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3 Night Isle of Wight Discovery Tour

Freshwater Bay House

■ 3 nights at an HF Country House

■ One itinerary available

■ 73kg CO2 details

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Our 3-night Isle of Wight Discovery Tour lines up a selection of island highlights. Journey along the southwest coast for views of the postcard-worthy Needles, admire Victorian and Georgian architecture in Ryde, and walk through a stunning tree-lined gorge in Shanklin. You’ll also get to admire exotic plants from around the world at Ventnor Botanic Gardens and learn about centuries of history at Carisbrooke Castle.

Accommodation

HF Country House
Chalky white cliffs and eyebrow-arching sea views set the tone for the delights that follow at this county house on the Isle of Wight - Queen Victoria's favourite island that’s just a ferry hop from the South Coast. The location is as gorgeous as it gets; to the south of the village of Freshwater, within pebble-throwing distance of its namesake bay, and just a skip from Tennyson Down. You’ll also be within easy reach of the area’s showstoppers, including the imposing Stag and Mermaid rocks, the multi-coloured sands of Alum Bay, the remarkable Ventnor Botanic Gardens, and the 125-million-year-old dinosaur footprints at Compton Bay. And then, of course, there’s the Needles Old Battery for the ubiquitous photo opportunity and the best views of The Needles.
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Walking grades and options

Trip suitability

Our Discovery holidays give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture of the local area through active sightseeing.

On each Discovery day, you will be walking throughout the course of the day as you explore the venues and locations we visit. You'll also be hopping on and off the coach throughout - you should expect to spend the majority of the day on your feet. Most of this walking will be at attractions but some may be across country tracks or footpaths so be sure to bring sturdy shoes. There will also be stairs to climb in the majority of the venues you visit, though other more accessible options may be available. At some venues, there may also be uneven surfaces, such as cobbles or rocky paths. 

What You’ll Love

  • Spending time in the seaside town of Ryde
  • Visiting the charming village of Shanklin
  • Discovering the history of Carisbrooke Castle
  • Exploring Ventnor Botanic Gardens
  • Admiring the famous Needles
  • Staying in our seafront country house on Freshwater Bay

What's Included

  • Comfortable en-suite accommodation in our country house 
  • Cream tea on arrival day 
  • Cooked or continental breakfast every morning 
  • Daily packed lunches 
  • Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee 
  • Guided sightseeing with an experienced HF Holidays Leader 
  • All transport to and from sites of interest  
  • Easy-to-follow routes, maps, and information in our Discovery Point if you want to explore independently 

    Please note - Entrance fees are not included. See more information tab for details.

Reviews

Itinerary

Discovery Tour

Check-in at the hotel is available from 16:00. If you are a member you can arrive at the house from 14:00. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea at 16:30 and meet other guests.

We begin with a visit to Alum Bay, with its coloured sands and iconic views of the Needles, before enjoying a scenic drive along the island’s Military Road. Running parallel with the island’s southern coast from Freshwater to Chale, it offers unbeatable views of the spectacular coastal scenery. Making a turn inland, the road takes us to Shanklin where we’ll explore the old village and you may choose to walk down through Shanklin Chine, the stunning tree lined gorge that leads to the esplanade below. We end the day at Ventnor with a chance to visit its sub-tropical Botanic Gardens which are split out into zones of the world, so you can travel from New Zealand to the Mediterranean to Japan in a few paces!

Discover the seaside town of Ryde today, with its elegant Victorian and Georgian architecture. Stroll along the seafront enjoying the sandy beaches, or perhaps wander around town taking in the eclectic mix of shops. We spend the afternoon visiting Carisbrooke Castle, located in the centre of the island. Learn about its history and relax in the stunning Edwardian-style Princess Beatrice Garden. There’s time to climb the ramparts and meet the donkeys in the pumphouse who help pump water up from the well.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.

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Accommodation

Freshwater Bay House

Chalky white cliffs and eyebrow-arching sea views set the tone for the delights that follow at this county house on the Isle of Wight - Queen Victoria's favourite island that’s just a ferry hop from the South Coast. The location is as gorgeous as it gets; to the south of the village of Freshwater, within pebble-throwing distance of its namesake bay, and just a skip from Tennyson Down. You’ll also be within easy reach of the area’s showstoppers, including the imposing Stag and Mermaid rocks, the multi-coloured sands of Alum Bay, the remarkable Ventnor Botanic Gardens, and the 125-million-year-old dinosaur footprints at Compton Bay. And then, of course, there’s the Needles Old Battery for the ubiquitous photo opportunity and the best views of The Needles.

A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out). 

Evening entertainment

While evening entertainment varies from house to house, HF Holidays Inter-House Quiz night held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided waking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.

Walks talks 
Our HF Holidays walk leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on guided walking holiday arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s guided walks (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.  

