Day Trips To The Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is just a short trip from New Forest Hotel, Careys Manor. Hop on the train at Brockenhurst for a direct service to the Wightlink ferry terminal in Lymington. Step aboard for a scenic journey up the Lymington River and into the historic town of Yarmouth. You’ll be there in just 40 minutes.
While away some time in Yarmouth, the smallest seaside town in the country. Walk along the UK’s longest wooden pier, visit Yarmouth Castle and wander around the small boutique shops. A short walk from the town centre you’ll find Off The Rails restaurant. Based in an old railway station this quirky restaurant overlooks the Yarmouth Marshes and Mill Copse and is a great place for a bite to eat.
On the Isle of Wight, epic spaces are yours to enjoy – around half of the Island is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Get outdoors in the sunshine, kick through the leaves in autumn, brace the frosts of winter, idle on the beach or have all of the views to yourself in the quieter months.
Take a walk along the Western Yar Estuary – there’s an easy ramble starting from Yarmouth Sailing Club. You’re bound to spot a wealth of wildlife, with the tidal waters, salt marsh and mudflats being home to a wide range of plants and animals. One hundred years ago, this wasn’t a cycle path but a railway line, with trains operating from Yarmouth Harbour to Freshwater, or inland towards Newport.
Jump on a bus (or a bike) to The Needles to visit the Landmark Attraction of these iconic rock formations. Here you’ll be able to take a chairlift down to Alum Bay beach to look at the coloured sands, visit the Isle of Wight Sweet Manufactory and watch live demonstrations of glassblowing Alum Bay Glass.
While there, visit the Needles New Battery. Operated by the National Trust, this former Victorian fortress was part of Britain’s space race. It really was rocket science – they fired them from this tiny scrap of cliff, from the 1950s to 1970s. You can explore the old tunnels, find out about the rocket tests and get another perspective of The Needles.
Visit Dimbola Museum & Galleries in Freshwater Bay, home of Julia Margaret Cameron, the first female portrait photographer whose most famous work you used to see every day – the image of Charles Darwin on the old £10 note. It’s home to touring photography and art exhibitions as well as a gallery focusing on the Isle of Wight Festival held in 1970, which saw Jimi Hendrix’s last major performance and his last in the UK.
More inspiration can be found at wightlink.co.uk.
Contact our Reservations team on 01590 624467 to reserve discounted Wightlink Ferry tickets for your weekend break in the New Forest.
