WIGHTLIFE MAGAZINE
YOUR FREE GUIDE TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT!
ISSUE ONE: 2014 | WIGHTLIFE.COM
Island Spotting... WIN!
A wonderful family holiday on the
Isle of Wight
Can you work out what these 12 pictures are of? What are they and where would you find them? If you can figure them out, you’re in with a chance of winning one of three family holidays on the Isle of Wight in 2015, courtesy of those very generous people at Island View Holidays. See page 29 for details.
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WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • CONTENTS 1
EDITOR Robert Spence ART DIRECTOR Alex Aiken LEAD DESIGNER Kimberley Devlin EDITORIAL & COMMERCIAL Louisa Steyaert DESIGNERS Gavin Proctor, Quentin Monge, Helen Royds
Contents Welcome to the Isle of Wight!
It is on behalf of the entire team at Wightlink that I bid you a very warm welcome to the wonderful Isle of Wight. With some fabulous attractions, an extraordinary calendar of events, great leisure activities and breathtaking beaches and countryside, there’s no end to the things you can do here. This magazine is designed to help you through the maze of what’s out there – ensuring you make the very most of your time here. Enjoy! Best wishes, Russell Kew Chief Executive, Wightlink
CONTRIBUTORS Paul Erlam, Kit Hallam, Jim Kerr, Henry Parker, Euan Patrick
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ADVERTISING DESIGN Kimberley Devlin, Quentin Monge, Will Fredericks
ADVERTISING SALES Annie Lowey, Louisa Steyaert WEB DESIGN Regina Viveiros, Kimberley Devlin, Felix James
Whether on two feet or two wheels, make time to explore the Island’s great outdoors.
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With some great prizes to snap up, it’s time to put your lens flair to the test.
From theme parks and animal parks to unique museums and historic buildings, the Island covers all the bases.
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Wightlife’s guide to the Island’s astonishing array of beaches.
A food lovers’ tour of the Island, taking in producers, shops, restaurants, pubs and cafés.
PHOTO COMPETITIONS
COVER IMAGES visitisleofwight.co.uk shutterstock.com The Majesty of Osborne House n Laura Griffith PRINTING Artisan Press © Perfect Titles 14-15 D’Arblay Street London W1F 8DZ Tel. 020 7734 4385
Throughout the magazine, we have also used a number of the photographs that were submitted to the 2013 Wightlife Photography Competition. These are marked with a blue square (n). We’d like to thank all featured photographers for permitting us to reproduce their images.
GET ACTIVE
What’s happening in 2014? Your guide to the Island’s jam-packed events calendar.
SUB-EDITOR James Thraves
Wightlife Magazine is published by Perfect Titles and all articles remain copyright of the publisher. No photographs may be reproduced without prior consultation with the publisher. The publisher accepts no responsibility for any claims made in advertisements or editorial opinions nor for any decision made based on these advertisements or opinions. The publisher cannot accept liability for any loss arising from the late appearance or non-publication of any advertisement. All opening times, admission charges and other details were correct at the time of going to press (April 2014) but may change.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
PLACES TO VISIT
BEACHES
FOOD & DRINK
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Your guide to the Island’s bustling towns, fun-filled resorts and fabulous villages.
Take your pick from hotels, B&Bs, guest houses, holiday villages, self-catering cottages, campsites and touring parks.
TOWNS & VILLAGES
Plus...
STAYING OVER
Island News 10 Dinosaur Island 20 Fabulous Facts 26 Island Churches 28 Off the Beaten Track 30 Dogs on the Island 32 Island Travel 46
Games & Puzzles 48 Island Map 50 Island Gardens 52 Sport & Leisure 60 Portsmouth 100 The New Forest & Lymington 101
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Island Events APRIL
Green Photographic Sights: Images 18942010
Dimbola Museum & Galleries: Sat 5th - Sun 29th June Photographs documenting four generations of one family.
A Royal Children’s Easter Osborne House: Mon 7th - Mon 21st
Easter Fun
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Fri 18th - Mon 21st
Easter Saturday Duck Race
River Yar, Yarmouth: Sat 19th
Easter Egg Hunt
Arreton Barns: Sun 20th
Egg-cellent Fun
Bembridge Windmill: Sun 20th, 10.30am-4pm
Mad Easter Egg Dash
Robin Hill: Sun 20th - Mon 21st, 12pm
Easter Egg-citement
Mottistone Manor: Sun 20th, 11am-4pm
MAY Isle of Arts Festival
Venues around Ventnor: Fri 2th - Mon 5th Music, film, drama, art, photography, literature, comedy and more. Guests include gardener Monty Don, the Kyle Eastwood band, writer Virginia Ironside, poet Roger McGough, Tenors UnLimited, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, comedian Rich Hall and Luke Kempner.
Isle of Wight Walking Festival
Various locations Island-Wide: Sat 3rd - Sun 18th The festival has taken place every May since 1999, and is the largest walking festival in the UK. Includes numerous guided walks catering for all ages and abilities, lots of themed walks, such as the Speed Dating Walk and the Foodie Walk, and the famous Walk the Wight, which supports the Earl Mountbatten Hospice. Tel. 01983 823070 isleofwightwalkingfestival. co.uk
Challenge the Wight
Bembridge to the Needles Park: Sat 3rd, 11pm - Sun 4th, 9am A 26-mile walk across the Island throughout the night.
The 9th Annual Isle of Wight Real Ale Festival
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sat 3rd - Mon 5th
Fairy Fling
Blackgang Chine: Sun 4th - Mon 5th All things magical for would be fairies and their friends!
50 Things to Do Before You’re 11¾
Newtown’s Nature Reserve: Mon 5th, 10am-4pm
Newtown Dawn Chorus Walk
Newtown’s Nature Reserve: Tue 6th, 5.30-7am
Osborne Beach & Woodland Walk
Osborne House: Wed 7th, Tue 13th & Thu 15th Part of the Walking Festival.
Antiques & Collectors Fair & Island Steam Days Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sun 11th, 11am-4pm
Book, Postcard, Stamp & Ephemera Fair Ventnor Botanic Garden: Sun 11th, 10am-3.30pm
Walk the Wight
Bembridge & Carisbrooke: Sun 11th The largest sponsored walk in the South covers the breadth of the Isle of Wight, raising money for the Island’s hospice.
Riverfest 2014
Medina Valley Centre’s Eco-Challenger, Newport: Sat 17th, 11am-3pm Organised by the Footprint Trust, a celebration of local arts and crafts, with plenty of free and interesting activities for children.
Wolverton Folk & Blues Fair
Wolverton Manor: Sat 17th, 12pm-8pm Two stages featuring the best of the Island’s Folk & Blues musicians. A family-friendly event which includes tented cafés, serving a variety of freshly cooked local produce.
Ryde Rowing Club Annual Regatta Appley Beach & Park, Ryde: Sat 17th, 12-5pm
The Isle of Wight Festival of Transport Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sun 18th
Butterfly ID Trail
Bembridge Windmill: Sat 24th - Sun 1st June, 10.30am-4.30pm
Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra
Medina Theatre: Sat 24th Coleridge-Taylor’s The Bamboula: Rhapsodic Dance, Coates’ Ballad for Strings, Barber’s Violin Concerto and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 7.
Victoria’s Fabulous Fête Osborne House: Sat 24th - Mon 26th Traditional Victorian music, entertainers and sideshow games.
Spring Gala ‘Dinosaurs of Island Steam’ Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sat 24th - Mon 26th A special Gala weekend.
The Mottistone Manor National Trust Members’ Open Day
Mottistone Manor: Sun 25th, 9.30am-5pm
Mottistone Manor House Open Day
Mottistone Manor: Mon 26th, 11am-5pm
Cavaliers & Roundheads
Carisbrooke Castle: Tue 27th - Sun 1st June, 10am-5pm Discover what it took to be a soldier of the English Civil War.
Old Gaffers Festival
Yarmouth: Fri 30th - Sun 1st June During the festival, Yarmouth’s harbour will be filled with life and colour with more than 100 visiting traditional sailing, steam and motor vessels, including the cream of the Old Gaffers fleet. On shore, a range of attractions, such as street entertainers, live music, a craft fair and market, visiting classic
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • CALENDAR OF EVENTS 3
vehicles, and a flower festival, keep the thousands of visitors entertained from morning ’til night. Tel. 01983 761704 yarmoutholdgaffersfestival. co.uk
JUNE Isle of Wight Country Dancing Festival
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Wed 11th, 11am-1pm
Mottistone Common Nightjar Walk
Wed 11th, 8.30-10pm Meet at Mottistone Gardens car park.
Isle of Wight Festival
Thu 12th - Sun 15th June An undisputed highlight of the festival calendar, this year’s event boasts an amazing lineup, including Biffy Clyro, Calvin Harris, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Kings of Leon, Suede and The Specials. Away from the main performance areas, you’ll find a cabaret club, disco, great food and numerous bars. Woodfired hot tubs and a pop-up beach add to the magic. isleofwightfestival.com
Fathers’ Day
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sun 15th Book early and get your dad riding upfront with the driver!
The Isle of Wight Festival of the Sea Island-wide: Sun 16th - Mon 23rd A range of activities, events and promotions – all revolving around the theme of the sea, including live music, art displays, fishing, cookery
displays and food-tasting, opportunities to charter boats, open days and talks.
JULY
Shorwell Midsummer Fair
Medina Theatre: Sat 5th
Sat 21st A traditional village fair now in its 54th year.
A Midsummer Night’s Steam
Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra
Small Adventures for Royal Children Osborne House: every weekend in July
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sat 21st An evening service of steam trains!
The 1940s Experience
JP Morgan Round the Island Race 2014
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sat 12th - Sun 13th
Island-wide: Start/Finish at Cowes: Sat 21st Attracting over 1700 boats and 16,000 sailors, this is one of the largest yacht races in the world.
Round the Island Yacht Race Breakfast
Needles Old Battery: Sat 21st, 6-11am Enjoy breakfast while watching the yachts round the Needles rocks.
The 6th Annual Midsummer Jazz
The Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sat 28th, gates open at 4pm An open-air festival of jazz, swing, R&B and a little boogiewoogie featuring Mike Sanchez & His Band, the impossibly talented Swing Commanders, and The Bill Bailey Band.
Royal Isle of Wight County Show
Northwood Showground: Sat 28th, 10am-5pm
Strawberry Fair
Chessell Pottery Barns: Sat 28th - Sun 29th
Images (previous page and this page): Isle of Wight Walking Festival, Old Gaffers Festival n Marilyn Wood, Isle of Wight Festival, Jay Miller’s Circus.
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sat 5th - Sun 6th
The Island Motor Show
Newport Jazz Festival Venues around Newport: Thu 17th - Sun 20th
Rhythmtree World Music Festival
Three Gates Farm, near Shalfleet: Fri 18th - Sun 20th An extraordinary mix of high quality, world-influenced music. Even the DJs have to play world mixes!
Real Ale Train
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sat 19th A summer evening of trains, ales and bangers and mash.
Open Studios
Locations throughout Western Wight: Fri 18th - Mon 21st See a huge range of work from artists in their own studios or at local venues. Includes painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, textiles, jewellery and ceramics.
