In early March we had a short relaxing stay in the Isle of Wight. I had never visited the IoW, but Ann has fond (?) childhood memories.
The weather was dry – but bitterly cold for this time of year – hence the photos show us well wrapped up!
I would highly recommend the Hermitage Hotel. (It is now changed to a holiday home.) As you can see we stayed in a fabulous suite sleeping in a Victorian 4-poster bed. The food was also great in this small, friendly “boutique” style hotel.
The Hoy Monument is just behind the Hermitage hotel. The plaque on the South face explains that it was erected to commemorate the visit of Tsar Alexander 1 of Russia’s visit in 1814. Rather inappropriately these sentiments are countered by a later plaque on the North face in memory of the British fallen soldiers at the battles of Inkerman & Sevastopol in the Crimean war 40 years later.
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The Needles at the Western-most tip of the island
are probably its most famous landmark (watermark?!).
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Alum Bay is known for its multi-coloured sand cliffs.
A traditional tourist-related product is the creation of ornaments
using the coloured sands layered in vials and jars.
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Hanover Point. A bracing walk along the beach after descending Brook Chine.
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The cliff path along the southern coast takes in St Catherine’s Lighthouse
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There is always something rather forlorn about closed out-of-season tourist arcades such as this one on the Shanklin sea front.
Carisbrooke Castle
Carisbrooke is all that an ancient castle should be:- ramparts to climb on, romantic ruins, dominant views of the surrounding countryside and a bit of history thrown in as well. Carisbrooke Castle is strategically in the centre of the Isle of Wight and ticks all the right boxes (except that the tea-rooms were closed!).
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The Great Hall from the Gatehouse
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The Battlements and Keep
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The Great Hall
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Cannon on the East Bastion
& behind me is the Bowling Green, created to keep Charles I
entertained while imprisoned here.
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The bedroom where Charles I tried to escape, but got stuck in the window.
British history might have been totally changed if he had managed to squeeze through the windows!
Osborne House
Osborne House is a very grand stately mansion; and if you are in to everything Victorian, then you have got to visit it. Designed by Prince Albert to reflect the contemporary “Italianate” style.
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Osborne House from the Gardens
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The Main Entrance. The “family house” is the central Pavilion to the left of the Tower.
The rest of the complex is a combination of state rooms & apartments.
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The Grand Corridor with the Loggia above
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The Calydonian Boar keeping guard by the visitor’s entrance.
Behind is the wing housing the Indian Durbar Room – the most exotic room in Osborne.
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Ann in the Pavilion Terrace Gardens.
All the statues in the gardens were wrapped up for winter protection.
