HERITAGE steamship SS Shieldhall will be undertaking her most scenic trip of the year on Bank Holiday Monday when she will sail from Southampton to Poole.

The trip will depart Berth 101 at The City Cruise Terminal at 10am, and Shieldhall will arrive in Poole at approximately 4pm.

On her journey, Shieldhall will pass down Southampton Water, with a commentary identifying the sites of Hythe, Netley Castle, Royal Victoria Park, The New Forest, The Hamble River, Fawley and Calshot, before turning westwards into the Solent and along the southern coast of the New Forest and northern shore of the Isle of Wight. Shieldhall will pass Hurst and the Needles Passage, allowing great views of the famous Needles formation and lighthouse.

Shieldhall’s route to Poole will then see her pass Hengistbury Head and the Old Harry Rocks, before entering Poole Harbour via Sandbanks, and continuing north of Brownsea Island to her destination of Poole Quay.

With a fine weather forecast, Shieldhall’s volunteer crew are looking forward to welcoming passengers out onto the open deck, though the magic of a trip on Shieldhall is the encouragement to ‘access all areas.’ The Engine Room and Boiler Room ‘below decks’ may both be visited as can the Bridge, where passengers may meet the Captain and see the officers at work in the wheelhouse, overseeing Shieldhall’s original 1950s instrumentation and ship telegraphs.

Once in Poole, Shieldhall will remain ‘alongside’ at Poole Quay and open for visits from Tuesday to Thursday. Shieldhall will then sail out to the Bournemouth Air Festival on each day of the event. She will be anchored between Bournemouth and Boscombe Piers, providing the very best viewing for the Air Festival in one of the most stable and smoothest of vessels. An expert commentary will be given on the sights and sounds of the Air Festival.

Tickets from ss-shieldhall.co.uk or 0844 357 2329.