Sandown Carnival – Children’s Day Sandown: Fri 25th
Open Studios
Locations throughout Eastern Wight: Fri 25th - Mon 28th See a huge range of work from artists in their own studios or at local venues.
Sandown Carnival Sandown: Sat 26th
Jay Miller’s Circus
Racecourse Roundabout, Wootton: opens Saturday 26th July for the summer Jay Miller’s Circus is now established as one of the Island’s most popular, familyattractions and proudly returns with a sensational new production for 2014. Each year, they showcase a completely new production of talented and versatile artistes who have been selected from the four corners of the world. With performances every day, early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment. Tel. 07976 655180 jaymillercircus.co.uk
Osborne Summer Concerts
Osborne House: Sat 26th - Sun 27th Osborne Summer Concerts is back with two incredible acts – Little Mix and Welsh legend Tom Jones.
The Railway Folk
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sat 26th - Mon 28th Street theatre that will appeal to children aged two to 102!
Ryde Pier 200th Anniversary Party
Ryde Pier Head: Sun 27th Fun and games at this 19th century-themed party celebrating the 200 years since the pier opened to the public.
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Are You Brave Enough? Dino Nights
Blackgang Chine: 28th July & every Monday in August Events start after 6pm.
If You Go Down to the Woods Today
Blackgang Chine: 30th July & every Wednesday through August, 10am-9.30pm Great fireworks, food and entertainments.
Jaguar Classic Car Show
Sandown: Sun 10th
Garlic Festival Site, Newchurch: Sat 16th - Sun 17th Set against a beautiful backdrop of rolling hills, the Island’s biggest summer show features a packed schedule of stage and arena events. There’s great local produce to try, hundreds of arts and craft stalls, children’s entertainers, a fun fair, cookery demonstrations, vintage vehicles, and live music.
AUGUST
Grand Medieval Joust
Grand Medieval Joust
Cowes Carnival Cowes: Wed 30th
Blackgang’s Big Night Out
Small Adventures for Royal Children Osborne House: daily in August Traditional Victorian fun.
Bembridge Windmill: Wed 6th, 2-4pm A ‘Bear Hunt’ in Steyne Woods, then a teddy bear’s picnic.
Isle of Wight Garlic Festival
Carnival Week
Yarmouth: Sat 9th - Sat 16th Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sun 10th
Sandown Bay Regatta
Carisbrooke Castle: Tue 12th - Thu 14th Knights do battle in a live action show.
Ventnor Fringe 2014
Meet near Hanover Point: Fri 1st, 10am-2pm
Ventnor: Tue 12th - Sun 17th A celebration of the arts, showcasing emerging and established talent across every creative discipline.
Knight School
Sails & Tales
Compton Sandcastle Competition
Carisbrooke Castle: Fri 1st - Sun 10th Hands-on activities for all the family with a medieval theme.
Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week
Bembridge Windmill: Wed 13th, 2-3.30pm Tour the windmill, then sit down and enjoy a Miller’s Tale.
Ventnor Carnival Ventnor: Wed 13th
Cowes: Sat 2nd - Sat 9th Part of the British sporting calendar for nearly 200 years and recognised as the largest sailing regatta of its kind in the world, Cowes Week welcomes around 1,000 boats, 8,500 competitors and in excess of 100,000 spectators to the town of Cowes every year.
Sandcastle Competition
Victorian Weekend
Ventnor Illuminated Carnival
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sat 2nd - Sun 3rd
Yaverland: Thu 14th, 10am-3pm
V-Dub Island
East Afton Farm, Freshwater: August 14th - 18th All things VW plus great live music, food and entertainment for the whole family.
Ventnor: Sat 16th
Carisbrooke Castle: Tue 19th - Thu 21st Knights do battle in a live action show.
Electric Woods: Ambient August Robin Hill: Tue 19th - Sun 31st
The 40th Island Steam Show
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Fri 22nd - Mon 26th Full of surprises, an actionpacked show and a great family day out!
Cowes Illuminated Carnival Cowes: Sat 23rd
Isle of Wight Challenge
Sat 23rd - Sun 24th Walk, run or jog 56 or 106km. The route for this fund-raising endurance challenge is the Island’s stunning coastal path.
Isle of Wight International Scooter Rally
Ryde: Sat 23rd - Tues 26th Organised by the British Scooter Rally Association,
this is the world’s biggest gathering of vintage and modern scooters. Established in 1980, participants number anywhere between four to seven thousand each year.
Knights Tournament
Carisbrooke Castle: Tue 26th - Thu 28th Watch knights in hand-to-hand combat, archery competitions and more.
Sandown Illuminated Carnival Sandown: Wed 27th
Night Life
Mottistone Gardens: Wed 27th, 7.30-10pm Explore the nightlife. Booking essential.
Wolverton Manor Garden Fair Wolverton Manor: Sat 30th - Sun 31st
Morris Minor Rally
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sun 31st
SEPTEMBER Bestival
Robin Hill Country Park: Thu 4th - Sun 7th This really is a one-of-a-kind festival, and it seems to get better and better with each passing year. Stand-out acts this year include Outkast, Beck, Busta Rhymes, Paloma Faith, Basement Jaxx and London Grammar. This year’s theme is ’Desert Island Disco’, so be sure to get your disco beachwear lined up for the party of all parties to end the Festival summer. bestival.net
Images: Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, Isle of Wight Garlic Festival, Bestival.
6 CALENDAR OF EVENTS • WIGHTLIFE.COM
Little Britain Challenge Cup SB3 Challenge Start/Finish Cowes: Thu 4th - Sun 7th
Fri 19th - Sun 21st A full weekend of live music celebrating the traditional songs of the sea and shanties.
Heritage Open Days
Wine Festival
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Thu 11th - Sun 14th
Classic Car Extravaganza Newport Quay & Ryde, Esplanade: Sat 13th - Sun 14th Over 700 classic, vintage, custom and retro cars, plus bikes and other unusual vehicles are expected at this two-day, two-venue show, now in its 13th year. All those wishing to display their vehicles must register with the organiser. Tel. 020 8439 7871
Isle of Wight Cycling Festival
Island-wide: Sat 13th - Sun 28th Around 4500 cyclists take part in the festival, which features more than 60 rides in total. At one end of the spectrum are a number of gentle meanders through pretty villages. At the other, there’s Cycle the Wight, a 70-mile road route around the Island; Wightlink Wight Challenge (19-mile mountain bike ride, two-mile open canoeing and eight-mile run); and Hills Killer (either a 13-, 26- or 52-mile course and take on the challenge of an orienteering event against the clock). There’s other bikerelated fun to be had, including a pedal-powered cinema! Tel. 01983 821000 sunseaandcycling.com
The Spyglass Songs of the Sea & Shanty Festival Spyglass, Ventnor:
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sat 27th - Sun 28th
Sweetcorn Fayre
Arreton Barns: Sat 27th - Sun 28th Fun for all the family, live music, craft stalls, competitions, games, a real ale festival and much more!
OCTOBER Electric Woods – Festival of Light
Robin Hill: Fri 3rd - Thu 23rd, 6-9.30pm
Isle of Wight Literary Festival
Northwood House & around Cowes: Thu 16th - Sun 19th Featuring big-hitting authors and personalities but with an intimate atmosphere. Guests include Ann Widdecombe, Charles Spencer, Neil Oliver and John Harvey.
Trafalgar Day Celebrations
The Bargeman’s Rest, Newport: Sun 19th Live music and shanties for all.
Autumn Walking Festival Island-wide: Fri 24th - Mon 27th Loads of walks for all ages, abilities and interests.
Electric Woods – Festival of Light Robin Hill: Fri 24th - Sun 2nd Nov, 10am-9pm
Apple Weekend
Osborne House: Sat 25th - Sun 26th Sample the sumptuous fruits of Osborne estate and celebrate the apple harvest.
Autumn Nature Trail
Bembridge Windmill: Sat 25th Oct - Sun 2nd Nov, 10.30am-4.30pm
The Poppy Train
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sun 9th A solemn and moving commemoration of the end of the First World War.
DECEMBER Festive Guided Tours
Carisbrooke Castle: Sat 25th - Sun 2nd Nov A knee-trembling trail around the castle grounds.
Osborne House: weekends in December Discover how Christmas was celebrated at Osborne when Queen Victoria was in residence.
Wizard Week
Santa Specials
Spooky Castle
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Mon 27th - Fri 31st
Halloween Dinosaurs Blackgang Chine: Tue 28th - Thu 30th
Witches & Wizards Days Out Blackgang Chine: Tue 28th - Thu 30th, 10am-4.30pm
Halloween Fright Night!
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Fri 31st Dress-up and take the ‘ghost train’ through the Island’s night time countryside.
NOVEMBER Fireworks Display
Arreton Barns & Spyglass Inn: Wed 5th Fantastic firework displays with barbecue and beer.
Guy Fawkes in the Square The Square, Yarmouth: Wed 5th Excellent fun to be had at this traditional fireworks night.
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sat 6th - Sun 7th, Sat 13th - Sun 14th, Sat 20th & Wed 24th
Victorian Christmas Osborne House: Sat 6th - Sun 7th
Christmas Wreath Making
Osborne House: Fri 12th Make your own Christmas wreath or table arrangement. A festive tour of the house and a light is included.
Christmas Carvery Night Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Sun 21st
Mince Pie Specials
Isle of Wight Steam Railway: Fri 26th - Sun 27th Details correct at time of going to print, but are liable to change. Please check prior to travel. For the latest news and updates, make sure you check out visitisleofwight.co.uk.
Images: Classic Car Extravaganza, Isle of Wight Cycling Festival.
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visitisleofwight.co.uk
Island News DRIVE LESS, SEE MORE For many, the best thing about a holiday is having a change of pace, a break from the every-day. The Isle of Wight’s tourist industry is now working together to help give you a break from having to drive your car. After all, who wants to be in a traffic jam when they should be enjoying what’s special about the Island? The Isle of Wight Council has won a £3 million funding bid from the government’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund. This money is being spent on making car-free travel on the Island easier and more comfortable, and to promote and market its benefits to holidaymakers. There are a wealth of exciting opportunities for fun, car-free travel on the Island that get you out of the box
and onto public transport or out and about under your own steam. There are stunning open-top breezer buses, quirky heritage railways and world class walking and cycling routes just waiting to be enjoyed. The ‘Drive Less, See More’ motto is all about showing you the way to leave your car behind for a day, or perhaps the whole holiday, so you can plan and enjoy your stay more. Islanders are working together to provide you with up-to-date information for car-free travel. Whether it’s bus times or cycle routes, where the train stations are or how to walk to the beach: ask and you’ll find it’s easier than you think. See page 46 for Island travel options, while, for further information about ‘Drive Less See More’, visit the Island’s official tourism board website at visitisleofwight.co.uk.
ADVENTURE TIME Ever wondered how you’d survive in the great outdoors, left to your own devices? Now’s your chance to find out – make like Robin Hood at Robin Hill Adventure Park and Gardens. On selected days throughout 2014, this popular visitor attraction is running a series of ‘Adventure Days’ where,
included in the cost of your ticket, you can test your archery skills, try your hand at fire lighting, go mountain boarding and learn a number of survival skills. Also new this year at the park is a pitch and putt course, as well as laser clay pigeon shooting – perfect for the kids and adults alike. For details and information, visit the park’s website, robin-hill.com.
