New Forest & The Isle of Wight

We rendezvous in Brockenhurst in the heart of the New Forest, the favourite hunting ground of William the Conqueror, where our hotel is secluded within the forest. Fallow deer graze and the famous free-roaming ponies amble slowly by. At our historic and luxurious hotel we enjoy an Introductory Talk and Welcome Dinner.

After breakfast, we journey into the heart of the forest following a meandering route past majestic trees. An ex-army Warrant Officer joins us to describe the New Forest of the Second World War, where thousands of troups gathered for D Day. After lunch we reach Beaulieu where, in 1204, the Cistercian monks built their monastery. We visit the Palace House, home of the Montagu family, and then choose between a continuation of the walk or a visit to the Beaulieu National Motor Museum with 250 historic vehicles. During dinner in the evening, we enjoy the spectacular views from the Riverside restaurant in our second hotel.

We stroll the cobbled streets of the old town of Lymington and then take the spectacular coastal path along the tidal salt marshes (birdwatchers paradise) to the tiny port of Keyhaven. After lunch, at the favoured haunt of smugglers, the Gun Inn, we board our private boat to cruise to the ancient port of Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight stopping to explore Hurst Castle, King Henry V111's fortress en route. On arrival at Yarmouth, we take an afternoon walk towards the other side of the island to our hotel, one time home of Alfred Lord Tennyson, which is located in Freshwater Bay.

We set off from Freshwater Bay to the southwest tip of the island, which ends in the jagged sea-girt chalk pinnacles of The Needles. After seeing the Old Battery, the spectacularly-sited fort with the best views on the island and a key strategic spot through both World Wars, we enjoy our lunch in the island's best pub. In the afternoon we take a scenic walk along the river Yar back to Yarmouth.

This morning we walk in an easterly direction. Our destination is Carisbrooke Castle, a huge, well-preserved fortress dominating the town that was once the capital of the island. A head for heights is needed to walk the ramparts! In the afternoon we return along the chalk downs with far-reaching sea views, to Farringford for our Farewell Dinner.

This morning we visit Osborne House, over-looking the Solent, to the east of Cowes. This royal retreat designed by Prince Albert in 1845 was both royal family home and the venue for state functions; it featured in the film “Mrs Brown”. We enjoy the mix of homely and grand interiors and the parkland surrounding the home where Queen Victoria died in 1901. We take the ferry which cruises up the Solent to Southampton and say Farewell.