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On this Discovery Tour we stay for
seven nights at Freshwater Bay on the Isle of Wight just a short
ferry ride off the south coast. We enjoy the varied landscape the
island has to offer, from towering chalk cliffs to pretty villages.
Over time the island has been frequented by smugglers, poets and the
royal family. Queen Victoria spent much time here at Osborne House
and you will see why.
Highlights:
- The old smuggling village of Brighstone where the museum depicts village life in the Victorian era
- The distinctive Needles and Alum Bay
- Osborne House and gardens, home of Queen Victoria until her death in 1901
- Quarr Abbey with its group of Benedictine monks
- The bustling port of Yarmouth and the traditional villages of Bonchurch and Brading
- Ventnor's famous Botanic Gardens
2017 Dates: One week
tours start Saturdays 22 April, 15 July
Price in British pounds: 855.00 GBP based on double occupancy.
(805 in April)
A few single rooms have no supplement,
Non-member associate fee is 10 GBP per person
Accommodation:
Freshwater Bay
House
dates from the 1790s and is a
prominent local landmark,
occupying a premier coastal
location below the chalk cliffs
of Tennyson Down.
48
rooms have private ensuite
bathroom, TV and hairdryer. Many
have sea views.
The heated outdoor swimming pool is open from Easter to September. Freshwater Bay House sits in extensive gardens with steps down to the beach. Outside there is a putting green and a croquet lawn. The atmosphere is that of a private club.
Meals: All meals are included. Breakfast is a hot and cold
buffet. Lunch is a packed lunch. Dinner is a three course meal with
a choice of four main courses including one vegetarian. Special
diets can be catered to.
Itinerary:
Saturday: Arrival day
check in from 2.30pm onwards. Afternoon
tea at 4pm.
Sunday:
Yarmouth & Freshwater
Stroll
from the house following a village
trail, viewing houses with literary
connections such as Farringford House -
the much-loved home of Alfred Lord
Tennyson. In the afternoon we visit
Yarmouth or Fort Victoria with its
numerous attractions, followed by a
visit to Freshwater Church with many
Tennyson connections.
Monday:
Cowes & Osborne House
The focus
today is on the island’s royal
connections. We head to West Cowes for a
pleasant walk through Cowes across the
floating bridge to East Cowes. The
afternoon is spent at the island’s
premier visitor attraction – Osborne
House (English Heritage).
Tuesday:
Isle of Wight Villages
Be
charmed by the pretty village of
Brighstone, followed by a lunch stop at
historic Appuldurcombe House (English
Heritage) with the change for a falconry
display. Then explore the village of
Godshill followed by a drive to the
‘failed’ medieval town of Newton and
lovely Newtown Creek.
Wednesday: Free day to
explore the local area or to relax.
Thursday: North East Wight
Modern
Quarr Abbey has a fascinating history.
Discover this, then we head to Ryde, for
the opportunity to travel on both the
Isle of Wight Railway (ex-London
Underground rolling stock) and the Isle
of Wight Steam Railway. We then take the
scenic route round Brading Haven, seeing
the island’s only remaining windmill,
with a brief stop at Brading. Enjoy
afternoon tea at the Garlic Farm.
Friday: Along the South West Coast
Today we encounter much of the island’s
spectacular coast scenery. Firstly, a
drive along the island’s Military Road
to visit sub-tropical Ventnor Botanic
Gardens, then continue to the resort of
Shanklin with its fascinating geology.
We conclude our tour exploring the
iconic Needles at the west end of the
island.
Saturday: Depart after a leisurely
breakfast
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