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Osborne’s Swiss Cottage
THE JOY OF SIX At the start of the year, the Owl & Monkey Haven just outside Newport welcomed some very special new residents – a group of six Barbary apes. The primates, all victims of the illegal pet trade, have been housed in a purpose-built enclosure at the sanctuary. Previously cared for by the AAP Rescue Centre for Exotic Animals in the Netherlands, they go by the names of Anou, Mounia, Geertje, Nanushka, Yilda and Mouki. A scientific observation area has been incorporated into their enclosure for the use, first and foremost, of a team from the University of Portsmouth who are studying the group to better understand how Barbary apes think and learn. They are incredibly intelligent little creatures, and releasing them into the wild was simply not an option, says Dan Wasler, owner of the Haven. “They have all been subjected to really cruel conditions in the past – Anou, for instance, lived in a container without windows in Marseille. The psychological impacts have been so severe that they would have absolutely no chance of fending for themselves in the wild - they just wouldn’t survive,” he explains.
OSBORNE’S SWISS COTTAGE The Swiss Cottage at Osborne House has always drawn the crowds. This intriguing little spot was where Queen Victoria
and Prince Albert’s children learned to cook, played at being soldiers, tended their own gardens and collected and studied a wealth of natural curiosities. Now, thanks to a £1.65 million project financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Garfield Weston Foundation and private donors, the cottage reopens in 2014. And it’s never looked as good. Over the last year, English Heritage has restored the cottage to its original glory, with works including repairing the flooring, re-opening a blocked doorway and revealing long hidden interior decoration. They have also been studying journals, letters, photographs and objects to reveal the inside story of life as a Royal child at Swiss Cottage. New displays show how the miniature kitchens worked and how the royal children entertained themselves and their parents. It’s a fascinating insight and an excellent addition to the ever-wonderful Osborne.
15,000 visits to their studios. The range of art on display is incredibly broad – from painting in realistic and abstract styles, sculpture and photography, to pottery and ceramics, mixed-media and an artist who paints with nail varnish. The studios are almost equally diverse and include a houseboat and a beach hut, while group exhibitions are held in places like Shalfleet, Gurnard and Freshwater village halls. This year, for artists in and around Cowes, Newport, Yarmouth, Freshwater and Niton, Open Studios runs from Friday 18 to Monday 21 July. For those in and around Ryde, Bembridge, Sandown-Shanklin and Ventnor, it takes place the following week – from Friday 25 to Monday 28 July. For details, visit isleofwightarts. com or pick up a Yearbook in one of the Island’s Tourist Information Points.
CAMPING JIM, BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT Visit Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park just outside Bembridge this summer, and you might think you’ve stepped back into the seventies – a very good looking seventies at that. The park, which is owned by Away Resorts, has bought three old caravans – original Cosalt Abbey caravans from 1971, 1974 and 1976 – and refurbished them to give them a retro, shabby-chic look. Appealing to guests who love all things retro,
OPEN STUDIOS WEEKENDS If you like art, you’ll love Open Studios, the Isle of Wight’s biggest annual arts event. Every July, Island artists throw open the doors to their studios or demonstrate their work in venues across the Island. Visitors get a chance to watch artists at work, and to talk to them about their styles, influences and techniques. Last year, 160 artists exhibited over two weekends, attracting some
Whitecliff Bay
refurbishments include black and white tiled flooring, crimson and lime-coloured upholstery, Cath Kidston curtains and cushions, vintage Bush radios, free-standing lamps and traditional bunting. This new accommodation is part of the Canvas Village – the glamping area of the park which taps into the nostalgia of yesteryear. They join 15 Bell Tents which also have a vintage village fête vibe yet come with all mod-cons, including futons, beds, fridges, lamps and gas burners. The Magic Loungeabout, a covered area with bean bags and hay bales and a bar made out of apple crates completes the picture. “The great British holiday is going from strength to strength,” says Away Resorts’ managing director Carl Castledine, “and we have found that our guests are keen to introduce a bit of their childhood holiday experiences to their children.” Now, that’s all well and good, and there’s no denying it’s a wonderful place to lay your head; but hands up who remembers having wifi and a TV in their tent in the 1970s…
RESTRICTED AREA 5 Blackgang Chine are unveiling a brand new attraction this year – the ominously named ‘Restricted Area 5’. Visitors to this great new dino feature will get up close and personal with amazingly life-like full-size moving dinosaurs, including an Argentinosaurus that’s bigger
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Isle of Wight Zoo
than a double decker bus and the largest animatronic T-Rex in the country. The mystery attraction is a real adventure ride and a treat for all the senses – just try to keep your wits about you!
MEERKATS AT THE ZOO If you visit the Isle of Wight Zoo in Sandown this year, you’ll notice, no doubt, the rather splendid new meerkat enclosure. It looks like a piece of the Kalahari Desert has landed in south-east Wight, and is home (or was at the time of writing) to five female meerkats and their two prickly porcupine neighbours. A single male will join the meerkat family later this year. The enclosure was the brainchild of a collective called Eccleston George, a group of Island-based artists, craftspeople and creative thinkers. The build was broken down into two phases. Phase one, for which Eccleston George was assisted by pupils of Bay Church of England Primary School in Sandown, was for the animals’ main living area and includes heated termite mounds and rocky outcrops. It was three months in the making and opened at the end of 2013. Phase two – opening this summer – features the input of students at Sandown Bay Academy, and is centred around an area where the public can meet and interact with the meerkats. “They are
such social little creatures,” says zoo boss Charlotte Corney. “They are so clever and often up to mischief. It’s a really special experience to get to meet them up close.” You can also get to meet, interact and feed meerkats at Seaview Wildlife Encounter in the north east of the Island. Speaking of which…
DIPPY ON TOUR Now, there aren’t many penguins who have their own website, let alone their own Facebook page or Madame Tussaud-style replica. Dippy, Seaview Wildlife Encounter’s mascot has all three. Dippy’s Island adventures are being chronicled at dippytheisleofwightpenguin. com, where pictures of the popular Humboldt penguin are posted, showing him at actual locations all over the Island
and superimposed in others as if he’s travelling through time. “Dippy’s Adventures are educational and fun, a perfect platform for Dippy to promote outside activities, Island heritage and the environment. His mission is to show children how interesting and diverse the Island can be,” explains Lorraine Adams, Director at Seaview Wildlife. His Facebook page has, at the time of writing, notched up well over 3000 likes, while his model moves mysteriously around Yarmouth Harbour to the astonishment of many ferry passengers. With a children’s book now being considered, for Dippy the sky is, quite literally, the limit. And, while we’re talking about penguins…
TOGA BEACH Over the winter of 2013/2014, Amazon World Zoo Park constructed a fabulous new enclosure for their family of 12 Black Footed Penguins. Named ‘Toga Beach’, this impressive area is five times larger than the penguins’ previous home. It gives the birds, which are indigenous to southern Africa, ample room to swim around as well as lots of space to rest and play on dry land. “All the birds were bred here and they’re continuing to breed. It’s a growing family that outgrew their old enclosure,” says Rob Westby, manager of the Newchurch-based attraction.
2013 LIMERICK COMPETITION WINNERS Last year, Island View Holidays (IVH) ran a competition in Wightlife. We asked readers to come up with a limerick which started with the line ‘A break on the Isle of Wight’. More than 450 people took part and three winners were picked by the team at IVH. Anna Marks, Esther Parry and Pam McCafferty were selected as the winners and all were offered a week’s self-catering break for up to four people in a luxury cottage at either Rookley Country Park or Colwell Bay Holiday Cottages. Our thanks to Island View Holidays (islandviewholidays.co.uk) and our congratulations to the winners! Here are the three winning entries. A break on the Isle of Wight, Would surely be a delight, An Island View, Of sea so blue, Must be a wonderful sight. by Pam McCafferty
A break on the Isle of Wight, Is met with squeals of delight, with our ticket to Ryde, and our holiday guide, Oh I wish I had booked a fortnight. by Esther Parry
A break on the Isle of Wight, Whose beaches are clean and so bright, Fit for a Queen, Who declared she had seen, The loveliest, prettiest sight! by Anna Marks
Dippy on his adventures
We’re delighted to say that Island View Holidays are running another competition in this year’s magazine. See page 29 for details.
18 WIGHTLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION • WIGHTLIFE.COM
First Place Senior Competition Bembridge Harbour at Sunset n Percy Clarke
Time to Prove Your Lens Flair... WIGHTLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
Every month, we’re giving away two Wightlink return ferry crossings to the Island for a car and four people plus family entrance to Seaview Wildlife Encounter as prizes in our popular photo competition. For your chance to win, simply send in your Island snaps to info@wightlife.com. Please note, we accept a maximum of two photos per month per entrant. As usual, we’re running competitions for adults (the Senior Competition) and children (the Junior Competition). Both run from May to October. Each month, a winner will be announced in both competitions.
The Senior winner will be offered a free short-stay return ferry crossing to or from the Island for a car and four people. The Junior winner will receive the same ferry prize plus entrance to Seaview Wildlife Encounter for a car and four people. To qualify for the Junior Competition, you must be under the age of 16 on 31st December 2014. Full terms and conditions can be found on our website (wightlife.com), but please note the following: • We need to know the name and address of anyone who enters the competitions. • Photographs must be taken either on the Isle of Wight or on the crossing to or from the Island – please make sure you
title your photograph and let us know where the shot was taken. • The number of photographs submitted by any one entrant is limited to two per month. • Perfect Titles reserves the right to use any picture submitted to the competition for use in next year’s magazine, in marketing literature and for promotional purposes. • Neither competitions are open to employees of Perfect Titles or Wightlink or their friends and family members. • Subject to approval, the photographs we receive each month will be posted on our website, where we will also announce the monthly competition winners and runners up.
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • WIGHTLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION 19
THE 2013 COMPETITION “2013 was my first year as a judge on the Wightlife Photography Competition. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I must say I was utterly blown away by the standard of images I was presented with. By the time I got involved, the 900 photographs that had been submitted during the course of the year had been narrowed down to around 60. From breathtaking landscapes to characterful portraits, there were some stunning works and evident talent on show. The sixstrong panel, which I was delighted to join, selected the following outright winners for the year.
Runner-up Senior Competition View From the Seafront Shelters in Cowes n Rafe Arbrook
Winner of the Senior Competition: Bembridge Harbour at Sunset by Percy Clarke Runner-up of the Senior Competition: View from the Seafront Shelters in Cowes by Rafe Arbrook Winner of the Junior Competition: Fireworks by Tom Richardson Many congratulations to those three and many thanks to all of those photographers who made my role as a judge a truly delightful task.“
Lucy Jagger Artist and photographer
First Place Junior Competition Fireworks n Tom Richardson (15 years old)
ROBIN HILL PHOTO COMPETITION
Following the success of their inaugural competition last year, Robin Hill Country Park are once again calling for entries to their Electric Woods photo competition. The prize on offer is a photo canvas up to the value of £100 of the winning print (which they will mail directly to the winner), along with a complimentary family day trip ticket courtesy of Wightlink. To stand a chance of winning, send your images taken at one of Robin Hill’s Electric Woods events to photo@robin-hill.com. Competition closes on 31 October 2014. For full terms and conditions, please visit robin-hill.com. Untitled n Neil Clark
Through the Looking Glass n Samuel Holt (14 years old)
20 ISLAND DINOSAURS • WIGHTLIFE.COM
Blackgang Chine
Destination Dinosaur Welcome to the Isle of Wight – named ‘Dinosaur Capital of Great Britain’ by none other than London’s Natural History Museum!
