TRAIN BEGINNER. Isle of Wight. England's largest AND sunniest island WEEKEND

Public-transport friendly • Both hikes start/finish at the hostel

The whole trip is easily doable by train + ferry + short local bus (10 mins).

Leave mainland England behind and sail across the Solent to the Isle of Wight — England’s largest island — with a noticeably milder microclimate. The island averages nearly 5 hours of sunshine a day, and its chalk cliffs, sweeping downs and sea views have drawn visitors since Roman times. Queen Victoria loved it so much she built Osborne House here and spent over half a century visiting.

We’ll show you the island’s greatest coastal scenery, including elevated chalk ridges with panoramic sea views and the iconic Needles.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore England’s largest island with two guided coastal hikes
• Enjoy a milder microclimate and around 5 hours’ sunshine/day
• Walk the white-cliff coastline and ridge of Tennyson Down
• See the famous Needles chalk stacks and multi-coloured Alum Bay cliffs
• Explore beaches, downs and pretty villages of the west Wight AONB
• Discover why this walking paradise has 500+ miles of footpaths and hosts England’s largest walking festival
• Fully catered weekend including Saturday dinner (plus our signature post-hike cream tea)

Taster video - LINK

WEEKEND DESCRIPTION

The Isle of Wight is a true gem — compact yet full of variety, with 60 miles of coastline ranging from sheltered bays to dramatic cliff tops. It became an island around 7,000 years ago when rising seas cut it off from mainland Britain, leaving a place that feels close yet distinctly different. The adventure begins with a ferry crossing over the Solent, giving us our first sea views before we set foot on the island.

A defining feature is the chalk ridge that runs like a backbone from east to west. From its high points you can enjoy twin views: one side dropping to white cliffs and open sea, the other stretching across rolling downs. Beneath your boots, the geology shifts — chalk, greensand, clay, limestone, and sandstone — supporting rich habitats. The Isle of Wight is one of the last British refuges of the red squirrel and home to 43 butterfly species.

We’ll be staying in our exclusively hired Edwardian hostel on the quieter western side, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Hikes start right from the door, taking in flora-filled downs, secluded coves, and pretty villages.

Nicknamed “Dinosaur Isle”, the island has yielded fossils from over 20 dinosaur species and more than 240 Bronze Age burial mounds. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert built Osborne House here, spending over 50 years enjoying its mild climate. The poet Lord Tennyson also lived here, inspired by the views that now bear his name.

Across the weekend, you’ll walk peaceful coastal trails, enjoy sweeping cliff-top panoramas, explore quaint harbour towns, and discover the island’s unique blend of sea, scenery, and history.

ITINERARY

Friday

Travel from London by train to Lymington, short ferry to Yarmouth, then a brief local bus to our exclusively hired Edwardian hostel at Totland Bay. Settle in, have a drink and get to know the group.

Driving? Several car-ferry routes serve the island, and the hostel has private off-road parking.

Saturday

Hike: Freshwater and Yarmouth coastal town
Distance: 10 miles (16km)
Ascent: 185m
Grading: Beginner
Hiking time: 4.5 to 5.5 hours

We begin in Freshwater Bay, a beautiful curve of beach framed by white chalk cliffs, before following a gentle but rewarding loop. The trail takes us through leafy woodland and across a nature reserve alive with coastal birdlife. We’ll follow quiet paths to the harbour town of Yarmouth, with its cobbled streets, pretty waterfront, and historic pier — perfect for a short break to soak up the atmosphere. From here, we make our way back along scenic coastal stretches and open fields to the hostel, where freshly prepared cream teas followed by our group dinner await.

Sunday

Hike: The Needles and Tennyson Down circular
Distance: 9 miles (14km)
Ascent: 365m
Grading: Beginner/intermediate - a few hills, but fairly short
Hiking time: 4 to 5 hours

Sunday’s hike is the showpiece — arguably the finest walking route on the island. We climb gently onto the elevated chalk ridge of Tennyson Down, where panoramic sea views open up in both directions. As we follow the ridge, the landscape narrows towards the island’s most famous landmark: The Needles, a dramatic line of chalk stacks rising from the sea. Every turn feels like the next postcard-perfect view. On the return, we keep high above the coast, passing windswept grasslands and open downs, before descending back to the hostel for our farewell.

Typical finish time at the hostel: 14:30–15:15. This marks the end of the organised trip.

COST & PAYMENT

EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT £148

£159 but if you are one of the first 25 people to book, you will get an early booking price of £148. Click “Attend” to pay the £30 deposit by PayPal. The remainder is due by bank transfer within 7 days, we’ll email payment details once your booking is processed.

We have one two person room upgrade for two people who are coming together, this is an additional £60, so £30 each, to book whilst available please email us: info@outdooraholics.co.uk

Trip payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. When the trip is sold out fully paid spaces can be advertised to the same gender, for details: FAQ

TRANSPORT, ACCOMMODATION AND START TIME

The trip starts at the venue. You can reach it by car or also public transport (train/ferry) combined with a short bus or taxi ride. If you’d like to drive or request a lift share: Lift share discussion

The accommodation address is at the top of this page. Arrival is from 7pm onwards only - there is no access before 7pm which is when the trip begins.

FOOD

Breakfast and packed lunches are included in the cost and will be provided for Saturday and Sunday. Dinner on Saturday night is also provided. You will need money for drinks for the trip.

Breakfast is healthy and nutritious - typically cereal, porridge with fresh fruit, berries, nuts and seeds, fresh fruit salad, free range eggs, yogurt, toast and coffees, teas etc.

For lunch we provide fruit, crisps, cereal bars and a range of options to make your own sandwiches typically tomatoes, cucumber, houmous, peanut butter, honey, jam, ham, cheese and salami.

After the hike we enjoy Cream Teas - an English delicacy consisting of scones, clotted cream and jam, a tasty treat!

Meals are meat based with vegetarian options. To find out if the food being provided meets your intolerance/allergies/preferences/likes/dislikes etc, please email us. You are welcome to bring your own favourite items to meet specific requirements and there is a fridge and kitchen you can use.

THE PRICE INCLUDES:

• 2 nights in hostel accommodation (4 and 6-bedded single gender rooms)
• Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday
• Packed lunches are provided for Saturday and Sunday
• Dinner on Saturday night
• Hikes by a trained guide
• Compliance with the 2018 Package Travel Regulations including Financial protection

THE PRICE EXCLUDES:

• Transport to and from the trip

SAFETY - Your guide is a trained hike leader. Outdoor activities involve a risk of personal injury. Please bring suitable hiking footwear and hiking clothes such as warm clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers - CLOTHING TIPS

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