Walk Leader
Carol Walker
Capacity
10
Osborne House, East Cowes, Isle of Wight
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/osborne/
Entry is free for English Heritage members and Friends of Osborne. If you cycle or catch the bus you get 20% discount by showing your helmet or ticket and you get 15% discount if you book in advance.
Osborne House was the summer home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and their children. It was designed by Prince Albert in the Italianate style. It is surrounded by an ornate terrace, gardens, parkland and there is a delightful walled garden. In 2016-17 the terrace was renovated and in the spring it is full of tulips.
The walled garden has trained fruits trees which should, hopefully be coming into bud when we visit. There are two glasshouses alongside which are cold frames and a range of seasonal planting.
Around the grounds you will see magnificent trees some of which were planted by Prince Albert, these include cork oak, giant sequoia and monterey cypress. You are able to walk down to the beach and to Swiss Cottage. The latter was built for the children and has its own garden where the children grew flowers, fruit and vegetables.
As well as formal planting wild flowers can be seen around the grounds, particularly in the spring - snowdrops, bluebells, cyclamen, daffodils growing around the grounds. You may even be lucky enough to see a red squirrel.
Walk Location
50.749950557001, -1.276149662735
Walk Directions
Osborne House is in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. From the mainland I would suggest using the Red Funnel car ferry from Southampton to East Cowes; this takes pedestrians, cycles, cars etc. https://www.redfunnel.co.uk/isle-of-wight-ferry/plan/timetables. The 9am ferry will get in at 10am. I am happy to pick up foot passengers at the ferry, this can be arranged once you have booked. If you drive or cycle, simply come off the ferry and go straight on at the roundabout, drive up the hill and continue to a left hand bend ad the entrance to Osborne is on the left.
For those on the Isle of Wight the number 4 bus from Ryde and the number 5 from Newport stop outside the gates.
Accessibility
We will meet in the cafe in the entrance to the house. Gravel, tarmac and concrete provide access for all with benches and rest points dotted throughout the grounds
Feedback Meeting Type
Decide At Walk
Feedback Talk Date and Time