isle of wight question

We have two days in Southampton pre-cruise (August 10-12,2017) and would like to spend one day on Isle of Wight. We are staying at the Grand Harbour Hotel and would like to take either the Red Funnel ferry or their Red Jet to IOW. I would like to hire a car to get around. Are there car rental offices close to the ferry docks that would make that possible? On IOW, what would be a reasonable one day itinerary?

I realize this question has probably been asked many many times.....I am sorry for the redundancy. Planning a long trip and cruise excursions in Norway has been a daunting task from California....my mind has turned to mud! So I'm taking the easy way out and going directly to the experts!

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Until someone who knows more about the IOW reads your question, have a little look at the visit IOW site. I'd like to visit Osborne House. Queen Victoria's summer home and now run by English Heritage. I also like IOW pearls. It's in a lovely location, with a restaurant/tea rooms. You may wish to buy a lovely souvenir. It's not a 'tat' souvenir place.

https://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/travel/getting-around/by-car

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/osborne

http://www.iowpearl.com/your-visit/

:)

There are a number of rental depots a very short walk from your hotel, including Hertz, Alamo, Europcar, National and SixT.

As far as I'm aware, the rental agencies don't charge extra for taking the car on a ferry.

Using a random date and times, two people taking a car only works out about £10 - £15 more expensive than crossing as foot passengers - so it's simpler to rent from Southampton rather than to cross on foot and rent on the Island. But do double-check the car versus foot-passenger fares for your date in case it's different. Sorry, no experience on renting a car at Cowes.

Because taking a car restricts you to the car ferry, the crossing is about an hour e/w rather than about 35 minutes on the fast-jet but it's a more relaxed way of crossing & gives you time to take in the sights as you cross.

Do check the hours that the rental agencies are open, though you should be able to book a 24-hour period that allows you to return the car next morning at no extra cost.

Best to get as small a car as is practical for your party, which will make life easier on some of the Island's narrow & winding roads and for parking. And bear in mind that unless you specify automatic transmission cars are normally shift-stick.

I'll get back here later today or tomorrow with itinerary suggestions.

JB :)

There are a number of rental depots a very short walk from your hotel, including Hertz, Alamo, Europcar, National and SixT.

As far as I'm aware, the rental agencies don't charge extra for taking the car on a ferry.

 

Using a random date and times, two people taking a car only works out about £10 - £15 more expensive than crossing as foot passengers - so it's simpler to rent from Southampton rather than to cross on foot and rent on the Island. But do double-check the car versus foot-passenger fares for your date in case it's different. Sorry, no experience on renting a car at Cowes.

Because taking a car restricts you to the car ferry, the crossing is about an hour e/w rather than about 35 minutes on the fast-jet but it's a more relaxed way of crossing & gives you time to take in the sights as you cross.

 

Do check the hours that the rental agencies are open, though you should be able to book a 24-hour period that allows you to return the car next morning at no extra cost.

Best to get as small a car as is practical for your party, which will make life easier on some of the Island's narrow & winding roads and for parking. And bear in mind that unless you specify automatic transmission cars are normally shift-stick.

 

I'll get back here later today or tomorrow with itinerary suggestions.

 

JB :)

Thank you for such a quick response. In light of your idea about renting in Southampton...one additional question. If we didn't rent a car at all, how reasonable is to see sites and get around in one day on IOW? We would probably be on the first ferry to IOW and last ferry returning to Southampton.

Until someone who knows more about the IOW reads your question, have a little look at the visit IOW site. I'd like to visit Osborne House. Queen Victoria's summer home and now run by English Heritage. I also like IOW pearls. It's in a lovely location, with a restaurant/tea rooms. You may wish to buy a lovely souvenir. It's not a 'tat' souvenir place.

 

https://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/travel/getting-around/by-car

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/osborne

http://www.iowpearl.com/your-visit/

:)

When we travel, I always buy a Christmas ornament from each place. I have a separate "travel Christmas tree" that I put up each year. It's so much fun to unpack the ornaments and remember our travels...like being there again! Is there a shop you recommend that has Christmas ornaments?

There is an Island HOHO service as well as regular bus services.

https://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/travel/getting-around/by-bus

Carisbrooke castle where Charles the first was imprisioned after his defeat in the Civil War is also on the island and run by English Heritage.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/carisbrooke-castle/?utm_source=Google%20Business&utm_campaign=Local%20Listings&utm_medium=Google%20Business%20Profiles&utm_content=carisbrooke%20castle

For Christmas ornaments, there used to be a tradition on the island Wight of collecting the colours sands of Alum bay and filling glass ornaments with them, they may have something suitable there, but I can not say for sure.

http://www.theneedles.co.uk/pages/sand-shop

M

When we travel, I always buy a Christmas ornament from each place. I have a separate "travel Christmas tree" that I put up each year. It's so much fun to unpack the ornaments and remember our travels...like being there again! Is there a shop you recommend that has Christmas ornaments?