The walking day
Prior to setting off on guided walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house. 

You are welcome to check in from 4pm at the earliest. HF Members can check in earlier, from 2pm. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team. Check out 10am.

•  43 well-appointed guest rooms  •  Exclusive occupancy: 61 guests minimum •  Check in from 4:00pm • For members check in from 2:00pm • Full-board (including cream tea on arrival)  •  Free Wi-Fi  •  Free on-site parking  •  Boot room and drying room  •  2 travel cots & 4 high chairs  •  Discovery Point offering a wide range of local area maps, route guides, and information for self-guided walks  •  Books and games to borrow  •  Licensed bar  •  Three lounges  •  Garden  •  Electric vehicle charging point - Please note, you will need to bring your own cables to use this EV charging point Visit England - Guest Accommodation 

Seasonal dining, tailored for you

Our team of skilled chefs design our dinner menus to showcase the best of each season, from warming winter comfort food to vibrant summer dishes, including vegetarian, vegan  and high-protein options. We also source fruit and vegetables within a  40-mile radius of each house, open every break with a Chef’s Special menu inspired by dishes and flavours of the local area, and are able to adapt dishes to suit special dietary requirements.

Welcome Cream Tea

What better way to start your stay than with a cream tea, served fresh on arrival to make you feel instantly at home.  A quintessentially English tradition, our scones are baked in-house and served with preserves and clotted cream, providing the perfect opportunity to meet fellow walkers.

A hearty breakfast to start the day

Start the day with a freshly-prepared cooked breakfast  and a wide choice from our continental buffet, including  hot drinks, juices and fresh fruit. Our team offer a quick  and friendly service, leaving you fuelled and ready for your day’s adventures.

Our famous picnic lunch

Our personalised picnic lunches are perfect for a day out walking, ready to enjoy when hunger strikes. Choose from a large selection of fresh sandwiches and salads, freshly baked cakes and snacks, including the ever-popular Freddos chocolate bar! Everything is designed to fit neatly into your rucksack, and all of the packaging we provide is recyclable or compostable.

3-course evening meals

Our à la carte evening menus feature a wide choice of starters, mains, and desserts, made with seasonal ingredients and, wherever possible, herbs and vegetables from our own gardens. Shared around sociable tables, dinners are relaxed occasions, with drinks available to order at the table or from the bar, and a traditional Sunday roast to round off the week.

Designed with your comfort in mind, Freshwater Bay House has 43 well-appointed guest rooms available in three categories: Classic, Premium, and Superior. 

Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV. 

Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.

Superior Rooms are even more spacious en-suite guest rooms offering upgraded views of the surroundings*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.

We love: Rooms 19 and 20 on the first floor for their lovely sea views. Rooms 18 and 22 are both corner rooms overlooking the bay and Tennyson Downs. The more spacious Room 24 has five large windows overlooking the gardens and bay as well as a private sitting room. Room 39 on the second floor is a corner room with a bathtub. 

The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply. 

Check in & check out
You are welcome to check in from 4:00pm at the earliest. For members check in is available from 2:00pm (2026). On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team.  

On the day of departure, we kindly ask all guests to check out by 10:00am. You’ll be asked to settle your bill prior to leaving. You may, of course, make a charitable donation to our HF Holidays Pathways Fund if you wish. Please note that we only accept card payments.  

Room supplements

Superior Premium single Premium double/twin Choose your room
£25 pppn £20 pppn £20 pppn £30 per room

 

*Views and layout reflect each properties unique character and location 

*Please note, pool opening hours are: 07:00am – 09:00am and 16:00pm – 18:30pm

For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Freshwater Bay House

Getting here

Address

Freshwater Bay House
Freshwater Bay
Isle of Wight PO40 9RB

Tel: +44 (0)1983 753854

By taxi

From Yarmouth ferry port it’s a five-mile taxi journey that takes approximately 15 minutes. We recommend booking your taxi at least seven days in advance as availability may be limited. 

For pricing, please contact the taxi company directly.

Taxi companies in the area include:

Bay Taxi 
Tel: +44 (0)7475 662350

Rayner’s Taxis
Tel: +44 (0)1983 752784

I Cabs 
Tel: +44 (0)7553 567567

A return journey can be arranged on your behalf by the HF Holidays House Manager at Freshwater Bay.

*HF Holidays does not own or manage any of the above taxi companies.

By Bus

From Yarmouth there are public buses - please check timetables https://www.islandbuses.info/

By train

The nearest station is Lymington Pier on the mainland which is adjacent to the ferry terminal.  

Check National Rail for train times and routes. 