R
ivalling the ‘Jurassic Coast’ in Dorset for fossil finds, you’ll discover two dedicated dinosaur museums here – Dinosaur Isle in Sandown, plus the new Island Gems Museum in Godshill – as well as the all-new Dinosaur Island App Trail around the Island. Last year, the world’s largest ‘human’ dinosaur set foot on the Island, when holidaymakers at Appley Beach, Ryde created a dinosaur shape marked out on the beach to form an ‘Everybodysawus’! So, if you love dinosaurs, you’re definitely in the right place! Now, hands up who knows what fossils are. That’s right – very well done! They are the product of once-living organisms, and include skeletons, tracks and footprints. The Isle of Wight is a major site for these because more than 120 million years ago it was bustling with prehistoric creatures, from tiny insects to giant meat-eating dinosaurs. In fact, more than 25 species of dinosaurs are thought to have roamed these parts back in the days when the Island was joined to mainland Europe. Coastal erosion of the Island’s soft clay cliffs, revealing extraordinary numbers of fossils, first attracted Victorian fossil hunters and has led to significant finds by scientists and families
ever since. Indeed, it was as recently as March 2013 that an almost complete dinosaur skeleton of an unidentified species was discovered on the Island, creating a great deal of excitement amongst dino experts!
DINOSAUR ISLE
The best place to see Island prehistoric remains is Dinosaur Isle in Sandown. It has 30,000 specimens, so we’re not expecting you to see each and every one of these, but do look out for the life-size dinosaur replicas and exhibits of skeleton remains as they were first found by palaeontologists (that’s dinosaur experts to you and me!). Dinosaur Isle is an important centre for research, so it is possible to see palaeontologists working on the latest finds, and you can even join these experts on guided fossil walks. Opening times vary throughout the year. The fossil-finding expeditions take place during holidays and need to be pre-booked. For more information, including details on more special events in 2014, go to dinosaurisle.com or call 01983 404344.
EVERYBODY WALK THE DINOSAUR
Walking with Dinosaurs: The 3D Movie was released at the end of last year. The blockbuster movie, now available as a DVD, uses recent discoveries and state-of-the art technology to create the most realistic dinosaurs ever seen on screen, and puts moviegoers in the middle of a thrilling prehistoric adventure. The story is set during the late Cretaceous period (about 70 million years ago); the ‘stars’ are the narrator Alex, an Alexornis bird, and three Pachyrhinosaurus named Patchi, Scowler and Juniper, and the film follows them on their amazing journey from baby dinosaurs into full-grown adulthood.
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • ISLAND DINOSAURS 21 In 2013, as a tie-in to the film, an amazing ‘Walk with Dinosaurs’ smartphone/tablet app was launched, introducing visitors and Islanders to the Island’s former ‘residents’ – the ‘great-ancestors’ of the dinosaur characters featured in the film. The free app allows users to create a virtual photograph featuring dinosaurs as they would have appeared on the Island during prehistoric times. These ‘saurus selfies’ can be saved, emailed and shared. Although the app can be downloaded anywhere, it can only be activated at one of six meteorites (like the one in the photograph) on the Dinosaur Trail that follows the Island’s coastline between Yaverland (near Sandown) and The Needles.
FANTASTIC FOSSIL FINDS
The Island is a brilliant place to find rare fossils; just ask Daisy Morris from Whitwell on the south of the Island. In 2009, Daisy made a find at Atherfield beach that helped experts to identify a new species; they have named it Vectidraco daisymorrisae. The generic name, Vectidraco, means ‘Isle of Wight dragon’; the species name honours Daisy, who donated the valuable specimen to The Natural History Museum. Daisy’s discovery led to an appearance on the BBC’s One Show, as well as an illustrated book about her adventure, written by the Island’s resident ‘Dinosaur Man’, Martin Simpson. If you fancy searching for dinosaur remains yourself, the best places to look for them are beaches such as Brook, along the south-west coast of the Island, and Yaverland in the east. Fossil hunting is great fun, but if you think you have found something big and significant, make sure you contact one of the museums. Please don’t try to remove it – fossilised bones are very brittle and can easily be damaged, and besides, you need the landowner’s permission before you start digging for fossils! You can walk in the footprints of dinosaurs, literally, at low-tide at Compton and at Hanover Point along Brook Beach. There are fantastic dinosaur foot casts here – impressions of three-toed dinosaur footprints created in rock.
DINOSAUR DISCOVERY
For hair-raising dinosaur adventures, head to Blackgang Chine. Check out the park’s brand new attraction, ‘Restricted Area 5’, which features the most amazing life-size moving dinosaurs (see page 12 for more information). The T-Rex babies Shadow and Sheila will also be back, while ‘Are You Brave Enough’ dinosaur events take place every Monday evening during the summer holidays (see blackgangchine.com for details). Finally, Martin Simpson runs a new geological museum in Godshill, featuring free talks in the ‘Jurassic’ garden; he also leads guided fossil hunting trips for school groups, families and tourists throughout the year. To make a booking, contact 01983 740493, mobile 07880 986637, or go to island-gems.co.uk.
Free Dinosaur Trail App! Android users:
Download the app by going to the Google Play Store and searching for “Dinosaur Island Isle of Wight”. Click on the “install” button to upload the app to your phone.
iPhone & iPad users:
Go to the iTunes store and search for “Dinosaur Island Isle of Wight” then click “install” to upload the app to your phone. Once downloaded, the Dinosaur Trail app allows users to click on an information tab, mapping their current position and the location of the six meteorites dotted along the trail (see the map). Each meteorite location focuses on a different dinosaur; the meteorites themselves are full of dinosaur and movie information, examining the ancestral links between the dinosaurs that inhabited the Isle of Wight during the Cretaceous era and the fantasy characters in the film.
The dinosaurs you’ll find out about are: • Iguanodon: This is thought to be the Island’s most common dinosaur. These huge herbivores were up to 10 metres in length, and you can meet one on the beach at Yaverland! • Polcanthus: Similar to the Pachyrhinosaurus stars of the movie, you’ll meet Polcanthus at Bonchurch Landslip. • Valdosaurus: The rare 3-4 metre-long Valdosaurus can be found in Ventnor. A partial skeleton of this dinosaur was discovered on the Island in 2012 (it’s the most complete skeleton ever found in the world!). • Caulkicephalus: The flying reptile Caulkicephalus (‘caulkhead’) takes to the skies above Blackgang Chine. • Neovenator: The Island’s premier predator was Neovenator or ‘new hunter’. This carnivorous beast is
thought to have preyed on the herds of Iguanadon. Neovenator is a slightly smaller version of the Gorgosaurus that terrified Walking with Dinosaurs audiences worldwide. You can spy this fearsome flesh-eater stalking Hanover Point, if you dare! • Pelosaurus: The Dinosaur Trail ends at the Needles Battery, where you can meet the Pelosaurus, a massive creature that could grow up to 78-feet long. To find out how the Walk with Dinosaurs app works, watch the explanatory short film at vimeo.com/70559951. The six meteorites on the Dinosaur Trail are all accessible on foot or bike or by car, and there’s even a dedicated Dinosaur Trail Bus that operates throughout the summer, linking all six of the sites.
22 POETRY • WIGHTLIFE.COM
Poets’ Corner Every year, we invite readers to send in poems inspired by the Isle of Wight. Here are four of the best we received in 2013. ISLAND SUMMER by Deborah Al-Muqahwi of Lee-on-the-Solent My boys search on the beach Elusive fossils out of reach. Making castles, building dams, Blown hair filled with sand. Poppy dog running free; Yaverland is the beach that we Return to again and again: Ever-changing sands, Only memories will remain. To the Tea Rooms, time to dine: Crazy golf, Shanklin Chine, Puckpool Park, ice creams to eat. Boys on the ‘spider’ me on a seat. Chasing boys and dog, My energy is sapping. It’s alright for dad – he’s still napping. St Helens, looking for crabs, Dipping in pools, stumbling on crags. Crossing the rocks, tripping on weeds, Cuts on hands, grazes on knees. End of the day, the pace is slow. The tide is turning, it’s time to go.
A WINTER’S VISIT TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT by Catherine Baxter of Leicester On the ferry to the Isle of Wight The Solent looked such a pretty sight. That was until the weather turned The wind howled and the waves churned. Down came the rain with such a force, The breakers came like a galloping horse. Doors opened and closed on their own accord. Seagulls above swooped and soared. Tea-cups rattled and coffee spilled And all around passengers milled. Some were looking quite serene, Others looked a shade of green. Some to get in from the pouring rain. Some to get out as they were in pain. Over the railings they did hunch, Saying goodbye to their just eaten lunch. How long can this voyage be? Good job we’re not out to sea. It’s a long time since I felt this ill And I’ve even taken a travel-sick pill. The tablet did not work, it’s true. But hang on a minute – the sky’s getting blue! Now at last we can salvage our pride Because we’ve almost arrived at Ryde. We’ll all just forget the weather’s blip C’mon all get a grip! Land is getting near, near, near, Yes, if it is, we are HERE.
ONCE UPON AN ISLAND by Amanda Salmon of Newport The Isle of Wight is waiting It’s whispering to you Calling you through hazy skies With hints of Royal blue. Can you feel the way Your worries disappear As the ferry brings you closer And the Island draws you near? A place to find contentment Or make your spirits soar As you ramble through the countryside Or stroll along the shore. Its beauty is outstanding Your own rosé coloured glass A treasure chest of memories That will, forever, last. Picture postcard perfect It sits in all its glory The dreamy Isle of Wight It’s time, to pen your story.’
WIGHT PICTURES by Jane Juby of Hitchin The ebbing hush of a turning tide, Twinkling lights by the waters side, A sweeping bay and a cobalt sky, Bright flagged boats go scudding by. A breezy down and a chalky path A mossy church, or a warming hearth Sunny, sandy, salty Isle, I’ll picture you a while.
Our thanks to all those who sent in their verses – we truly love to receive them! If the Island that Tennyson called home brings out the poet in you, then please make sure you send us your musings – email info@wightlife.com. Background image: © Jason Swain, jasonswain.co.uk
24 ISLAND HISTORY • WIGHTLIFE.COM
Carisbrooke Castle n Mrs Cobb
Our Island Story An astonishing array of people have shaped the Island we love so much. Wightlife dips a toe into its fascinating history and extraordinary heritage. ANCIENT WIGHT
There is no doubt that Stone Age communities lived on the Island, but they haven’t left us with much of evidence of their time here. Some flint tools and fragments of pottery have been unearthed, but the one truly visible remain from this ancient past is the Longstone, near Mottistone. This four-metre high chunk of sandstone (and its smaller neighbour) once stood at the entrance of a 6,000-year-old Neolithic communal long barrow for burying the dead. Bronze Age inhabitants, meanwhile, left us with more than 240 barrows, most notably at Mottistone Down, Ashey Down and Brook Down. The hill fort on Chillerton Down, meanwhile, is testament to the existence of a substantial Iron Age population.