Christmas sales are very seasonal in the UK, we have hardly any year-round "Christmas shops" like you do in the US. Your best bet is in London, if you're spending time there.

The Hatters fan mentioned the multi-coloured sands of Alum Bay (think Artist's Palette in Death Valley, but much smaller and more commercialised). As a kid I could buy a glass lighthouse & fill it from the cliffs, nowadays you fill a lighthouse or other glass receptacles from bins at the top of the cliff. A good souvenir, I doubt they have anything like a Rudolph or a Santa but mebbe.

Thank you for such a quick response. In light of your idea about renting in Southampton...one additional question. If we didn't rent a car at all, how reasonable is to see sites and get around in one day on IOW? We would probably be on the first ferry to IOW and last ferry returning to Southampton.

Bob has linked the island's ho-ho's. They're a great way to see the island, but they don't include (East) Cowes where the car ferry arrives, or West Cowes where the fast-ferry arrives, or Newport (Carisbrook Castle) or Godshill or several other places you might want to visit, so you need to use a mix of ho-ho's and regular buses. Cheap at just £10 pp all-in, but you will waste a fair bit of time.

Personally I'd use the buses only to visit, say, Queen Vic's Osborne House (short bus ride from the car ferry terminal) and Carisbrooke Castle (same bus further to Newport, which is the hub of the island's bus service) or Godshill (change buses at Newport).

You'll have gotten some idea of the island's sights from the links others have provided. You may prefer other places, but can I suggest you consider stops at Arreton Barns, Godshill, Shanklin and The Needles/Alum Bay. Only 61 miles but google has it at 2hrs 47, which demonstrates how slow the island's roads are.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/East+Cowes+Terminal,+East+Cowes+PO32+6RF/Arreton+Barns+Craft+Village,+Newport/Godshill/Shanklin/Blackgang+Chine/The+Needles/East+Cowes+Terminal/@50.6717674,-1.5258646,11z/data=!4m54!4m53!1m5!1m1!1s0x487464abde034ee7:0xa379dc4dace8d5b8!2m2!1d-1.290818!2d50.759205!1m5!1m1!1s0x487480c5c9b2c6d9:0x3e87807267a66233!2m2!1d-1.2465405!2d50.6774523!1m5!1m1!1s0x487488522f668f2f:0xc8d6c50f6dac21e5!2m2!1d-1.25408!2d50.634742!1m10!1m1!1s0x48748978b2ffc85d:0xc34bab4b8203a2f0!2m2!1d-1.175199!2d50.634675!3m4!1m2!1d-1.2119468!2d50.5961537!3s0x4874894e9222c785:0xf895bc218d216f25!1m5!1m1!1s0x4874867566985967:0xed49f3c58b269383!2m2!1d-1.3123571!2d50.5884489!1m10!1m1!1s0x487378a43d6b8af3:0x8e10e3156c80a0f7!2m2!1d-1.5898395!2d50.6626024!3m4!1m2!1d-1.3752968!2d50.7026829!3s0x48747dc87d094c31:0x9db3a05556ce1a7d!1m5!1m1!1s0x487464abde034ee7:0xa379dc4dace8d5b8!2m2!1d-1.290818!2d50.759205!3e0

If you wanted a little more, you could start out eastwards toward Ryde and after Wootton Bridge peel off the main road & up onto the Downs (adds 15 minute driving) or to the restored steam railway at Havenstreet (adds 10 mins driving plus a stop) & on to Arreton Barns.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/East+Cowes+Terminal,+East+Cowes+PO32+6RF/Arreton+Barns+Craft+Village,+Newport/@50.7185577,-1.2583818,13z/data=!4m19!4m18!1m10!1m1!1s0x487464abde034ee7:0xa379dc4dace8d5b8!2m2!1d-1.290818!2d50.759205!3m4!1m2!1d-1.1773456!2d50.7103296!3s0x4874619f50ee7519:0x123b78e0f194e751!1m5!1m1!1s0x487480c5c9b2c6d9:0x3e87807267a66233!2m2!1d-1.2465405!2d50.6774523!3e0

One fairly useful tip. Take the route from Shanklin to the Needles in the direction shown, not from the Needles to Shanklin Some parts of the road are narrow and truckers have an unofficial one-way system in this part of the island to avoid (as best they can) two trucks meeting. You'll see that the ho-hos do the same. Go in the Shanklin to the Needles direction & you're unlikely to meet trucks.

