The Isle Of Wight

[Cal]

We got back on Sunday from a cracking holiday in the van on the Isle of Wight. Couldn't have asked for better weather.

 

Day 1

The long drive from Worksop to Portsmouth to catch the ferry and then a short 5 minute drive to our first overnight stay at Kite Hill Farm. We were impressed with the organisation at the ferry terminal, we were quite early having given ourselves plenty of time for the journey but they happily slotted us onto an earlier ferry.

Every good road trip starts with a McDonalds breakfast!

After a long day on the road, a walk to the pub and a swim in the estuary a little dog was shattered.

 

[Cal]

Day 2

Fishbourne to the Needles to Fort Victoria

A complete change to our plans for the week when we discovered that some internet friends were on the island so we headed across the island to meet up with them. It was a great day meeting new friends but we also discovered a fantastic free park up at Fort Victoria

[Cal]

Day 3

Fort Victoria to Bembridge Harbour

We headed back across the island today to sort of pick up where we should have been on our planned route with another free stopover at Bembridge Harbour. We decided to set off early and this worked a treat as we arrived another van on the beach front parking area was just leaving so we got a great parking spot for the night right on the beach.

We found a really nice pub in the village and an excellent butchers. Will definitely call in there again next time.

[Cal]

Day 4

Bembridge to Sandown to Southland CAMC Campsite

Time to head to a site today to deal with refilling and emptying the relevant tanks. We chose a CAMC site as they are generally pretty good however this was the only place we probably won't bother with next time. It was a very generic site and could have been anywhere.

The rest of the day was good though and the dog was shattered again!

[Cal]

Day 5

Southland to Blackgang Viewpoint to Compton Beach where we went hunting for dinosaur footprints and finally onto Fort Victoria for another lovely night there.

 

[Cal]

Day 5

Back to the Needles to explore the old and new battery. The bus ride up there is utterly terrifying!

Our stopover tonight was The Folly Inn on the banks of the River Medina.

 

[Cal]

Day 6

Our last night on the island. We called into Ryde on our way to our last stopover at Waverley Park in East Cowes.

[Cal]

Day 7

Back onto the mainland today. We had just enough time to visit Quarr Abbey before heading to the ferry terminal. We will certainly visit here again the farm shop is amazing.

It was a lovely smooth ferry crossing and then we had a two hour drive up to Chipping Norton CCC site which is right next door to Jeremy Clarksons farm shop Diddly Squat. So of course we had to call in.

 

 

[Cal]

Day 8

Pretty uneventful day really. We had a two hour drive home in light traffic, unpacked the van and got the weeks worth of washing washed, line dried and put away.

A jerk pork rotisserie on the BBQ finished off what has been a brilliant holiday.

[ChrisB]

You are certainly getting your monies worth from your RV.

[Cal]

52 minutes ago, ChrisB said:

You are certainly getting your monies worth from your RV.

We have not bought it to leave it sat on the drive 

[YnysMon]

Sounds and looks like you had a brilliant time - and even better weather!

[Turnoar]

Nice photos, a Corvette 320 built in Reedham possibly?

 

 

 

[ChrisB]

8 hours ago, Turnoar said:

Nice photos, a Corvette 320 built in Reedham possibly?

 

 

 

Almost certainly. There have been only a handfull built as 320/340 alongside Fleming Motor Yachts. The last I heard the Tiawan yard had the tooling but was yet to get an order, since Reedham closed in 2008/9??.

A great pocket motor yacht and one of my favourites, " Poor mans Grand Banks or Fleming"

There was a very rare single engine 320 at Cobbs Quay for a number of years, owned by a Divers Club I think.

[SwanR]

Fabulous photos Cal. Thanks so much for sharing your trip. We’ve holidayed in Bembridge several times and love it there, although we were outside the village at the Warner’s hotel. That little ferry crossing makes you feel a whole world away. And very well organised as you said. 

[Cal]

12 hours ago, Turnoar said:

Nice photos, a Corvette 320 built in Reedham possibly?

 

 

 

It definitely is.

We both said that if we were to get back into boat ownership again then it would be a Corvette 32 or 320 that we would buy. Absolutely love them. They pack such a lot into a small boat.

[Cal]

15 hours ago, YnysMon said:

Sounds and looks like you had a brilliant time - and even better weather!

The weather was amazing. Really made the trip.

Glad we have come back before it has got really hot though. It was nice to be able to get out and about without it being too hot for the dog.