ROMAN WIGHT
Roman remains have been found on the Island that date back many years before any Roman actually set foot here. Fragments of Roman wine jars made around 120bc have been discovered – proof, say archaeologists, that the local population traded with Roman-occupied Gaul and was pro-Roman in its outlook. It was not until 43ad, however, that the Romans, led by the general (and soon to be emperor) Vespasian, annexed the Island. They called the Island ‘Vectis’, meaning the Isle of Cliffs – a name that is still used by a number of modern businesses.
All signs point to the Roman occupation going smoothly. Elsewhere, the Romans put up fortifications at the slightest sniff of danger from the local population. That no such remains have been found on the Island suggests peaceful co-existence. There may be no evidence of military occupation, but the Romans certainly left their mark. Living alongside the locals, they set up communities centred on villas. There’s one of these villas in the grounds of Robin Hill Country Park, but the most famous are the ones to be found in Newport and Brading. The remains of the Newport villa were unearthed during building works in 1926. A large amount of the property has now been revealed and is open to public view. Three of the rooms on display have mosaic floors, and the largest also has a fireplace. The villa’s well-preserved hypocaust system and bathroom are excellent examples of the two domestic comforts the Romans are famous for introducing – central heating and plumbing. The Brading villa is a lot larger than Newport’s. Its origins date back to around 50ad when a small farmhouse was built on the site. It developed over the next 300 years into a large complex of buildings, with beautifully decorated walls and fine mosaic floors. It’s been well excavated and now offers visitors plenty to see. The depictions of Medusa and Orpheus are particularly noteworthy and said to be among the best examples of mosaics in the UK.
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • ISLAND HISTORY 25 MEDIEVAL WIGHT
Leaping forward about 500 years, we find ourselves at another of the Island’s most famous buildings: Carisbrooke Castle. A Saxon fort was originally built on this site in the 8th century, but most of what visitors see today dates from the later Norman period. The original motte and bailey castle was laid out in the 11th century, while the huge Keep and the stone curtain walls were built in the 12th century. Later additions include the castle’s 13th century domestic buildings, the large 14th century gatehouse and the 16th century well house where, to this day, donkeys still turn the wheel to draw water from the well.
The Island gained some famous devotees during this time, including Alfred Lord Tennyson, Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, Lewis Carroll and the photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. Tennyson moved to the Island in 1853, and made a country house called Farringford his home for 40 years. He wrote many of his most famous works here, including The Charge of the Light Brigade. He found inspiration in the dramatic south West coast of the Island – modern visitors can follow in his footsteps up the hill he knew as High Down, but which we now refer to as Tennyson Down.
Carisbrooke is rich in history – notably it was where King Charles I was imprisoned from November 1647 up until his execution in 1649. It was also home to Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter and the Isle of Wight’s last governor.
Also in the west of the Island is Dimbola Lodge in Freshwater Bay – home and studio to Julia Margaret Cameron. It is now a museum and gallery dedicated to her life and work, and also showcases contemporary exhibitions from photographers around the globe.
TUDOR WIGHT
WIGHT INNOVATIONS
Yarmouth’s castle started life as a square structure – protection to its north and west sides came in the form of the sea, while a moat helped defend it to the east and south. Soon after its completion in 1547, the northern half of its courtyard was filled with earth to form a large gun battery, while domestic buildings were constructed in the southern half. About 100 years after that, the moat was filled in and a house, now the George Hotel, built on the east side.
Further technological breakthroughs were made on the Island 50 years later. The Needles New Battery had formed part of the Island’s Victorian defences, but in the 1950s and 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, it became a top-secret rocket-testing site. As many as 240 people worked here, and their work culminated in the successful and, to date, only launch into space of an all-British satellite by an all-British rocket in October 1971.
In the far west of the Island you’ll find Yarmouth Castle. This was the last coastal fort built by Henry VIII – constructed in response to the landing on the Island of a French force in 1545. The local militia defeated the French, but the fact that they had managed to set foot on the Island revealed the need for better defences.
VICTORIAN WIGHT
From the medieval splendour of Carisbrooke and the Tudor grit of Yarmouth, we’re now fast-forwarding to the mid-19th century, when the great and the good of Victorian society discovered the Isle of Wight as a holiday resort. The Island’s popularity had a lot to do with Queen Victoria’s patronage. The monarch and her family first visited the Island in 1844. She liked it so much she bought a small property here, where she and her family could spend summer months. As her affection for the Island grew, she decided to knock down the old house and build an altogether grander affair on its site. She kept the name, though – Osborne House. Designed by Victoria’s beloved husband, Prince Albert and the architect Thomas Cubitt, Osborne is styled on an Italian villa. It oozes elegance and regal comfort, and soon became the Queen’s favourite residence. After her husband’s death in 1861, Victoria spent much of her widowhood at Osborne, and the elaborately decorated rooms are filled with her personal possessions; indeed, her private apartments have been kept exactly as they were upon her death in 1901. Where the Queen went, society and the railways followed. The Island’s first railway, linking Newport to Cowes, opened in 1862. Two years later, the Ryde–Shanklin route was built (extending to Ventnor by 1866). The Newport–Ventnor and Newport–Yarmouth tracks followed a few years later. It was during the Victorian age that many of the Island’s fishing villages developed into fashionable resorts and its beauty spots into tourist attractions. Ventnor, for instance, was dubbed the English Madeira by its Victorian visitors, while Shanklin Chine, a dramatic gorge full of ferns and mosses, waterfalls and wildlife, became extremely popular among Victorian holidaymakers.
Innovation and creativity were key to Cameron’s work. They were also vital attributes to Guglielmo Marconi, the Italian inventor who moved to the Island in 1897 to experiment with radio. By 1901, he had managed to send radio waves over 190 miles to Cornwall, doubling the distance achieved by any previously recorded transmission.
AND ANOTHER THING… Canned beer originated on the Isle of Wight. It was produced by a brewery in Newport so ale could be sent to our troops in India and be drinkable when it arrived! Hovercrafts were invented on the Island. After experiments with cat food tins and a hairdryer, inventor Christopher Cockerell saw his prototype successfully fly in 1959 – later that year, it crossed the channel. When trying to escape from Carisbrooke Castle, Charles I used the code name ‘J’ in smuggled letters. It was to no avail as his captors were aware of his ruse. To this day, all the donkeys at Carisbrooke are called names beginning with the letter J. A Ryde man, one Henry Knight, patented the tin opener in 1881. He late sold it to Crosse and Blackwell. At Shanklin Chine, you can still see some of the remains of a project called PLUTO (Pipeline Under The Ocean) which was devised to supply fuel for the D-Day Invasion of 1944. Jimmi Hendrix helped to establish the Island’s place in rock history. Just weeks before his death in 1970, he was the main attraction at the very first (and now legendary) Isle of Wight Festival. Famous politicians who spent holidays on the Island include Winston Churchill, US President Thomas Jefferson, Margaret Thatcher, Edward Heath and Karl Marx.
26 WIGHT FACT FILE • WIGHTLIFE.COM
Fabulous Facts Travel to the Isle of Wight and you are following in famous footsteps, and some earlier visitors who had a dramatic effect on British and world history.
T
The Needles from Headon Warren n Christian Beasley
ake, for instance, a chance encounter at Cowes between American heiress Jennie Jerome and Lord Randolph Churchill. There was clearly love in the air that day – they were engaged in days, married in months and a year later, in 1874, their son Winston, destined to be the great war-time leader, was born. The meeting is marked by a recently installed plaque on the seafront. (More about the town at cowes.co.uk).
That was one impressive Victorian engineering plan that never saw the light of day. Some that did are the astonishing Solent forts. Hugely expensive (£100 million in today’s money), these were built to protect Portsmouth from French invasion. Prime minister Palmerston approved their construction, but fears of a French invasion never materialised – hence their nickname of ‘Palmerston’s Follies’. Spitbank Fort, close to Wightlink ferry routes from Portsmouth, is now an event and wedding venue (Tel. 02392 513 887, solentforts.com).
Going back to days when trans-Atlantic relations were far less cordial than that, during the American War of Independence, timber from the Island was used to build ships for the British navy. This is how America Wood, near Shanklin, got its name. Today, footpaths cross this ancient wood, which is managed by the Woodland Trust (woodlandtrust.org.uk).
Frenchmen of a later era who did make it to the Island were much more to Islanders’ tastes. Free French sailors stationed here in World War II brought garlic from home to make British food more palatable. Today the Garlic Farm at Mersley near Newchurch has a huge array for eating and sowing, and products from garlic beer to garlic popcorn. (Tel. 01983 865378, thegarlicfarm.co.uk) Owner Colin Boswell has travelled to the wilds of Turkey and Kazakhstan in a bid to find ‘the mother of all garlic’ – an original plant from which all present-day varieties are descended. Exotic plants from around the world already on the Island can be found at Ventnor Botanic Garden – near the southern tip of the Island. Plants from South Africa, the Mediterranean, New Zealand and Australia thrive in the mild microclimate down here. (Tel. 01983 855397, botanic.co.uk).
And talking of footpaths, the Island has more of these per square mile than any other English county. Over 500 miles of footpaths cover the Island, including the famous 64-mile Coastal Path. There are also some that follow the routes of disused railway lines, like the one recommended by local ramblers (iowramblers.com) at Yarmouth. And while we’re at Yarmouth (one of the smallest towns in England and terminal for Wightlink’s ferries from Lymington, incidentally), there is what’s thought to be the last surviving allwooden pier in Britain. It was restored in the 1990s after local people bought a plank at £25 a time. Ryde Pier meanwhile, where Wightlink’s Catamaran service from Portsmouth terminates, celebrates its 200th anniversary this year – it opened in July 1814. Ryde, the Island’s largest town, once had three piers. One, Ryde Victoria Pier, was meant to be the terminal for a ferry pulled by chains across the Solent – until the Admiralty objected to the potential dangers to shipping.
Above: Historic Ryde Society Registered Charity no. 1153947
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • WIGHT FACT FILE 27 Vectis was the Roman name for the Island, and evidence of the occupiers’ comfortable lifestyle is to be found at Brading Roman Villa. Discovered by a farmer ploughing his fields 130 years ago, this is one of the finest Roman sites in northern Europe, containing beautifully preserved mosaic floors and an extensive archaeological collection (Tel. 01983 406223, bradingromanvilla. org.uk). Near to the villa is Brading Station, one of seven stops on the Island Line (southwesttrains.co.uk) which runs from the Wightlink terminal at Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin. Former London Underground Northern Line trains run on the nine-mile route – chosen so they can travel through a low tunnel at Ryde. Coincidentally, most of the signs on the present London Underground are produced on the Island by Newport firm AJ Wells. The company is also responsibe for a 1,500 square metre piece of art decorating the outside of Edgware Road tube station – one of the biggest pieces of enamel artwork in Europe. Getting back on track, at Smallbrook Junction you can step back in time and board the Isle of Wight Steam Railway (Tel. 01983 882204, iwsteamrailway.co.uk) for its services to Havenstreet and Wootton. The first locomotive, acquired in the 1960s, dates from 1891 – the last of a class that once ran on the Island’s 55 miles of rail lines. The loco is named Calbourne.
