The area around Poole Bay is steeped in history, with recorded settlements dating back thousands of years, including Roman occupation. The area was once notorious for pirate and smuggling activity – and places such as Poole, Swanage, Wareham and Beaulieu all have interesting and colourful pasts. The Isle of Wight too, where we operate a private charter service (availability and quotes on request) is a great example of particularly the Victorian era – it was of course a favourite holiday destination of Queen Victoria and there are strong associations with her to this day. And of course, the Solent itself is a huge part of maritime history, including the battles with the Spanish Armada in 1588.