Group itineraries

Special interest tours & activities

The Island is the perfect place to follow your passion. From star gazing to salsa, or real ales to royalty, we’ve got it covered, whether you’re looking for one-off workshops or a specialist break for your group or clients.

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Action & adventure

Challenge your group to tackle activities ranging from axe throwing to an outdoor aqua park. Try something new like bushcraft, coasteering, Bubble Blitz or mountain boarding. You will be safely supervised by Tapnell Farm or Tackt-Isle Adventures. Or try LYC’s Operation IOW and experience an overnight stay in an army barracks with pyrotechnics, high ropes, and canoes – you’ll be flown in by helicopter! ¬ tapnellfarm.com/play ¬ tackt-isle.co.uk ¬ lycevents.co.uk/events/operation-iow

Animal experiences

Be a Keeper for the Day at Monkey Haven, where you can feed the rescued marmosets, or meet the cheeky meerkats at Amazon World. You could also take a ‘behind the scenes’ look at the rescued big cats at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary. Or how about helping out at the The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary? You could groom the rescued animals and take them on a walk. Or go trekking with adorable Suri alpacas and Argentine woolly llamas at West Wight Alpacas. Alternatively, book a tour with the The Isle of Wight Deer Farm to see Red Deer and Fallow Deer.

¬ monkeyhaven.org/product/keeper-for-the-day ¬ amazonworld.co.uk/animals.htm ¬ wildheartanimalsanctuary.org ¬ iowdonkeysanctuary.org ¬ westwightalpacas.co.uk ¬ isleofwightdeerfarm.co.uk/tours

Archery

Shoot over to one of the Island’s Warner Leisure Hotels to practice archery in an all weather range. They also offer expert tuition to help you aim with precision and learn this Olympic sport. There are challenges and games designed for groups. ¬ warnerleisurehotels.co.uk/hotels/bembridge-coast-hotel

Astronomy

Travel through the universe at the Island Planetarium, visiting the moon and then heading deep into outer space. You can also discover all about the astronomer Robert Hooke who was born in nearby Freshwater. Suitably inspired, go stargazing with the Vectis Astronomical Society - their observatory in Newchurch is open to visitors every Thursday evening. ¬ fort-victoria.co.uk/planetarium ¬ wightastronomy.org

Birdwatching

Owned by the RSPB, the nature reserve at Brading Marshes has miles of quiet footpaths with viewing points along the way. There are two trails – one will take around two hours, the other is three hours. Guided walks are often available. Keep your eyes peeled, as you could see birds of prey, woodpeckers, and the Island’s famous red squirrels.

Newtown National Nature Reserve is also great for exploring, with its harbour, wildflower meadows, woodlands and nature trails. It’s owned by the National Trust and has a visitor centre and two hides including one with a solarpowered telescope for you to spy on the rare birds. Go on a Needles Pleasure Cruises trip or a charter boat with Bob Gawn’s Wight Sapphire and take a thrilling tour around the iconic Needles, with views of the multicoloured sands at Alum Bay.

Travel in a traditional wooden boat on the Coral Star. Cruises go from lovely Yarmouth to The Needles rocks, plus you’ll get commentary and a licensed bar. Or stay at The Garlic Farm, and enjoy being introduced by Natural Links to a range of birds including peacocks. ¬ rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/ brading-marshes ¬ nationaltrust.org.uk/newtown-national-naturereserve-and-old-town-hall ¬ gawnfishing.co.uk/about ¬ coralstar.co.uk ¬ natural-links.co.uk ¬ needlespleasurecruises.co.uk ¬ thegarlicfarm.co.uk

Bowling & skittles

You’ll be bowled over by Warner Leisure Hotels – they offer bowls breaks from September to April where you can play on championship-standard indoor rinks at Bembridge Coast Hotel. Over at sunny Sandown, the Trouville Hotel can arrange short mat bowls indoors for your group – or they’ll help you to sort out outdoor competitions with local teams.

