Day 1: Early morning departure from North Wales and travel to Portsmouth for the short Wightlink Ferry crossing to Fishbourne, and on to the resort of Ryde for a 4-night stay at The Royal Esplanade Hotel. Enjoy a welcome reception with Mince Pies on arrival.
Day 2: Our first stop today is the island's 'capital' of Newport. Spend some time browsing the shops, ancient inns or perhaps visit the harbour. Afterwards, we journey to Cowes, the island's sailing capital and home to a lively marina and seafront promenade. Enjoy some time at leisure before we return to our hotel.
Day 3: A day at leisure to explore your coastal location in the bustling resort of Ryde, with a traditional pier and promenade, boutiques, great cafes and restaurants. The railway and bus stations are both close by to help explore the island or for something a little different, why not hop on the unique and amazing Hovercraft service which can whisk you across the Solent to Southsea in just 10 minutes!
Day 4: This morning, we travel to the charming village of Godshill, this quintessential village is postcard-perfect with thatched cottages clustered around a typical English church and winding street lined with traditional tearooms.
After some time at leisure we continue to Shanklin, one of the oldest resorts on the island, famous for its natural springs. Shanklin Old Village boasts picturesque craft and gift shop cottages clustered around the thatched Crab Inn. Shanklin’s public parks and gardens are a delight to visit. Tower Gardens and Rylstone Gardens run alongside the Chine, a dramatic fissure in the rock where a 45 ft waterfall cascades through boulders and ferns to the shore.
Day 5: We depart the Isle of Wight and make the return ferry crossing to Portsmouth before completing our journey home to North Wales.