4-Night Isle of Wight Christmas Guided Walking Holiday
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
4-Night Isle of Wight Christmas Guided Walking Holiday Tour Style: Guided Walking Destinations: Isle of Wight & England Trip code: FWXFW-4 1 & 2 HOLIDAY OVERVIEW Spending the festive season on the beautiful Isle of Wight will have you wanting to stay all year. Socialise, walk and get away from the bustle of the mainland on this stunning island. Join our festive breaks and choose from a guided walking holiday in the company of one of our knowledgeable leaders. We pull out all the stops on our festive holidays, with fabulous food, lots of seasonal entertainment and great walks and activities. The walks are tailored to the time of year and will remain flexible to suit the weather conditions. Each day three grades of walk will be offered. So wrap up warm, lace up your boots and go for an invigorating walk. WHAT'S INCLUDED • Wonderful meals – full selection at breakfast, your choice of picnic lunch, an excellent evening meal, afternoon tea and cakes every day, and plenty of festive sweets and nuts • A full programme of organised walks • The services of experienced HF Holidays’ leaders • Any transport to and from the walks www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 1 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 • A packed programme of evening activities offering something festive for everyone, including some old HF favourites • A celebration dinner with all the trimmings on Christmas Day and New Years Eve HOLIDAYS HIGHLIGHTS • Plenty of exercise to walk off the festive excesses • A choice of guided walks in spectacular winter scenery • Just relax, soak up the party atmosphere, enjoy wonderful festive fare and leave all the organising to us • Evening activities include dancing, quizzes and New Year celebrations • Cosy Country House and a special festive cheer TRIP SUITABILITY The walks are tailored to the time of year and will remain flexible to suit the weather conditions. Each day three grades of walk will be offered. Typically, easier walks are up to a maximum of 4 miles (6½km), medium walks are up to a maximum of 7 miles (11km), while harder walks can be up to a maximum of 9 miles (14½km). ITINERARY Day 1: Arrival Day You're welcome to check in from 4pm onwards. Enjoy a complimentary Afternoon Tea on arrival. Day 2: Calbourne To Freshwater Bay Option 1 - Mottistone To Freshwater Bay Distance: 5 miles (8km) Ascent: 525 feet (160m) In Summary: This linear walk takes us from Mottistone Manor towards the famous Longstone before meandering along the Tennyson trail and arriving back in Freshwater Bay. Highlight: A 10 ton, 13 feet high megalith of iron sandstone. The Longstone is one of just three surviving field monuments from the Neolithic period on the Isle of Wight. Option 2 - Wooded Trails & Grassy Downs Distance: 6.5 miles (10.5km) Ascent: 750 feet (220m) In Summary: Starting from Calbourne, the prettiest village on the island, we follow the footpath passing Winkle Street, and then ascending on to Westover Down before crossing countryside following the Tennyson Trail back to Freshwater Bay. Highlight: Visiting the postcard village of Calbourne and enjoying breathtaking views of land and sea while walking along the Downs. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 2 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 Option 3 - Mottistone Down Distance: 8½ miles (14km) Ascent: 1,100 feet (340m) In Summary: From Winkle Street ascend over the Downs, descending Mottistone Down to the south coast. You then follow the coastal path back to Freshwater Bay. Highlight: The final section over Compton Down enjoys splendid views over Freshwater Bay, and back along the island's southwest coast. Day 3: Tennyson Down And Alum Bay Option 1 - A Visit To Tennyson's Memorial Distance: 3.7 miles (5.9km) Ascent: 460 feet (140m) In Summary: An easy circular walk around Tennyson Down to reach the Tennyson Monument, passing by points of interests that were reminisces of the Napoleonic wars. Highlight: Standing on a long chalk ridge, Tennyson Monument sits on the highest point of Tennyson Down offering magnificent views over land and sea. Option 2 - Over Tennyson Down Distance: 7 miles (11km) Ascent: 1,250 feet (360m) In Summary: A fabulous walk over the chalk cliffs of Tennyson Down to the Needles and the Alum Bay; one of England's finest coastal walks. Highlight: The commanding view over the Western Solent from the Tennyson Monument. You'll also discover the once secret rocket testing range, and the area's role in the space race. Option 3 - Headon Warren & The Needles Distance: 8½ miles (13.5km) Ascent: 1,250 feet (380m) In Summary: We start by head to the coast at Totland Bay then soak