The Wonders of the Isle of Wight with Midi & Isobel

The Wonders of the Isle of Wight 

The infamous tourist attraction The Needles was a must see! The sun was shining and the blue waters glistened away making the chalky rocks stand out even more. 

We spent the afternoon at the glass and sweet factory. Here we watched the skilled glassblowers make some beautifully coloured vases and ornaments and then learnt the process of sweet making. Luckily for us we got to sample some tasty treats. 

Next, it was our turn to get creative in the sand shop as we individually filled an ornament of choice with the brightly coloured sand that can only be found on the island. We were all super proud of our creations!

Robert decided he would like to ride the iconic Needles chairlift which goes from the top of the Alum Bay cliffs and down to the beach below giving spectacular views of the picturesque rocks and lighthouse as well as the multi-coloured sand cliffs. 

An ice cream treat in the sun was definitely deserved.

Today, we visited Godshill, a charming village with its thatched roofs, tea rooms and the famous Model Village. It is set in two acres of the most stunning landscaped gardens with tremendous trees trimmed and manicured to perfection. The miniature village were replicas of both Shanklin and Godshill complete with its own miniature railway. We managed to find most of the hidden red squirrels which are placed randomly around the grounds and our favourite scene was of the wedding taking place in the church. 

The evening entertainment was something that we looked forward to every night. There was such a variety of singing and dancing and comedy acts for us to enjoy. You would always find us on the dance floor until late into the night. 

A great day was spent at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. This is a heritage railway and passes through 5.5 miles of beautiful countryside beginning at Wooton Station. This is a delightful Edwardian country station complete with waiting room and ticket office and it wasn’t long before we could hear the sound of the steam train chugging towards us; it was a fabulous sight to see. We boarded the train and admired the fabulous scenery on our way to Havenstreet, this being the main station which was restored in 1940. Here, we visited the small museum with various artefacts and information from the railway's history on some of the earliest locomotives to run on the island. 

We took our seats at the Haven Falconry where we watched an amazing display of Harris Hawks, Falcons and Kites take to the skies. They flew so low and inbetween the spectators at an amazing speed. 

In the glorious sunshine we headed to Freshwater Bay. As we walked along the seafront, we admired the picturesque beach surrounded by tall white cliffs. We visited the Lifeboat charity shop where some of the group managed to buy some music cd's to add to their collection.