Day 10 Isle of Wight Shanklin- Godshill- Newport- Yarmouth- Poole

We had a good sleep last night through to 5am- the room is very nice and I can see why they are a 4 star B & B, but I think we are too polite and very aware that there are other people close by, so feel a little hemmed in. We were whispering cos we could hear the man next door! But a great little place and good for us to try out to see what suits us best- think being anonymous in a hotel may work better.

We left and drove round the Isle of Wight on their small country roads- was easy and scenic. We drove through Godshill a very small village and then headed to Newport where we came across the Carisbrooke castle- it was a more relaxed one after Arundels castle where they watched you like hawks and couldnt take photos inside. Carisbrooke is a sleepy 800 year old castle and only 7.50 pounds pp, cheap compared to Arundels 15 pound pp!

They have the only donkeys in the world who turn the large wheel to lift the water from the well. The guy who did the talk told us about a 10 year old boy who was pulled from seeing the donkeys, screaming and yelling cos he didn’t want to leave them……. And now 30 years later it is his job to lead the demonstrations! And a 87year old lady who first visited the castle as a 6 year old with her great grandmother, then returned 81 years later to see it again- and she is now the great grandmother!

This weather vane was made when princess Beatrice- queen Victorias youngest child (of 9!) lived at the castle.


After this we drove on round the island to the needles- the rocks out on the tip of the island- it was FREEZING driving wind! I could hardly stand up- there were quite a few people there but it was so tacky. 4 pound to park your car and crappy little shops and little amusement rides- bluck!

Left there and on to Yarmouth to the ferry terminal. We got the earlier sailing at 2pm in the choppy water- phew a little rocky! Off the boat we drove through to Poole, the weather got worse as we went and ended in driving rain and hail- made it hard to see but we drove around for a bit before going to a thistle hotel down on the old Quay- with all its amazing yachts in the harbour.

Walked along the road and past about 6 pubs before we chose a noisy but happy one and had haddock and chips with a pint. Back to the hotel to relax and plan tomorrow.

Spaz shot for the day Sam.....Dad reckons he looks like he shaved off his eyebrows......he's right!