The Island’s temperate climate is essential for the Botanic Garden and is also the reason that the National Trust has chosen the Island as the place to cultivate plants that cope best in drier climates. See the results at the gardens at Mottistone near Brighstone (Tel. 01983 741302, nationaltrust.org.uk/mottistoneestate).
Calbourne is a village in West Wight best known for its mill, one of the oldest working water mills in the country, on a site mentioned in the Domesday Book. It’s still going strong – producing 30-40 tonnes of flour each year (Tel. 01983 531227, calbournewatermill.co.uk).
Mottistone, like much of the West Wight, is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which extends to 90 square miles and covers half the island (wightaonb.org.uk). Besides protecting the beautiful countryside, the area’s designation makes it one of the best places in the UK to gaze at the stars because of a lack of light pollution. The Vectis Astronomical Society welcomes visitors to its observatory near Apse Heath (wightastronomy.org) by prior arrangement. At the Island Planetarium at Fort Victoria near Yarmouth, you don’t have to wait for nightfall to study the heavens (Tel. 01983 761555, islandastronomy.co.uk). Fort Victoria (fortvictoria.co.uk) also houses an aquarium, an underwater archaeology centre and a model railway. A connection with a real journey into space is at the nearby Needles Batteries. Originally a Victorian fort to guard the eastern Solent, this later became the secret location for testing Britain’s Black Knight space rockets before they were launched in Australia (Tel. 01983 754772, nationaltrust.org.uk). A tunnel from the Batteries leads to a searchlight emplacement with spectacular views towards the famous Needles and lighthouse. The Needles is on one of the seasonal Breezer routes run by bus company Southern Vectis (Tel. 01983 827000, islandbuses.info). Most of its routes operate year-round and its 100 vehicles cover four million miles annually – the equivalent of eight trips to the moon and back!
All Aboard! n Jenny Lelliott
Another famous mill can be found in the east of the Island. The windmill at Bembridge was built around 1700, and last operated in 1913. Most of its original machinery, however, is intact (Tel. 01983 873945, nationaltrust.org.uk/bembridge-windmill). A painting of the windmill by JMW Turner is in the Tate Gallery. The work of present-day artists can be found at Quay Arts, in a converted 19th century brewery warehouse on the River Medina in the centre of Newport (Tel. 01983 822490, quayarts.org). The complex includes three galleries and a 134-capacity theatre named after the late film director Anthony Minghella. The Ryde-born director is fondly remembered on the Island. He, in turn, never forgot his roots. Accepting an Oscar for Best Director for his film The English Patient in 1996, he said: “This is a great day for the Isle of Wight today.“
28 ISLAND CHURCHES • WIGHTLIFE.COM beamed ceiling. It is built on land donated by the family of Alfred Lord Tennyson, the celebrated Victorian poet. Tennyson’s wife is buried at All Saints Church, Freshwater, one of the oldest on the Island, with Saxon and Norman stonework, a 13th century tower and Victorian additions. With views across to Tennyson Down and dating from Victorian times, St Mary the Virgin at Brook has memorials to crews from the lifeboat station which once stood nearby, on one of the most dangerous stretches of Island coast.
Island Churches
F
rom pews where Royals worshipped to churches on hilltops and beside the sea, even one with a thatched roof. The Island’s many churches are packed with fascinating stories.
The silhouette of All Saints Church standing high above Ryde is the first glimpse of the island for many people on Wightlink ferries from Portsmouth. The Victorian building, once dubbed the Cathedral of the Island, was built by Sir Gilbert Scott, architect of St Pancras Station and the Albert Memorial (rydeallsaints.co.uk). Arrive at Fishbourne and the towers of Quarr Abbey can be seen above the trees. Home to a community of Benedictine monks, there has been an abbey here since the 12th century, but the present brick building dates from 1912. Book a tour to learn more about the monastic life. There is also an Abbey café and shop (quarrabbey.co.uk). Monks from Quarr once helped rebuild the Church of St George at Arreton, which has one of the most attractive interiors of any island church, although the churchyard is said to be haunted by the ghost of the village blacksmith.
The church with the strongest royal connections is St Mildred’s at Whippingham, near Queen Victoria’s Osborne House and designed by Prince Albert. Victoria placed a memorial to her beloved husband here and her daughter Princess Beatrice (one-time Island governor) is buried here. During much of the year there are knowledgeable guides, and there is also a coffee shop (iow. uk.com/whippingham-church). Royal connections of a different kind are present in the Chapel of St Nicholas within Carisbrooke Castle. Dating from 1904, it commemorates the anniversary of the execution of Charles I, who was imprisoned here. It is now also a memorial to the 2,000 Island men who died in both world wars (english-heritage.org.uk). All Saints church at Godshill is probably the Island’s most photographed. Perched on a hill, legend has it that it was originally planned for flat ground. But each morning builders arrived to find tools and materials moved to the hill, and so decided that God must have wanted it built on the hilltop. A rare medieval wall painting of the crucifixion, one the rarest in Europe, was uncovered in the 19th century.
The oldest Catholic church on the Island is St Thomas of Canterbury at Newport. Built in 1792, it is the oldest purpose-built, continually-used Catholic parish church in England. Among the newest is Brighstone Methodist Church, which opened as recently as 1999. John Wesley, founder of Methodism, preached on the island on five occasions. One of the smallest is St Boniface Old Church, Bonchurch, measuring just 48 feet by 12 feet, while Holy Trinity Church is a 19th century ‘place of worship on Cowes foreshore for sailors and seafarers’ and has a memorial to yachtsmen who died during the storm-hit Fastnet race in 1979. The tiny Mount Joy chapel in a picturesque graveyard on a hilltop has views across the Island’s capital to Newport Minster (newportparish.org.uk). Standing in a town square and also known as St Thomas’s, this church was designated a minster in Easter 2008 to reflect its importance in church and civic life. Elizabeth, daughter of Charles I, is buried here, after she died of what many thought was a broken heart following her father’s execution. Unusually, the minster has two fonts. One dating from 1637 mysteriously vanished and was replaced. The original was recently discovered being used as a bird bath in a Newport garden – and has been returned. Details of Island churches can be found on the Wight Church Network website (wightchurch.net) and the Anglican Church Near You (achurchnearyou.com).
Picturesque St Agnes at Freshwater Bay has a thatched roof and a fine wooden Above: Quarr Abbey with Flowers n Robert Ede
Mottistone Manor from the Garden n Mary Hine
30 OFF THE BEATEN TRACK • WIGHTLIFE.COM If you seek spectacular views, Headon Warren near Totland provides them over the western Solent. On this pocket-sized heathland you might even spot rare Dartford Warblers which breed here. It’s ‘warren’ because rabbits were farmed for fur and food in the 15th century. Today’s rabbits helpfully keep the turf short – and ideal for walkers. There are views over Sandown Bay from Culver Down where the Yarborough Monument stands. It commemorates a 19th century yachtsman and MP and was moved stone-by-stone from a slightly higher spot on Bembridge Down so that Bembridge fort could be built. Brambles Cricket n Christian Beasley
Hidden Gems
S
haped like a diamond, no wonder the Isle of Wight is full of hidden gems. Venture off the beaten track and you will discover tucked away places, rare wildlife and remarkable reminders of the past.
And you could come across some of the island’s shyest inhabitants: its red squirrels.
Red Squirrel n Pauline Richards
The Solent has kept their bully-boy cousins at bay. Bigger grey squirrels have muscled in across most of Britain. Not here. Among the best places to spot the cute creatures are Robin Hill Adventure Park near Arreton (robin-hill.com) and Parkhurst Forest near Newport, which has a viewing hide (gifttonature.org.uk). In the south you may glimpse another rarity – the Glanville Fritillary – a beautiful, orange-patterned butterfly named after Lady Eleanor Glanville, a mad-keen 17th
century butterfly enthusiast. The island is one of the few places they are found (hantsiow-butterflies.org.uk). On the southern downs too there are reminders of the past. Like the Pepper Pot on St Catherine’s Down – both as early lighthouse and a penance too. A lord of the manor stole a cargo of wine from a wreck in Chale Bay in 1313. He was out of luck, however, since the wine belonged to the church. He was subsequently ordered to build the lighthouse and pay for a monk to tend it and to pray for souls lost at sea. Now managed by the National Trust, it is a climb from Blackgang Viewpoint Car Park. The reward: panoramic views. On downland too stands the 72-foot high Hoy Memorial, built to commemorate the time Tsar Alexander visited, or nearly visited, the island in 1814. Michael Hoy had shops in St Petersburg and a lucrative import and export trade – lucrative enough for him to buy over 1,700 acres here. On his visit to Britain, the Tsar only made it to Portsmouth, but the memorial was built anyway. Both monuments are on the fivemile Monk and the Merchant walk (more on both at nationaltrust.org.uk). Several miles west stands the Mottistone Long Stone which marks a Neolithic burial mound or was it a place of worship? Local myth says it was neither but was thrown by St Catherine from the down of the same name while a smaller adjoining stone was heaved there by the devil. The saint won – hence the triumph of good over evil.
If you’re in search of peace and tranquillity, make your way to Newtown Creek, near Yarmouth. It is a special place, as certain authorities who wanted to build a nuclear power station there in the 1960s eventually agreed: they abandoned the idea. Once a thriving medieval harbour, the busiest on the island, it is now a National Nature Reserve bursting with wildlife. Steephill Cove n Richard Driedzicki
Newtown is far from the only away-fromit-all place. Steephill Cove near Ventnor, a picturesque bay with fishermen’s cottages and restaurant serving sea-fresh fish, cannot be reached by car so access is by the Coastal Path or a steep footpath. Monks Bay at nearby Bonchurch was once so secluded it was favoured by smugglers. Some landmarks hide intriguing stories. Appley Tower at Ryde looks like a castle turret, but was a beach-side summer house for a nearby manor. Climb to the top for views of the Solent and Portsmouth. But it takes the year’s lowest tides to reveal one of Wight’s most hidden secrets. Bramble Bank between Cowes and the mainland is the venue for an annual cricket match between an Island and a mainland sailing club. Fast-scoring is essential – the sandbank is only exposed for an hour – in what regular player, Round-the-World yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, says is “enormous fun and nicely nautical – how else can you combine cricket with sailing?”
32 DOGS ON THE ISLAND • WIGHTLIFE.COM
It’s a Dog’s Life! If you’re travelling to the Island with a fourlegged friend, you’ll be pleased to learn that you’re heading to one of the most dogfriendly places in Britain. The astonishing number of walks along our coastline, and inland over acres of breathtaking downland, stunning valleys and magical woodland are sure to start tails wagging.
