Osborne House and Carrisbrooke Castle

It rained all night, but by the time we got up it had stopped and the sun was out. It was a little windy but there were plenty of blue skies.

We went to Osborne House the former country retreat of Queen Victoria.Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Osborne House in 1845. It soon became obvious that it was too small for their needs so the decided to rebuild it. The new Osborne House was built in the style of the Italian Renaissance complete with two towers between 1845 and 1851. Prince Albert designed the house himself in conjunction with builder Thomas Cubitt, who also built the main façade of Buckingham Palace. The sale of the Royal Pavilion at Brighton paid for much of the new house's furnishings.

When Prince Albert died in 1861 it became Queen Victoria's main residence until she herself died at Osborne House in 1901. Although she left instructions in her will that it should remain in the family, no-one in the family wanted it so the new king Edwards VII presented it to the nation.

By the time we had done the Tour of the House it had clouded over and we were now getting some fairly heavy showers. We walked down to the Beach and then up to the Swiss Cottage which has child size furniture and was built to encourage children to learn domestic skills.

Then we Drove to Pizza Hut in Newport for a Buffet lunch. By now we were having some quite long heavy showers. Then it was off to Carisbrooke Castle.


Carisbrooke Castle is a historic motte-and-bailey castle near Newport, where King Charles I was imprisoned in the months prior to his trial and subsequent execution in London. Carisbrooke was the strongest castle on the Island. Seventy-one steps lead up to the keep and the view is very impressive. In the centre of the castle enclosure are the domestic buildings. These are mostly of the 13th century, with upper parts of the 16th century. Some are in ruins, but the main rooms were used as the official residence of the Governor of the Isle of Wight until the 1940s, and they remain in good repair.

You can also walk almost all of the well preserved battlements with beautiful views all across the island

The castle also has a sixteenth century well house where water is brought up from the 48 metre deep well, by a donkey walking inside a huge treadmill.

In the evening we drove into Ryde for the Waltzing Waters spectacular water, light and music show. which was well worth the visit.