Isle of Wight

Your holiday begins in Portsmouth, where you meet the Tour Manager and fellow travellers before boarding the catamaran to Ryde.

After a short journey over the Solent, we arrive on the picturesque Isle of Wight. From Ryde, we join the local rail service down the scenic east coast to Sandown, our base for five nights. Due to its location, the Isle of Wight benefits from one of the mildest climates in the UK and the traditional seaside resort of Sandown has long attracted visitors due to its long sandy beaches and great views over the English Channel, including from our hotel.

After checking in to our hotel on the seafront in Sandown, there's time to freshen up or take a leisurely stroll before our first dinner as a group this evening.

• Dinner

After breakfast, we head out by coach to St Mildred's Church in Whippingham, an ornate church with close links to the royal family. The current structure was partly designed by Prince Albert and the five striking pinnacles of the exterior are said to resemble castles of the Rhine. Inside, the Battenberg Chapel is a shrine to Prince Henry of Battenberg, the husband of Queen Victoria's daughter Beatrice.

After time to look around, we continue to Osborne House, Queen Victoria's beloved family retreat. Inspired by Italian Renaissance palaces, the house was a joint vision of Victoria and Albert. Here, we have plenty of time to explore the elegant state rooms and more intimate family quarters. Outside, you can wander the manicured gardens, explore the world of Victorian children at Swiss Cottage or make your way down to Victoria's private beach. There's the opportunity to enjoy lunch in the elegant Terrace Restaurant and Orangery before we make our way back to the hotel.

The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure, giving you time to relax before dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today after breakfast, we tour the isle's most renowned attractions, travelling to the western reaches of the Isle of Wight to view the iconic Needles. From the cliffs, we admire these striking stacks of chalk rising out of the sea. On the furthest 'needle' is a circular lighthouse, built in 1859 and still operational today.

Heading to nearby Yarmouth, we soak up the atmosphere of this charming harbour town. Brimming with history, there is time to explore the cobbled streets, quaint shops, cafés and main square, overlooked by the town's church. From here, we head inland to historic Carisbrooke Castle. Famous for serving as a royal prison to Charles I during the English Civil War, today it's the location of the Edwardian-style Princess Beatrice Garden.

Our final visit is to picturesque Godshill, a quintessentially English village with historic architecture. There's time to discover its thatched buildings, medieval church and even its own model village, with scale models of Shanklin and Godshill as they were in the 1920s. Returning to Sandown, we enjoy dinner at our hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A free day to enjoy the Isle of Wight at your own pace awaits after breakfast. Whether you choose to stay local or venture further afield, there's no shortage of ways to make the most of your day.

You might like to begin with a relaxing stroll along Sandown's seafront, where the esplanade offers classic seaside charm and views across the Channel. For a taste of local life, nearby Shanklin is easy to reach. This pretty resort town is known for its old village, complete with thatched cottages, independent shops and inviting cafés. Just beyond, Shanklin Chine offers a peaceful walk through a leafy gorge, with waterfalls and woodland paths leading down to the beach. Alternatively, nature lovers might enjoy exploring the island's scenic walking trails or heading to the east coast's quieter corners, such as Bembridge or the marshes near Yaverland, where you may spot wading birds and coastal wildlife.

However you choose to spend your day, the Isle of Wight's easy pace and coastal beauty make it a joy to explore. Dinner is served at the hotel this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, we head out for an enjoyable journey on the Isle of Wight's heritage railway. Travelling by local rail to Smallbrook Junction, we board the Isle of Wight Steam Railway for a return journey to Wootton. This line dates from 1862 and winds through unspoilt countryside, traversing the heart of the island past scenic woodland, lush meadows and picturesque towns. Hauled by a charming steam locomotive, this is a wonderful way to explore the Isle of Wight as we relive the golden age of rail travel. Along the way, there's a stop at Havenstreet where you can visit the interesting Carriage and Wagon Workshop.

Returning to our hotel, the afternoon is at leisure. The Revetment is a two-mile seawall walk from Sandown to Shanklin and a great way to admire the vistas of the bay. Alternatively, take in the traditional seaside atmosphere on Sandown Pier or find a peaceful spot along the miles of golden sand to spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach.

This evening, we gather at the hotel for our final dinner as a group.

• Breakfast, Dinner

The Isle of Wight has provided many memories during this holiday. We discovered Osborne House, a favourite of Queen Victoria, while Carisbrooke Castle helped reveal the island's history and its picturesque charm was showcased during explorations of Godshill and Yarmouth. We saw the Isle of Wight's impressive natural beauty at the Needles and during the nostalgic journey on a heritage railway, and our base in seaside Sandown showed why the island has been such an enduring draw for generations of visitors.

Your exploration of the Isle of Wight comes to an end after breakfast today as we begin our journey home.

Leaving Sandown, we travel by local rail to Ryde, catching the catamaran back to Portsmouth. Back on the mainland, we say farewell to the Tour Manager and fellow travellers and make our way home - or continue exploring independently.

• Breakfast