Scott Polar Research Institute

Ironically, even through we live just down the road, we went to Antarctica before visiting the Scott Polar Research Institute. It's great, free to enter and a real treat for an Antarctica geek. The current exhibition focussed on Shackleton and the background stories of all of the crew, which is something I haven't read before. I especially loved the hand drawn drawing of the journey on South Georgia, part of which I walked last year.

Afternoon tea at Kensington Palace

My Christmas present was a trip to Kensington Palace, including brunch at the orangery. I have almost completed the royal residences, just Clarence House to go in the summer. Kensington Palace is unlike the others. You can take pictures, it's rather interactive and the audio guide very informative. The more I learn about Victoria, the more I'm intrigued about her. The Victoria Revealed section was great. Unfortunately, the Queen's clothing exhibition was being renovated so we couldn't see that. Brunch in the Orangery was wonderful on such a bright winters morning.

Shackleton exhibition at the RGS

 Pure fluke but while walking to Kensington Palace, we spotted a Shackleton exhibition at the Royal Geographical Society. I couldn't resist. We had a great trip down memory lane. The exhibition was based on the glass plates from Frank Hurley. I do wonder what the pictures were like that he had to destroy on the ice. The slides he brought back were stunning and going down in history.

A 'slight detour' to Stonehenge

It's time to leave Coatguards and drive to Fishbourne. We tried to get an earlier boat again, but alas, it wasn't meant to be this time, so we had to wait an hour for the next. It was a much older boat this time and we chugged along the Solent. I especially liked being lowered though when we got to Portsmouth, the whole car deck tilter. Thank goodness for handbrakes.

I wanted to do a slight detour and on paper, it seemed sensible. We went to Stonehenge. Unfortunately, dogs aren't allowed which is a shame because it's only grass paths and you can't get that close to the stones anyway. As a member of English Heritage, I got a free audio guide and caught the shuttle bus to the stones. The commentary was really interesting, about how the stones were moved from Wales, how they were lifted into position. It's absolutely astonishing to think of how old Stonehenge is.

Back on the shuttle and a quick tour of the visitor centre. The film was fantastic. You stand in the inner circle and the 3 minute video takes you through each season. You see the winter solstice, when the sun sets through the biggest stones. Then we saw the sunrise at the adjacent stone.

I can now confirm that Stonehenge isn't a detour from the Isle of Wight home, gosh it was a day in the car.

Mottistone Down, Compton Bay, Brook Bay and idyllic views

Today was our 'mop up' day, everything we wanted to do, but haven't yet. It's our last full day on the Island so our first stop was meant to be Brighstone Forest. We parked and walked the Worsley Way, along the side of the forest, but when we looked at the path into the forest...no chance. It was a mud bath. Instead, we continued our walk and we are so so glad we did. At the crest of the hill, we were treated to 180 degree view fom West Wight, all the way down the coast. We could see over to the mainland too.

Our next stop was Compton Bay. We had hoped to walk on the beach but the stairs were completely wrecked, so while Ali walked along the cliff to Brook Bay, I drove and met her at the end. We walked along a very sad beach. Sad because it was absolutely full of rubbish, mainly plastic. There were lots of containers, tyres, netting... It's such a shame and we were dying to pick it all up.

The beach is glorious, full of lots of different types of rock so the sand was a multitude of colours. For our last day, Ali even said 'you saved the best till last'. A great day with spectacular views.

Isle of Wight - Parkhurst Forest, blown along Ryde Beach and Firestone Copse

We are getting into quite a morning routine on the this trip. Our day started at Parkhurst Forest. Unfortunately, iPhone maps took is to the middle of nowhere and not the car park. We found this out later. So, we parked on the side of the street and had a lovely walk through the forest. Alas, still no red squirrel but the sunshine was glorious. We then went on to Ryde Beach for lunch in the car and then got blown along the beach. Oh it was absolutely freezing and so so windy. We walked to the harbour to see the oldest pier in the UK. It was cars and a train on it. It's also where the catamaran docks. We also saw the hovercraft which reaches the mainland in just 15 mins. Blowy, but still, the doggies love the sand under their paws.

Onwards and still on the hunt for a red squirrel. Unfortunately, the only red squirrel we saw was the one on the sign for Firestone Copse, a lovely forest for a walk. Lots of gravel paths which is perfect after the weather we have had.

Appledurcombe House, Pub lunch, Garlic Farm and Sandown

We had so much planned for the day, that I had to write it down. The day started with a scenic drive along the cost to Ventnor. We arrived at Appledurcombe House, a National Trust property, which is shut in winter. It seems to be a theme of this trip. I've never known somewhere so seasonal. I tried to get to the front of the house but alas, I was ankle deep in mud, so had to settle with a picture through the trees. It's the former home of the scandalous Lady Worsley. I saw the film at Christmas, so had to see the house.

Onwards and our next stop was Godshill, a quaint village. Our aim was to go to Chocolate Island to indulge...but the café is shut in January. Instead, we were recommended a pub called the griffin, by a passing lady who wanted to meet Penny and Sailor. What a treat the carvery was, we opted for the two courses and had a pudding too. The owners are dog friendly and very welcoming. We also bought some local produce from the Isle of Wight Cider store.

Our next stop on our local produce day was to The Garlic Farm. I had to stop myself buying things. I bought smoked garlic, strong garlic, isle of wight garlic, BBQ sauce, coronation sauce...and the list went on. The tasting table was devine. Alas, if we had a fridge in the car, I would have bought a vat of the garlic and herb butter.

By this time, our walking was minimal so we vetured to Sandown and a walk on the sandy beach. As most seaside resorts do, it looked a bit bleak in winter, but still a lovely walk. We met another greyhound, the owner is the author of 50 tails of grey. A book about her greyhound. The sun was going down and we had a long drive ahead so after a few runs on the beach, it was back to the cottage.

Isle of Wight - soggy greyhounds at the Needles

It was a day of being stopped in our tracks. We are in the Coastguards cottage, so very near the coast. I found a lovely trail to Tennyson's memorial and then onto the needles. However, there is a big barrier in our way, the stile! They are the bain of dogowners. So, back in the car for a 2 minute drive. We walked to the battery which is further than once through, along a tarmac road. Alas, it's closed until the spring. We had a glorious view over the colourful cliffs. Alas, the sunshine didn't last and a shower turned into a downpour and we were drenched. So wet that we took shelter in the new battery, an empty concrete building. But at least it was out of the elements.

Onwards to a viewpoint of the needles, which was worth it. Back to the cottage and then to the vets. Alas, Sailor has a poorly foot but will be able to continue the hard bootcamp we have planned for the week :)

When we got back, we tried to light the woodburner in the sauna but it's so damp, we were thwarted. Try again tomorrow.

Isle of Wight - Colwell Bay, Fort Victoria and daffodils

We have segmented the Isle into 4 triangles and exploring a triangle at a time. Today was the turn of 9pm to midday. We started just 10 mins from the cottage at Colwell Bay. We walked/ was blown along the esplanade. Gosh it was windy and the sea was incredibly choppy. We walked around the headland to Totland Bay, over the landslide from 2012 which knocked the sea wall into the sea. Penny and Sailor are such children, they liked walking on the wall  while I walked alongside.

Back in the car and up to Fort Victoria for a more sheltered walk this time and a great veiw over to Southampton. We walked the nature trail, following the wooden sculptures and then back via the woodland trail which was rather soggy but had a fantastic view. On we drove north to Cowes where we saw a spectacular double rainbow, the brightest I've ever seen. Then on our way back, daffodils in a garden...in January.