Ryde Superbowl has 22 lanes of computerised tenpin bowling. Alternatively, why not head over to Sandown Pier and play tenpin bowling located by the Ancient Aztec Temple at the heart of the pier. ¬ warnerleisurehotels.co.uk/discover/things-to-do/ bowls ¬ trouvillehotel.co.uk/group-breaks/isle-of-wightbowling-holidays ¬ rydesuperbowl.com ¬ sandownpier.co.uk/things-to-do/superbowl

Groups are welcome at the Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum. Located in an art deco depot in Ryde, you can see around 20 historic vehicles and then sit on a bus to have a cuppa. Entrance is free! ¬ iwbusmuseum.org.uk

Classic cars

The Island hosts a number of classic car rallies throughout the year – but the biggest is the Isle of Wight International Classic Car Extravaganza event in September. Go and see the vintage cars – some of them are custom built, and many are rare. If you want to show your classic car, you’ll need to register in advance. ¬ visitisleofwight.co.uk/whats-on

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Cooking

The Island is a gourmet’s paradise, so it’s a great place to improve your culinary skills. The Four Seasons Cookery Academy in Cowes is run by Michele Newton who is an experienced restaurateur and caterer – her areas of expertise include fussy eaters, special diets and diabetes. ¬ cookeryacademy.co.uk

Crafts

Quay Arts is the Island’s leading arts venue, and a fun place for getting crafty and creative. It’s based in a converted warehouse, with a café, shop and outdoor terrace overlooking the River Medina. Participants can try their hand at pottery or printmaking, with other options throughout the year including dance, sculpture, jewellery making and life drawing. The Garlic Farm runs pompom making and watercolour painting workshops. Or stay in a ‘boutique retreat village’ with Tiny Homes Holidays and learn a new skill, like willow weaving or Christmas wreath making. ¬ quayarts.org ¬ thegarlicfarm.co.uk ¬ tinyhomesholidays.com

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Cycling

The Isle of Wight has been dubbed ‘Bicycle Island’ as it’s one of the top places in the world for cycling, according to Lonely Planet. There are flat cycle paths and rural roads, as well as extreme challenges over the chalky Downs.

You can cycle all the way around the Island, which is a 65 mile route through beautiful countryside, with sweeping sea views. Go in your group, or take part in the Randonnee in May, a round-the-island cycling event, with over 3000 cyclists participating. ¬ visitisleofwight.co.uk/things-to-do/cycling ¬ Route Fifty7, Shanklin: routefifty7.com ¬ Wight Cycle Hire, Yarmouth: wightcyclehire.co.uk ¬ TAV Cycles: tavcycles.co.uk ¬ Isle Cycle, Sandown: islecycle.co.uk ¬ Sandown Bicycle and Beach hire: sandownbikeandbeach.co.uk

Dancing

Shake a leg in Sandown – the Trouville Hotel has the Island’s largest ballroom, with a fabulous maple sprung dance floor. It’s perfect for all styles, including rock ‘n’ roll, ballroon, latin and salsa.

You could also book a ballroom dancing break in Bembridge with Warner Leisure Hotels. Sequins are compulsory! ¬ trouvillehotel.co.uk/group-breaks/dance-breaks-andholidays/ ¬ warnerleisurehotels.co.uk/hotels/bembridge-coasthotel

Drinks

Holidaying can be thirsty work, so visit the Isle of Wight Distillery in Pondwell where they make Mermaid Gin. Kick back with a G&T on the terrace and admire the views over the valley. Meanwhile in Sandown, beer fans will love Boojum & Snark, a micro-brewery with a mini museum, café and shop. At Adgestone Vineyard you can enjoy a Grape to Glass audio tour which guides you around the 10 acre site. The tour is followed by a wine tasting session where you can discover the tricks of the trade.

¬ isleofwightdistillery.com ¬ boojumandsnark.co.uk ¬ adgestonevineyard.co.uk

English tuition

Learn English at an accredited English school, on the beautiful Island. The Isle of Wight is one of the oldest and most popular destinations for EF students aged 10-14. Every summer, host families open up their homes to welcome the young students, while lessons take place at the Isle of Wight College. ¬ wightedu.co.uk/school-holidays-on-the-isle-of-wight

‘We had to visit the Isle of Wight Distillery. They pay great attention to using botanicals that are native to the island. If you love gin, this is a must visit.’