Salica

You may be able to take a boat trip to one of the 'off' islands, but that very much depends on weather and tides. Would highly recommend if you have the opportunity. Trays co is the next largest island and has beautiful tropical gardens. Otherwise just relax on St Mary's, not far to go to anywhere!!

Stonehenge is a longish way and a very long walk when you arrive. Unless he has been to London before take a London open top bus tour. They are everywhere and you can get on and off at will throughout the city. A ticket lasts for a full 24 hours I believe, so if you buy a ticket at midday one day you can use it again the following morning. So much to see and visit in London there must be something to interest a ten year old. Otherwise Harry Potter world of Legoland?

Hi. I live just a few miles to the north of Plymouth, so hope I can offer some suggestions. Plymouth itself has plenty to offer, part from the shopping area, which is dire. The area known as The Barbican has loads of character dating back several centuries. It is from here that the Pilrim Fathers set sail for America. Lots of individual shops and cafes/restaurants. Also one of the best Aquariums in the world and al wonderful walk along the sea front, known as The Hoe.

Day trips can be taken to places like Dartmouth, a small seaside town which is very attractive, as is Salcombe, an alternative. There will no doubt be a coach trip available to Dartmoor. This is an area of outstanding natural beauty covering 365 square miles, much of which is open countryside with ponies, sheep and cattle roaming freely. The scenery is amazing and September if a fantastic time to visit. If you are able, take a walk away from the road and enjoy the peace and beauty of the countryside. Lots of rivers, steams, tiny picture box villages. Ten miles from Plymouth is the home of Sir Francis Drake, Buckland Abbey, a twelfth century monastery turned into a home, set in beautiful countryside. It is a Natioanl Trust property, therefore well maintained and looked after. There are several other National Trust properties within an hours drive: Saltram just outside Plymouth where Sense and Sensibility was filmed; Greenway, near Dartmouth where Agatha Christie lived and Lanhydrock in Cornwall which is one of the largest NT properties in England, high Victorian but with many earlier parts too.

As someone has already said, The Eden Project in Cornwall, a good hour drive, is one of the top visitor attractions in Britain: essentially a series of enormous greenhouses, but that sounds a poor description of a fascinating place. We go several times a year! there are also some fabulous gardens to visit if you like that sort of thing! several belonging to the NT and some others too. There is a little known gem near to Buckland Abbey called The Garden House, and visits to those two places would make a lovely day out.

I hope this has helped, but if you have specific queries or interests, please come back to me and I will try to help.

Shawnino, thank you. This is site is very useful and I think I have read that the early excursions are kyacking? Maybe hubbie might do that, but I'll pass. I'm the early bird, he's the owl, but never mind. Thanks for the reassurance re travel and ships noise. It all sounds fine. I didn't realise the waters were so calm. That will be a novelty for us.

I imagine our group will be fairly quiet, though as the majority of us will have had ten days together in Ecuador beforehand, we may have got to know each other quite well!

How did you find the water temperature? I love snorkelling, but have been spoilt by the balmy waters of the Caribbean and Indian Ocean. I know they provide shorty wetsuits, but is that likely to be enough in late October? Am contemplating buying a skin but don't know how much that is likely to help. Normally I am happy to go with the flow, but this is one of my life long dreams about to come true, so,I want to get things as right as possible. Thanks again for your help.

Thank you very much for your details Ladybugdm. We are going on the Islander this year at about the same dates as you did in '13, so your references to weather temperatures and water are especially relevant. You have also helped me with a lot of tips, re the cabin, footwear etc and now worried me about the food. Oh well, it won't hurt to loose a few pounds, but I agree with other correspondents, that for what you are paying maybe food should be better, and at least edible, which it sounds that one meal at least, was not.

Can you tell me what sort of times the day trips start? Are they early, pre 8am or later? Also we will be in a cabin on the same deck as yourselves. Did you have disturbance at night from the ships engines, much feel of sea movement, noise from other cabins?

We are spending some time in Ecuador before this trip and will be part of a private charter of Islander. Any further tips that you might have thought off after your long and interesting post, that you might wish to forward to me, would be fantastic. Thank you very much indeed.