DOGGY PADDLING
Isle of Wight beaches are the perfect playground for dogs. Your canine pals are welcome on many of the Island’s beaches all year round, providing rockpools to explore, waves to frolick in and great stretches of sand to charge up and down. Particular favourites are St Helens Duver, with its great sand dunes, the long expanse of coastline at Bembridge with its rockpools and the wide-open spaces of Compton Bay. See the beach guide starting on page 34 for a run-down of all the top places on the Island to get feet and paws wet. Most beaches are accessible to dogs all year round, with restrictions only applying to some of the main resort beaches between 1st May and 30th September.
INLAND WALKIES
For a woodland walk, Parkhurst Forest, with close to 1000 acres to explore, is popular with walkers of all shapes, sizes and breeds. There are loads of tracks in the forest that go through ancient woodland, new plantations and open heathland – plus you’ve got a very good chance of spotting a red squirrel or two!
Surf Dog n Stephen J Hill
Delightful Firestone Copse near Wootton is smaller than Parkhurst (around 245 acres) but no less enjoyable for dogs and their companions. A wonderful array of trees, including broad oaks, Californian redwoods and towering firs, and a network of pathways make this a great place to explore, whether on four legs or two. And for the mother of all cliff-top walks, aim for Tennyson Down in the south-west of the Island. Perched above high chalk cliffs and Top of page: Fun for Kids & Dogs n Heidi Catlin
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • DOGS ON THE ISLAND 33 translucent seas that reflect the light in so many different ways, this is one of the most popular places to walk on the Island. The views, the wonderful sea air (said by Tennyson to be “worth sixpence a pint”) and the varied habitat make this an exceptional place to stretch your legs.
DOG DAYS OUT
Many Island attractions welcome dogs, so there’s no need to keep your canines in the car while you head off to have fun. Carisbrooke Castle, for example, is a great place to bring a dog – its medieval walls and surrounding fields offer boundless bounding opportunities. The sights and smells of Shanklin Chine, meanwhile, will set tails wagging, and a ride on the wonderful Steam Railway is a treat for all passengers, whether two-legged or four. There’s obviously masses to see and do for all the family at Blackgang Chine, Robin Hill Country Park and the Needles Park and, with the great grounds they all have, there’s no way your hairy pals will feel left out. For attractions where dogs receive a warm welcome, keep your eye out for the dog symbol in the Places to Visit section of the magazine (pages 64 to 78).
Stretching Our Legs on the Beach n Sue Linney
EAT WELL, SLEEP WELL
Away from the great outdoors, many of our hotels and selfcatering establishments, not to mention loads of our pubs, will greet dogs with open arms. Look out for the dog symbol in the Eating Out section of the magazine (from page 86) and Staying Over (from page 95) for places where dogs are particularly welcome.
Every dog has its day…
Do you have any canine Island tips? Email info@wightlife.com with your suggestions of what to do and where to go with your waggy-tailed friend. The best idea we get will win a return ferry crossing for a car, four people and a dog or two! Plus if you take any great pictures of your dog or dogs on the Island, make sure you submit them to our photo competition (see page 18).
TRAVELLING WITH YOUR DOG
Dogs travel for free on all Wightlink ferries and catamarans – provided, of course, that they are accompanied by their human companions. They can walk around the car ferries’ outer decks on clear days or relax on the upper decks of the ferries when the weather is less enticing. Southern Vectis buses and Island Line trains also carry dogs free of charge.
Splashing Along n Michael Green
ISLAND VETS
Boris n Michael Green
Should you happen to need a vet during your stay, you’ll find these at Freshwater (01983 522822), Newport (01983 522804), Ryde (01983 562878), Shanklin (01983 718430), Ventnor (01983 522822) and Yarmouth (01983 522822).
34 BEACHES • WIGHTLIFE.COM
Beaches The Island is famous for its beaches – secluded coves, vast stretches of golden sand and traditional Victorian seaside resorts complete with deckchairs and sun huts. With over 60 miles of shoreline to choose from, deciding where to go can be one of the trickiest decisions of your holiday. Fear not – help is at hand with this whistle-stop coastal tour, starting at East Cowes and heading clockwise around the Island.
EAST COWES
This sand and shingle beach, at the head of the River Medina, is a popular spot. Seafront facilities include a promenade, woodland walks, a children’s play area and a spectacular view across Cowes harbour. The seafront is also just a stone’s throw from the old Victorian town with its shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants. The beach received a Seaside Award in 2013.
RYDE
This six-mile, award-winning beach is made up of long stretches of soft golden sand plus a number of quiet bays. The beach is popular with surfers and kitesurfers, while its gentle shelving makes it one of the Island’s safest places to swim. The part of Above: Compton Bay, visitisleofwight.co.uk
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • BEACHES 35 the beach in Ryde town is backed by a large esplanade full of family entertainments, while a pleasant stroll past cafés, municipal gardens and a children’s play area takes you to Puckpool. Ryde won a Seaside Award in 2013.
ST HELENS
A vast expanse of sandy beach, Puckpool is popular with families, and a fantastic spot for beach games as the tide goes out a long, long way.
This peaceful sand and shingle beach is dotted with dunes, and famed for the wide range of birdlife that call the place home. It is ideal for swimming and rockpooling, and has spectacular views across Bembridge Harbour. Look out for unique beach huts, which are converted from old railway carriages, and St Helens Fort, which stands sentry in the Solent. The beach won a Seaside Award in 2013.
SPRINGVALE
BEMBRIDGE
PUCKPOOL
Just to the east of Ryde, this long sand and pebble beach is next door to Puckpool Park. Although it is not an ideal beach for swimming, it does offer beautiful views of the Solent and is very popular with paddling families. Springvale beach achieved a Seaside Award in 2013.
SEAVIEW
The beach at this pretty, traditional seaside village is full of rock pools, which makes it a great place to go crabbing and shrimping. The yacht club on the seafront hosts races most weekends and summer evenings, so there is always plenty to see and do.
SEAGROVE BAY
This sand and shingle bay is a peach. Set in a glorious, secluded setting framed by woods, the beach slopes gently and is lapped by calm waters, making it, generally speaking, a fine place to swim. There are also excellent rock pools at low tide – great for spotting crabs, shrimp and other sealife. In 2013, Seagrove Bay received a Seaside Award.
Strictly speaking, not just one beach, but several – all pebble, rock and sand, and popular with walkers, beachcombers and explorers. For the young at heart or for those with young children, make sure you get here for low tide, when hundreds of rock pools appear. Cafés, car parks and beach huts are all in the vicinity, as is a popular Sailing Club. With all the activity in the harbour, swimming is not really encouraged.
shelving sandy beach lies less than a mile from Sandown town centre, adjoins the huge Culver Cliffs, and is one of the Island’s premier locations for fossil hunting – you can visit the nearby Sandown Dinosaur Museum for past discoveries. The beach was awarded a Blue Flag Award in 2013.
SANDOWN
Sandown is the Island’s biggest traditional seaside resort. The vast sandy beach stretches all the way to Shanklin, and its clean waters are great for swimming, windsurfing and sailing. In the heart of the resort, the beach boasts waterfront cafés, bars, amusement arcades, and a traditional pier. Away from here, it’s backed by the fossilrich Culver Cliffs. The beach currently holds both Blue Flag and Seaside Awards.
SHANKLIN
A lovely, sandy bay sheltered by the huge Culver Cliffs. The beach – accessed via steps – has calm and shallow waters, making it a great spot for swimming and watersports, and is home to the popular Tuppeny Café on the Beach. There are a number of footpaths here, including clifftop walks offering sweeping views of the area.
A wonderful, sandy beach that’s accessible either via steps or by the famous lift that’s built onto its imposing cliffs. It’s quieter than Sandown but on the same beautiful stretch of coast. Safe swimming due to its gentle shelving and usually calm waters, and there’s always plenty of fun to be had just behind the beach. Walking along the cliff top affords spectacular views across the Bay to Culver cliff, and on a clear day, as far as Brighton. The beach was given a Seaside Award in 2013.
YAVERLAND
BONCHURCH
WHITECLIFF BAY
One of the Island’s lesser known treasures, Yaverland is a hotspot for windsurfing and sailing. This quiet, gently
Pretty Bonchurch beach is made up of shingle with some patches of sand. Rocks extend out into the sea and at low tide reveal rock pools. A short stroll along the shore, past tiny fisherman’s cottages, takes you to the charming resort of Ventnor.
VENTNOR
Visit this delightful, crescentshaped, red shingle and golden sand beach at lowtide, as there’s not much left of it when the tide comes in. There’s good swimming here, but hidden rocks and a strong tide mean it’s not great for watersports. Ventnor’s pretty Left: Ventnor, visitisleofwight.co.uk
NO DOGS Between 1st May and 30th September each year, dogs are not allowed on a number of Island beaches that are owned by the Isle of Wight Council. In these instances, a byelaw prohibits people (other than registered blind people) from allowing their dog(s) to enter or remain on these beaches and any slope or staircase leading on to these beach.
SEASIDE AWARD Keep Britain Tidy’s Seaside Award recognises and rewards beaches in England that achieve the highest standards of beach management. Although Seaside Award beaches can often be very different, the flag is a symbol of quality, which guarantees to visitors that the beach is one of the best in the country.
BLUE FLAG AWARD The Blue Flag is a voluntary eco-label awarded to more than 3850 beaches and marinas in 48 countries across the world. The Blue Flag works towards sustainable development of beaches and marinas through strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and other services.
seafront has a particularly vintage feel with its converted Victorian beach huts. Lined with pubs, cafés, restaurants and shops, there’s always plenty to see and do away from the beach. Ventnor retained its Blue Flag Award in 2013.
STEEPHILL COVE
As its name suggests, this beach, just outside Ventnor, is not exactly easy to get to. You
36 BEACHES • WIGHTLIFE.COM YARMOUTH
This shingle and sand beach is a great place to relax and watch the comings and goings of birds and yachts. The beach here has fixed barbecue standards, making it a wonderful spot to while away a warm afternoon. Take care, however, if you take to the water – strong currents mean swimming is not generally recommended.
GURNARD BAY
Compton Bay © Jason Swain, jasonswain.co.uk
can only reach it on foot, but it really is well worth the effort. It is a stunning bay – peaceful, secluded, with great views to the west, and with the added appeal of an excellent local restaurant (the Boathouse) and pretty café (The Beach Café). Although beautifully sandy at low tide, high tide sees most of the beach disappearing.
REETH BAY
Just to the east of St Catherine’s Point, Reeth Bay is hidden away – and all the more charming for it. This small, yet lovely, beach is predominantly made up of sand and pebbles. 300 metres in width, it is flanked by sheer cliffs and accessed via a one-mile track that’s only just suitable for road vehicles.
BROOK
Located on the unspoilt southwest coast of the Island, this quiet, sandy spot is perfect for both beach games and swimming. This beach is famous for the fossilised remains of a prehistoric pine forest that’s visible at low tide. Eagle-eyed bathers should also look out for fossils in the surrounding cliffs.
COMPTON BAY
This two-mile stretch of redgold sand is sheltered by colourful cliffs and surrounded by beautiful open landscape (which, incidentally, provides
the only known habitat for the Granville Fritillary butterfly). Largely off the tourist trail, there’s good swimming here and the place is a real hotspot for surfers and kitesurfers. It’s also a great place to go fossil hunting and to spot dinosaur footprints, which are visible at low tide. A wonderful place for a walk, this bay is highly recommended – particularly for its stunning sunset views. There are some toilet facilities but no café, although a refreshment van is usually parked at the top of the cliff during summer months.
