Autumn Mini Tour

The destination for this year’s Autumn Mini-Tour is close to home – The Isle of Wight!

The island is only 23 miles long and 14 miles wide, but amazingly it has nearly 500 miles of roads, many of them scenic, and several interesting places to visit, making it an ideal location for a 3-day mini-tour. Our luxury 4-star hotel, with spa and indoor pool, is located at Wootton Bridge, close to where the car ferry from Portsmouth arrives.  

Itinerary

Friday 6 October

After meeting for breakfast near Chichester, we will drive to Portsmouth in time to catch a ferry arriving at the Isle of Wight around midday. Heading east through the seaside resort of Ryde and along a scenic coastal road will take us to the Bembridge Harbour area for lunch. 

In the afternoon there will be the opportunity to explore the eastern end of the island, which includes Bembridge Fort and Downs (NT), Brading Roman Villa and the seaside resort of Sandown, before heading for our hotel. In the evening we can meet in the bar for drinks before dining together at the hotel.

Saturday 7 October

Our suggested route for the day will be a scenic tour of the west and south of the island, starting with a drive through the county town of Newport en route to Cowes, home to the oldest and biggest sailing regatta in the world! Cowes has great views across the Solent, many interesting shops and plenty of places to have coffee.

Following quiet roads westwards, we will come to the historically busy harbour of Newtown, now a quiet nature reserve, before arriving at Yarmouth Harbour, which has the longest timber pier in England! We will suggest somewhere to meet for a light lunch in Yarmouth.

It’s a short drive from Yarmouth to the island’s western end to view the iconic Needles. Nearby are Alum Bay, famous for its multi-coloured sand cliffs, and the Marconi Monument, commemorating the first wireless transmission. Returning along the south coast takes us to Freshwater, with great views from Tennyson Down, and then along the cliff top Military Road (named as the 5^th best driving road in Europe!) to the most southerly point of the island at St Catherine’s. 

Continuing east takes us to the seaside resorts of Ventor and Shanklin, before heading inland back to the hotel in time to relax before dinner and a light-hearted quiz.

Sunday 8 October

In the morning there will be an opportunity to visit Osborne House, the Italian Renaissance-style palatial holiday home of Queen Victoria, to the east of Cowes.

We will suggest a nearby venue for a light lunch and then the afternoon will be free to explore the island’s centre, which includes attractions such as the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, Carisbrooke Castle and Newport Minster.

Our return ferry to Portsmouth departs at 5 pm and we can arrange an evening meal at Gunwharf Quays for those who wish to have one before driving home.