By ferry

You have two ferry options. The Wightlink Lymington to Yarmouth ferry is the most convenient for Freshwater Bay. Should you wish to take the bus from Yarmouth, rather than taxi, the Needles Breezer bus stop is a 2min walk from the ferry terminal, and buses run hourly to Freshwater Bay, a 5min walk to Freshwater Bay House. Alternatively, the Red Funnel Southampton to East Cowes ferry is often the cheapest option if you want to take your car to the Isle of Wight.

HF Holidays member discount 
If you’re a member, you can get  15% off car travel and 20% off foot travel with Wightlink Ferry. For full details visit www.wightlink.co.uk/HFHolidays. 

By car

From Yarmouth
Turn right out of the ferry terminal onto the A3054 and cross the bridge. After one mile, turn left down Pixley Hill, signposted Freshwater Bay. Turn left at Freshwater Garage and continue along Afton Road. At the lifeboat station turn right and follow the road round. Freshwater Bay House is on your left. 

From East Cowes
Follow signs for Newport, taking the A3021 and then A3054. Continue through Newport and Carisbrooke. Turn left onto the B3401 through Calbourne. At the junction with Afton Road (A3055), turn left and then right by the lifeboat station, and follow the road round to Freshwater Bay House. 

Or you can leave your car on the mainland (there’s a pay and display car park at Lymington Pier) and travel on the ferry as a foot passenger. 

By air

The nearest airport is Southampton Airport. 

From Southampton Airport Parkway station (adjacent to the airport terminal) there are regular trains to Lymington Pier, taking about 40 minutes. From here, you’ll need to catch the ferry over to the Isle of Wight. 

Otherwise, the best options are London Heathrow or London Gatwick airports for connecting trains to Lymington Pier.  

Check National Rail for the best routes and train times. 

More Information

Safety Information - Discovery Tours/Discover More Tours

The itinerary may be changed for safety reasons.

Leaders always consider the safety of the group as a whole and may need to alter or curtail the planned itinerary for the day if circumstances dictate. Your leader may refuse to accept a guest if fitness requirements are in doubt, or if clothing, equipment and behaviour are unsuitable. In the event of a problem all leaders carry a mobile phone and first aid kit.

Please note: If you choose to leave the group your leader is no longer responsible for you.

If you have a particular health condition or disability please put this on your guest registration form. This information will be confidential to your leaders and the house manager, but leaders do need to take account of any issues when planning. Please carry a copy of these trip notes with you, or note down the contact phone number for your accommodation (details in the travel section) should you need them in case of emergency.

Packing list - Discovery Tours

The UK has a famously unpredictable climate so it's best to be prepared for weather that’s sunny one minute and raining the next.  To make it easier, here’s a list of items you should consider packing.  

Essentials 

  • Suitable, sturdy footwear with a good grip. You’ll be on your feet for much of the day
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Waterproof overtrousers 
  • Sunhat
  • Rucksack 
  • Water bottle (at least 1 litre capacity) 
  • Sunscreen 
  • Mobile phone
  • UV sunglasses 

Recommended 

  • First aid kit, including plasters
  • Sit mat  
  • Waterproof pouch for valuables 
  • Rubbish bag (remember to always leave no trace) 
  • Wallet/purse 

Optional extras

  • Walking poles,
  • Flask for hot drinks 
  • Durable lunch box 
  • Waterproof rucksack liner 

Carbon Footprint - 73kg CO2

We see it as our responsibility to minimise our emissions, not just for this year but every year to come. Our work with sustainability experts, ecollective, has enabled us to measure our carbon footprint and create a strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of our product by 5% each year. Our ambition is to be net zero by 2040 – earlier if we can.

Learn more

Reviews

Graham Horn (FW)

Graham is a Blue Badge Tour Guide and has led many walking and Discovery tours for HF Holidays since 2009.  This includes a few on the Isle of Wight.  He also frequently pops over to do some exploring on his own.  His favourite places include Osborne House and the IoW steam railway, but he loves sharing those out-of-the-way hidden delights as well.

Please note

We’ll announce the leader for our 2026 holidays shortly. Be assured that all of our expert leaders share one goal; to create exceptional experiences for our guests. Please check back for details in the coming months.

For 2026: Jane Richter

Jane has been guiding tours of the Isle of Wight for 12+ yrs, and moved to ive on the island 10+yrs ago. She loves the island and never tires ofrediscovering’ it with other people.Meeting people from all over the world is one of her perks of the job. Inher words, the worst part is saying goodbye to the groups at the end oftheir holiday. She’s looking forward to sharing the stories and histories of the Isle of Wight with you.

Code: FRW03-HCR05

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Dates & availability

3 Night Isle of Wight Discovery Tour

Members save an additional £30 on this booking and get a range of other exclusive benefits. You can join during booking process. Read more about membership
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If the flights we have organised are cancelled or changed, we’ll do everything we can to find alternative transport, with minimal disruption to your holiday

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