The Wonders of the Isle of Wight with Ayshea & Matt

 The Wonders of the Isle of Wight 

Our first full day was packed with activities. We explored the beautiful Norton Grange grounds before enjoying the swimming pool and jacuzzi, followed by a lively archery session. Music Bingo, games of snooker, pool, darts and shuffleboard kept everyone entertained. 

The evening was rounded off with performances from Connor Dickson and the brilliant Paul Da Vinci, whose classic hit Sugar Baby Love had the whole group up on the dancefloor.


Sunday took us to Alum Bay and The Needles, where we watched the talented glassmakers create beautiful hand-crafted pieces before browsing the enormous gift shop. We also discovered how traditional Isle of Wight sweets are made, watched a fascinating rhubarb and custard demonstration and enjoyed tasting the finished treats. Creating our own colourful Alum Bay sand souvenirs proved another big hit.     
      


Monday brought a visit to Osborne House, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s beautiful former seaside residence. We explored the gardens, admired the stunning views across the Solent and stepped inside the magnificent house to discover how the royal family lived. A particularly special moment came when we spotted a red squirrel during the drive – one of the island’s famous residents!       










     
Later, we headed to Ryde to watch the unique passenger hovercraft arrive and depart, 



Tuesday combined animals and steam trains. At the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, we met some of the many rescued donkeys, ponies and mules, with the wonderfully characterful miniature donkey Wizzy proving a particular favourite. 

We then travelled to Havenstreet for a nostalgic journey on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, travelling through beautiful countryside aboard a vintage steam train. The Train Story museum provided plenty of fascinating railway history.  

 Naturally, the evening finished with more dancing!   

Wednesday saw us head to Sandown, where the golden beach provided the perfect setting for a paddle in the sea – although Maria and Kellie soon discovered just how chilly the water really was! We walked along Sandown Pier, enjoyed the amusement arcades and then travelled to Ryde for lunch and a competitive game of ten-pin bowling, with David and Marie taking the top spots.  
  
       
Our final full day took us to the charming village of Godshill, where we explored the incredible Model Village and tested our observation skills with a quiz. The tiny buildings, gardens, railway and hidden red squirrels made for a delightful visit, followed by lunch, homemade cake and a little souvenir shopping. 






















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