This coastline is the most scenic part of the island. Isle of Wight Pearl is along this stretch - a bit touristy but worth a browse and or a coffee.

JB :)

I really appreciate the advice and expertise from all. Thank you very much!

We will have a rental car and show up in Southampton on 26 October (2 nights) and leave on the 28th on a cruise. The previous 2 nights we will spend in Winterspoon and visit Salisbury and Winchester. Is it worthwhile to catch the car ferry to IOW for a day trip? We have spent a lot of time in Great Britain, but not on the islands. Just wondering if a day trip is worth it, or should we hold off until we have a few days to spend on the island.

When we travel, I always buy a Christmas ornament from each place. I have a separate "travel Christmas tree" that I put up each year. It's so much fun to unpack the ornaments and remember our travels...like being there again! Is there a shop you recommend that has Christmas ornaments?

I bought a lovely blown glass bauble from the glass blowers at the Needles landmark attraction.

We used the island buses for our day on the IOW, but we came from Portsmouth.

We will have a rental car and show up in Southampton on 26 October (2 nights) and leave on the 28th on a cruise. The previous 2 nights we will spend in Winterspoon and visit Salisbury and Winchester. Is it worthwhile to catch the car ferry to IOW for a day trip? We have spent a lot of time in Great Britain, but not on the islands. Just wondering if a day trip is worth it, or should we hold off until we have a few days to spend on the island.

Hi, Kim,

I'm pretty certain that "Winterspoon" is from your memory, not from a map or a document.

And that your memory is as bad as mine ;p

I can't even guess where you meant. :confused:

And that's kinda important, because there are several ferry routes to the Isle of Wight - Lymington to Yarmouth, Southampton to Cowes (fast ferry) or East Cowes (car ferry), and Portsmouth to Ryde (fast-ferry or hovercraft) or Fishbourne (car ferry).

But late October isn't a good time to visit the Isle of Wight. It's very much a holiday island, late October is well out-of-season, lots of attractions will be closed, daylight hours will be short (around 8.30am to 5pm ?), and the weather (and even fast- ferries) will be unreliable. Could be a very miserable day. :(

Have you spent time in Hampshire or bordering counties before?

Salisbury and Winchester make sense for that time of year.

But have you visited the conjoined cities of Portsmouth & Southsea? Historic dockyard & ships, Gunwharf Quays, Southsea Esplanade with its D-Day museum, little Southsea Castle and views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. If it's fine, even take a ten-minute crossing (foot-passengers only) to Ryde on the hovercraft from Southsea Esplanade or on the fast-ferry from close to the Historic Dockyard. Well worth a very full day or more, in fine weather or foul. http://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/visitor-information

Or if the weather's fine you could use the car to spend a leisurely day getting lost among the little lanes of the New Forest. No ho-ho buses that time of year & some attractions closed. But no traffic jams either, the Forest is for the scenery rather than attractions, and pubs and most tea-shops and cafes will be open. And if the weather turns from fine to foul, you could head for Beaulieu and its complex of Bishop's Palace, Abbey ruins, National Motor Museum, secret army museum (it was the training centre for S.O.E., which sent operatives to France to liaise with the French resistance during WW2), etc. Most things are inside, so good regardless of the weather. https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/attractions/

Or, again only good in fine weather, the Jurassic coast from Corfe Castle via Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door, the Victorian seaside resort of Weymouth, Portland Bill & Chesil Bank to West Bay and even as far as Lyme Regis.

If the weather turns during the day, you could head to the huge tank museum at Bovington http://www.tankmuseum.org/home or to Weymouth.

JB :)

Hi, Kim,

 

I'm pretty certain that "Winterspoon" is from your memory, not from a map or a document.

And that your memory is as bad as mine ;p

I can't even guess where you meant. :confused:

And that's kinda important, because there are several ferry routes to the Isle of Wight - Lymington to Yarmouth, Southampton to Cowes (fast ferry) or East Cowes (car ferry), and Portsmouth to Ryde (fast-ferry or hovercraft) or Fishbourne (car ferry).

 

But late October isn't a good time to visit the Isle of Wight. It's very much a holiday island, late October is well out-of-season, lots of attractions will be closed, daylight hours will be short (around 8.30am to 5pm ?), and the weather (and even fast- ferries) will be unreliable. Could be a very miserable day. :(

 

Have you spent time in Hampshire or bordering counties before?

 

Salisbury and Winchester make sense for that time of year.