up glorious sea view as you round the Needles headland and return over Tennyson Down. Highlight: The heather-clad headland of Headon Warren is a real delight, and offers the best views of the Needles. Day 4: The Yar Valley Option 1 - Yar Valley To Yarmouth Distance: 4 miles (6km) www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 3 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 Ascent: 350 feet (120m) In Summary: A one-way walk beside the tidal River Yar to the historic town of Yarmouth with its bustling harbour and Tudor castle. We’ll take a bus back to Freshwater Bay House. Highlight: The salt marsh, reedbeds and mud flats of the Yar Estuary are a great place to see wildfowl and waders. Option 2 - The Yar Valley Distance: 7 miles (11km) Ascent: 350 feet (120m) In summary: Walk beside the tidal River Yar to the historic town of Yarmouth with its bustling harbour and Tudor castle. We’ll return on the opposite side of the river back to Freshwater Bay. Highlight: The salt marsh, reedbeds and mud flats of the Yar Estuary are a great place to see wildfowl and waders. Option 3 - Yarmouth And The Three Forts Distance: 9 miles (14.5km) Ascent: 550 feet (180m) In summary: Walk through Golden Hill Country Park to the coast at Fort Victoria with uninterrupted views across the Solent to Hurst Castle on the mainland. Continue on the Coastal Path into the old port of Yarmouth and return to Freshwater beside the River Yar. Highlight: A walk full of history from the Victorian forts at Golden Hill & Fort Victoria to the remains of Henry Vlll’s castle at Yarmouth. Day 5: Departure Day Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home. ACCOMMODATION Freshwater Bay House Holidaying on the picturesque Isle of Wight doesn’t get any better than at Freshwater Bay House. Stood atop the island’s classic white cliffs and dominating the bay that it is named after, Freshwater Bay House has a gorgeous location. As well as 43 bedrooms, many decked out in blue and white printed wallpaper featuring foam-tipped waves breaking softly across the walls that act as a promise of the coastal scenery to come, there are three lounges and a friendly bar. Extensive gardens give on to the coast path, with a staircase that drops to the beach one way, while a path leads away across Tennyson Down towards the Needles in the other direction. If you’re experiencing some of the island’s plentiful sunshine (it averages around 2,000 hours a year), head to Alum Bay for coloured sands or Compton Bay for dinosaur footprints. Explore Carisbrooke Castle, stroll through Ventnor Botanic Gardens and keep an eye out for red squirrels in Borthwood Copse and America Wood. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 4 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 Matchless Country House Accommodation Accommodation Info Need To Know Important Covid-19 Steps We Have Taken For Guest Safety: Please Read Following the relaxation in government guidance on 19 July, we are continuing to take extra steps to keep our guests leaders, and staff safe in our HF country houses. We ask all our guests to respect the measures put in place. The English, Scottish and Welsh governments are not in sync, so measures in our country houses will vary between the nations. With the relaxation of social distancing in England, from 19 July we will be allowing larger groups to dine and relax in the bar together. However, we will still give guests space e.g. we will seat 6 people at a table where pre-pandemic we may have seated 8. We will ensure our public rooms are well ventilated by opening doors and windows wherever possible. If you have any concerns about distancing, please speak to the House Manager. The government recommendation for England is to wear face coverings in crowded areas. You must wear a face covering by law in public areas in hotels in Scotland. This is mandatory in public spaces; however, face coverings will not be required whilst eating and drinking in the restaurant and bar areas or whilst you are outside our houses. In Wales face coverings will remain a legal requirement indoors, with the exception of hospitality premises. As a temporary measure, we will not be servicing rooms during a stay. Extra tea, coffee, milk, and toiletries will be made available on request for all guests. It is recommended that guests bring their own toiletries for the duration of their stay. We will though be increasing the frequency of cleaning in our public areas providing particular attention to frequently touched items including door handles and handrails. Menus for the week will be available in your room on arrival. A self-service breakfast will be served from 7.45am – 9am. Picnic lunches will now be pre-ordered the night before from an order form in the room.