My Isle of Wight trip

[168lover]

Hi all, my family and I are going to the Isle of Wight from the 16th to 17th of February for my birthday treat! we will be based at Shanklin for the 2 days and I was wandering if there was anywhere worth going to by train(Because there 483s) or anywhere on the island as we'll have a car. Thanks in advance.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Hmmm... Won't most of the main attractions be closed because it's out of season?

If you have any particular interests then some of us could research what's open and what isn't.

 

[30907]

Looks as if the Steam Railway is closed, and that's the obvious attraction to reach by rail

 

[James Wake]

I would recommend a trip to Alum Bay, and to try out the buses as an alternative way of getting across the island, you can see more from a bus than car, depends if the petrol cost and parking outweighs the cost of a bus ticket.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

If you are going to go to all the way across to Alum Bay, it would be worth taking a look at Fort Victoia a couple of miles away even though the actual attractions there ( which include a huge model railway ) will be closed for the winter. The park area around it is worth a visit - very photogenic. The roof of the Fort will be open and is a good ( landscape! ) photographic vantage point.

 

[Greenback]

I went to the island in February once and it was lovely without the summer crowds. A lot of things will be closed, but the Ryde to Shanklin railway will be operating for that all important train ride, and I think that Shanklin is a nice place to visit at any time of the year.

 

[DarloRich]

The weather will be the issue! You could try Yamouth Castle, Carisbrooke Castle, Osbourne House, The Needles, The Zoo.

You could take a trip to Portsmouth and visit the historic dockyards

 

[Waldgrun]

I would check the cost of taking your vehicle over by ferry, you might find a special rate out of season. Also Shanklin and for that matter Sandown stations are very much at the back of the towns!

 

[168lover]

Well we've booked onto Red Funnel's Car Ferry Service from Southampton to Cowes and we are staying at the Gracille Hotel in Shanklin, not bad return ferry tickets and hotel for £152 all in.

 

[ianhr]

Although sadly then railway no longer goes there, don't miss Ventnor, only a short bus ride or drive from Shanklin. The Undercliffe, Niton and St. Catherines's areas are also beautiful. The Island is really quite small and you should be able to see quite a lot and appreciate the contrast between quiet thinly populated West Wight and the more developed but still attractive eastern half.

 

[Waldgrun]

Nice to see that you are taking a proper ferry to cross, the journey will give time to start to relax, on the trip down Southampton water and across the Solent. Look out for Hythe pier and its railway on the western shore http://www.whitehorseferries.co.uk and perhaps try to seak a visit.Just a thought at The Duver near St Helens the beach huts are made of the bodies from ex Metropolitan Railway rigid 8 wheel coaches!