Day 1: Travel to Shanklin via the Isle of Wight ferry arriving in the afternoon.
Day 2: Today we travel to Ventnor Botanical Garden. Voted No.1 Countryside Wedding Venue by Bridebook it boasts over 30,000 rare and sub-tropical plants spread over 22 acres, the planting is based on regions of the World. After lunch we drive back with a stop at Godshill before heading back to Shanklin.
Day 3: Today there is an optional tour to Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s summer residence. See the State rooms, the royal apartment, as well as the garden and grounds. Alternatively, visit Cowes to see this world-famous yachting mecca with its quaint High Street and maybe visit the nearby Cowes Maritime Museum (free entry).
Day 4: After breakfast, we travel to The Isle of Wight Steam Railway where there is time to explore the Museum and gift shop before taking a return journey on the train.
Day 5: We take a leisurely trip along a beautiful stretch of coastline (‘one of the best coastal drives in the World’) to Alfred Lord Tennyson’s house ‘Farringford’ where he lived with his family from 1853 to his death in 1892. The house is closed but we visit the garden – the Tennyson’s were keen gardeners and created a walled garden as well as other various displays. See the ‘Restoration Exhibition’ explaining the development of the house from modest Georgian property to the rambling Gothic house you see today. After, we make the short journey to Yarmouth, a quaint harbour town, with traditional square and narrow streets before taking the late afternoon ferry back to the mainland and home.