 

But have you visited the conjoined cities of Portsmouth & Southsea? Historic dockyard & ships, Gunwharf Quays, Southsea Esplanade with its D-Day museum, little Southsea Castle and views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. If it's fine, even take a ten-minute crossing (foot-passengers only) to Ryde on the hovercraft from Southsea Esplanade or on the fast-ferry from close to the Historic Dockyard. Well worth a very full day or more, in fine weather or foul.

 

JB :)

Oops--it's Winterslow :D. We are staying in a HomeAway place (Owl's Lodge) for two nights to catch up on jet lag and do some walking in the fresh country air. It is on the Wiltshire/Hampshire border. Based on your info, we will save the IOW for another timeframe. Since we are sailors, we will explore some port towns to include Portsmouth. A few years ago, we stayed in Turnchapel, near Plymouth, and lucked out by being there while the America's Cup was running trials in the catamarans. Thank you so much for your inputs, I think we will do quite a few of them.

Osborne house has opened its garden terrace for the 1st time,A trip to Shanklin old village is a nice vist even better if the sun is shining,Steephill cove near Ventnor is another nice place,Most of these places are best visted by car unless your staying on the IOW for a few days,you could spend a week on the IOW visting lots of different towns and sites

Hmmmm, I should have guessed - I live less than ten miles away. :o

Had wondered whether you'd meant the Winterbournes, which are quite close (a "winter bourne" is a stream that only runs in the winter).

The Winterslows (county council websites attributes the name to a winter burial mound) are even more rural - plenty of countryside to ramble, and with a car you're conveniently located between Salisbury and Winchester.

I recall driving a group to Roche Court in East Winterslow, an arty establishment in a country house set in parklands of quirky sculptures.

https://history.wiltshire.gov.uk/community/getcom.php?id=253

http://sculpture.uk.com/

Portsmouth has quite a lot more to offer than Plymouth.

JB :)

When we travel, I always buy a Christmas ornament from each place. I have a separate "travel Christmas tree" that I put up each year. It's so much fun to unpack the ornaments and remember our travels...like being there again! Is there a shop you recommend that has Christmas ornaments?

http://www.jinglebellschristmasshop.co.uk/

Found this website. I haven't studied it, but it may be helpful. :)

http://www.jinglebellschristmasshop.co.uk/

 

Found this website. I haven't studied it, but it may be helpful. :)

LOVE IT!!! Will definitely try to make it there....thank You:)

We rented in London and did an 8 night road trip, ending in Southampton before we got on the Crown Princess on June 17th. The day before the cruise, we took the rental car over, via Lymington. Be sure to have reservations, and note the rate is based on the size of the vehicle. A friend who lives in Bourmemouth took care of the reservations for us, carefully overestimating the vehicle size - no GBP back for that.

We drove to Osborne House and noted that the car park was full! Thankfully, a vehicle was leaving and we squeezed into the spot. Had a wonderful tour, very informative staff, nice cafe, and great gift shop. If I had to do this again, I would have planned an overnight trip. We didn't make it to the Falconry site, but did drive to the Needles for pictures. Had a fantastic lunch at a quaint village, walked through the village, then back to the ferry terminal.

Darcy

We rented in London and did an 8 night road trip, ending in Southampton before we got on the Crown Princess on June 17th. The day before the cruise, we took the rental car over, via Lymington. Be sure to have reservations, and note the rate is based on the size of the vehicle. A friend who lives in Bourmemouth took care of the reservations for us, carefully overestimating the vehicle size - no GBP back for that.

We drove to Osborne House and noted that the car park was full! Thankfully, a vehicle was leaving and we squeezed into the spot. Had a wonderful tour, very informative staff, nice cafe, and great gift shop. If I had to do this again, I would have planned an overnight trip. We didn't make it to the Falconry site, but did drive to the Needles for pictures. Had a fantastic lunch at a quaint village, walked through the village, then back to the ferry terminal.

 

Darcy

Thank you Darcy for your feedback. We decided to just walk on the ferry and walk to Osborne House. After that we are going to do the hop on hop off bus. I have ferry tickets and Osborne house tickets purchased. Like you, I'm sure I will wish we had planned more time on IOW.

Osborne house is lovely and lots to see and do, as previously posted the terrace has just been renovated other must sees ,apart from the house, are Swiss cottage and the beach . You can get a mini bus to Swiss cottage then walk to the beach and get the minibus back to the house, or walk down to Swiss cottage.

The car ferry ride is just under an hour to East Cowes, food and drinks sold on board and you can sit outside on the top deck if you wish. The walk to Osborne house is a mile but it is uphill, the bus stops outside which goes from nearby the ferry terminal ( number 5)

Bumping up for more to see since they asked more recent questions.