Travel ‘abroad’ this August Bank Holiday

5:50pm Tuesday 12th August 2008

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WHY travel to foreign climes this August Bank Holiday when you can ‘feel’ like you’re going abroad by cruising across to the Isle of Wight?

And with the pound reaching record lows against the Euro and great family entertainment starting at just £5, you can really enjoy the extra day off without spending a fortune.

The Worst Days Out in History (August 23 to 25) Meet the Singing Plague Victims, visit the medieval surgeon and mix up your own plague cure at Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight. Be careful though – you may end up with your face painted with the pox! Afterwards explore the castle where Kings Charles I was imprisoned and meet the donkeys who work the 16th century wellhouse wheel. Cost: £16.30/family ticket Contact: 0870 333 1181, www.english-heritage.co.uk

Robin Hood at Robin Hill (August 24 and 25) Scream and boo as the evil Sheriff of Nottingham battles it out with the legendary Robin Hood and his Merry Men at this special Bank Holiday event held at Robin Hill - an 88-acre park offering lots of additional activities for kids including “African Adventure’ a huge new adventure play area.Cost: £31/family ticket Contact: 01983 527352, www.robin-hill.com

Go wild with the National Trust (August 24) Find out how to encourage wildlife into your garden and make your very own bird/bat box at Wildzone, held at Newtown Nature Reserve on the Isle of Wight. Afterwards sit on the quay watching egrets and curlews stilt-walking through the mudflats, or visit nearby Newtown Old Town Hall (admission: £2 adult, £1 child, £5 family, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/isleofwight) the only remaining evidence of the importance of Newtown – once a bustling and prosperous port. Cost: £5 per person/booking essential Contact: 01983 741020, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/isleofwight

Dig for dinosaurs (August 25) Search for dinosaurs on a two-hour fossil hunting expedition along Sandown seafront. With over 30 miles of ‘Heritage Coastline’, the Isle of Wight is famous for its amazing fossil discoveries, most recently a two-inch dinosaur tooth belonging to a fish-eating carnivore which roamed the Island 125 million years ago. Book the expedition and see the tooth at Dinosaur Isle on the Isle of Wight. Cost: £12/family ticket. Contact: 01983 404344, www.dinosaurisle.co.uk

Leapfrog next door to the Isle of Wight Zoo (August 25)

Located just a few yards along the same stretch of coastline as Dinosaur Isle, Isle of Wight Zoo is hosting Amphibian Ark Day. The aim is to raise funds for this world endangered amphibian so expect lots of frog-themed activities for the whole family. Home to ITV’s Tiger Island, the zoo has the UK’s largest collection of tigers amongst other big cats, primates and creepy crawlies. Cost: £19.75/family ticket. Contact: 01983 403883, www.isleofwightzoo.com

Let off steam at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway (August 22 to 25)

Unlimited steam train rides, arena displays, traditional fairground rides, vintage cars and more at the 34th annual Isle of Wight Steam Show held at Havenstreet, near Ryde. Inclusive ticketing available including Fastcat passenger service from Portsmouth to Ryde pier head, then by Island Line train to Smallbrook Junction where there is a cross-platform interchange with the steam trains. Cost: From £21/family ticket – train rides extra. Contact: 01983 882204, www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk

Finish the day by listening to the funky sounds of Acker Bilk in the beautiful setting of Appuldurcombe House (August 23, (01983 840188, www.midsummerjazz.co.uk). The Midsummer Jazz and Fireworks event is a spectacular evening for the whole family (advanced tickets: adults £15, children £10). Or dance along to the sounds of the Samba band and enjoy the brilliant displays of the Illuminated Carnival in the famous sailing town of Cowes (Saturday, August 23 from 8.45pm/free).

South West trains offer a joint rail/ferry ticketing to the stations of Southampton Central, Portsmouth Harbour and Lymington, while the short ferry crossing from mainland UK adds to the excitement of travelling to ‘another country’.

Train services on the Island also serve the tourism heartland from Ryde, via the Island’s steam railway, the historic town of Brading and Lake to the resorts of Sandown and Shanklin – two of the Island’s three Blue Flag beaches.

For details on how to get to the Isle of Wight, where to stay, eat and drink visit www.islandbreaks.co.uk