. We continue along the coast passing the Needles, to the picturesque harbour town of Yarmouth.

Day 5

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

D=Dinner, B=Breakfast