FRESHWATER BAY
A small bay with a beach made up of pebbles, shingle and sand. Backed and flanked by imposing chalk cliffs, this is one of the best swimming areas off the Island, although the beach shelves fairly steeply into the sea. On the left side of the bay, there are sea caves and chalk stacks waiting to be discovered – but do take great care if you’re tempted to explore them. There are also toilet facilities and cafés behind the beach, and a little beyond these, you’ll find great walking country, including (the quite literally) breathtaking Tennyson Down.
ALUM BAY
Offering superb views of the Needles, this pebble beach is a fantastic place to watch the
setting sun. There are strong currents here, so take care if you’re looking to get more than your feet wet. Steps and a chairlift take you up the towering cliffs to the popular Needles Park overlooking the bay. Or alternatively, you can take a short cruise to and around the Needles and its lighthouse.
TOTLAND BAY
This is one of the very best places on the Island to watch the sun set. This outstanding beach is rarely crowded, and is pebbly at the high water mark with beautiful golden sand towards the sea. It has a newly renovated pier, an attractive waterfront restaurant and a pretty seafront promenade that links the bay to Colwell. In 2013, Totland Bay received a Seaside Award.
A sand and shingle beach which shelves gently into the sea. Like neighbouring Cowes, Gurnard is a perfect spot for admiring boats and watching the world sail by. Cafés proliferate on the promenade behind the beach, while beach huts stand sentry on it. The waters here are not considered particularly safe for bathing due to the tides and strong currents. Instead, why not walk along the sea wall to Cowes? It affords beautiful views and takes you past a number of good cafés. In 2013, Gurnard Bay received a Seaside Award.
COWES
The beach at Princes Esplanade is ideal for family swimming and for watching the many yachts pass by. The sand and shingle seafront is just yards from the town’s shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants, and there’s a good stroll to be had along the broad promenades and sea wall. Cowes won a Seaside Award in 2013.
COLWELL BAY
This unspoilt West Wight resort is popular with families and locals, with waterfront cafés, beach huts, watersports and a small amusement arcade. The actual beach is shingle and sand, and affords fabulous views of the western Solent, Hurst Castle and Fort Albert. Gentle shelving and calm waters make this a wonderful place to swim, and the beach is easily accessible for the elderly and disabled. In 2013, Colwell Bay reseived the prestigious Blue Flag Award.
Compton Bay © Jason Swain, jasonswain.co.uk
38 TOWNS & VILLAGES • WIGHTLIFE.COM
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • TOWNS & VILLAGES 39
Towns & Villages As you move around the Island, you’ll travel through some of the prettiest villages in the country, delightful resorts and towns that are rich in history and culture. Here’s what you’re likely to see... BEMBRIDGE
Bembridge is the most easterly spot on the Isle of Wight and was once separated from the rest of the Island by a stretch of water. Land reclamation and the construction of an embankment in the mid-1800s connected the settlement to the Island and enabled it to grow rapidly. Today, it has a good array of shops, pubs, restaurants and galleries and is a popular sailing centre. It’s home to the Island’s only windmill, which dates from the 1700s, as well as a state-of-theart Lifeboat Station. Dentist: 01983 872224. Doctor: 01983 407558. Eat: The Crab & Lobster; The Old Village Inn. Shop: Bembridge Fish Store; The Best Dressed Crab; (for details of these shops, see page 84). Sleep: The Crab & Lobster; Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park; Nodes Point Park Resort. Visit: Bembridge Windmill.
BRADING
Ventnor visitisleofwight.co.uk
Situated on the western bank of the River Yar, charming Brading became one of the principal settlements on the Island due to its position at the head of a substantial sheltered harbour. With its pretty cottages and delightful Norman church, it dates back many centuries – indeed, the village is said to have been founded by King Alfred in the 7th century. It certainly boasts some historical curiosities: namely a set of stocks, a whipping post and a ring onto
which bulls were tied before being set upon by dogs. Its famous and astonishingly wellpreserved Roman villa reveals an even earlier history. Doctor: 01983 407775. Eat: Adgestone Vineyard; The Bugle. Tourist Information Point: Station Road, PO36 0DY. Visit: Adgestone Vineyard; Brading Roman Villa; Garlic Farm (Arreton); Nunwell House & Gardens.
BRIGHSTONE
Charming Brighstone dates back to the 12th century and is full of old-world charm, epitomised by its thatched cottages and the pretty church of St Mary’s, which was built in the 1180s. It also has a good pub in The Three Bishops, which takes its name from the fact that as many as three of the village’s rectors have been ordained as bishops. This is the largest village in the ‘Back of the Wight’, the long stretch of land which lies between the south-west coast and the southern side of the Downs. Close by is charming Shorwell, a gorgeous village with old thatched cottages, three historic mansions and the 12th century church of St Peter’s. Do: Island Gems Fossil Hunts. Doctor: 01983 740219. Eat: The Crown (Shorwell); The Three Bishops; Seven; Wight Mouse Inn (Chale); Sun Inn (Hulverstone). Shop: Brighstone Village Stores; Island Gems; Isle of Wight Pearl (home, incidentally, to the largest collection of pearl
jewellery in the UK); Mottistone Manor Farm Shop. Sleep: Compton Farm (Brook); Gotten Manor (Chale); Grange Farm (Brighstone Bay); Northcourt (Shorwell). Tourist Information Point: Seven, PO30 4AH. Visit: Brighstone Village Museum (limited opening); Mottistone Gardens; Isle of Wight Pearl; Dinosaur Farm.
CALBOURNE
This charming and muchphotographed village is particularly noteworthy for the pretty, 18th century stone and thatched cottages in Winkle Street (real name ‘Barrington Row’). The green is central to the village and slopes down from a 9th century church. There’s also a stream here – the Cal Bourne – from which (you guessed it!) the village gets its name. Eat: Calbourne Watermill; Chessell Pottery Barns; Horse & Groom (Ningwood); The New Inn (Shalfleet). Shop: Great dairy-based products at Calbourne Classics, with their farm shop the Dairy Deli in Shalfleet, and breads, biscuits and cakes at Calbourne Watermill (see page 81). Also head to Chessell Pottery Barns on the road towards Freshwater. You can decorate your own souvenirs here, or choose from an excellent range of pottery, toys and baby gifts. The barns are also home to one of the finest cream teas on the Island. Visit: Calbourne Watermill; Chessell Pottery Barns; Winkle Street.
40 TOWNS & VILLAGES • WIGHTLIFE.COM park, and is the ideal starting point for cliff-top walks and the Tennyson Trail. Dentist: 01983 754779; 01983 754633. Do: West Wight Sports Centre; Isle of Wight Adventure Activities. Doctor: 01983 758998. Eat: Dimbola Lodge Café; Hong Kong Express; The Needles Park; Needle View Pitch & Putt Tea Rooms; The Red Lion; Warren Farm Cream Teas (near Alum Bay). Sleep: Heathfield Farm Camping Park; Linstone Chine Holiday Village; Really Green Holiday Company Yurts; Sentry Mead Hotel (Totland Bay). Vet: 01983 522822. Visit: All Saints Church; Dimbola Lodge; The Needles Batteries; The Needles Park; St Agnes’s Church. Cowes
COWES
The world’s most famous yachting resort dates back to Tudor times. In fact, West Cowes and East Cowes both grew from a clutch of fishermen’s shacks that sprang up around two coastal forts built by Henry VIII on opposite banks of the River Medina, and which were named after the two off-shore sandbanks or ‘cows’. Today, West Cowes is a buzzy commercial centre with a lively harbour, while East Cowes is noted for its industrial heritage and royal connections courtesy of Osborne House. The two are linked by one of the very few old-fashioned chain ferries still in use in the country. The handsome Parade in West Cowes is home to West Cowes Castle, headquarters of the Royal Yacht Squadron, from where cannon-blasts mark the start of races during Cowes Week. This worldfamous regatta transforms the town, with thousands of sailors and countless spectators taking over its every nook and cranny. In East Cowes, a visit to Osborne House is a must, while St Mildred’s Church in Whippingham, where the royal family worshipped, is well worth seeing. Dentist: 01983 293771; 01983 291863. Doctor: 01983 295251; 01983 284333 (East Cowes). Eat: Bahar Tandoori;
Coast; Corries Cabin; The Little Gloster (Gurnard); Mojac’s. Police: Birmingham Road, 0845 045 4545. Shop: Shopping in the narrow pedestrianised High Street of West Cowes is a delight; there are some great boutiques here, many catering for the yachting fraternity. The town also has an array of excellent clothing and gift shops, tempting delicatessens, stylish cafés, quality restaurants and lively pubs. Sleep: Gurnard Pines; The Little Gloster; Sunnycott Caravan Park; Thorness Bay Holiday Park. Theatre: Trinity Theatre. Vet: 01983 281771. Visit: Osborne House; St Mildred’s Church (Whippingham).
FRESHWATER
Officially a village, but long Avenue Road, offering everything from a thriving butchers and excellent fishmongers to antiques and second-hand shops, gives Freshwater the distinct feel of a market town. On its fringes, you’ll find the Island’s only thatched church – St Agnes’s, built in 1908 on land donated by the Tennyson family. Pioneer Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron lived at Dimbola Lodge at Freshwater Bay, which is now a photographic museum. The bay has a small beach, fantastic lifeboat shop and a large car
GODSHILL
With its charming thatched cottages, medieval church and more than its fair share of tearooms, delightful Godshill is the quintessential English village and one of the most popular places to visit on the Island. Its name derives from the 15th century church set upon the hill that overlooks the village. Do: Allendale Equestrian Centre. Doctor: 01983 840625. Eat: The Griffin; The Old Smithy, Rookley Country Park; The Taverners. Shop: For chocolate lovers, a visit to Chocolate Island is a must. Godshill Cider sells a number of delicious ciders, as well as local preserves, liqueurs, pickles, oils, wines, hampers, baskets and more, while Brownrigg’s Farm Shop & Butchery is an absolute Freshwater Bay n Nina Billen
must for meat lovers. The Old Smithy stocks some great gift ideas for the home, with ranges from Border Fine Arts, Enesco, Portmeirion and Spode. It also has a range of ladies’ fashions, including Olsen, Prêt à Porter, Gerry Weber, Cocomenthe and Verse, as well as Bianca accessories and bags. Its Herb Cottage sells aromatherapy products, perfumes and body oils, while Style Interiors is full of ideas for modern, traditional and country homes: everything from glass dining tables and quilted bedspreads to floor lamps and mirrors. Finally, head to nearby Branstone for the House of Chilli where you’ll find all things chilli (from sauces to babygrows!). For further information on all food and drink shopping opportunities mentioned here, please see pages 80-85). Sleep: Island View Holidays (Rookley). Tourist Information Point: Post Office, PO38 3HH. Visit: All Saints Church; The Model Village; Rookley Country Park.
NEWPORT
Built around the River Medina and located slap bang in the middle of the Island, Newport is the county town of the Isle of Wight. It was founded in 1180 as the port for the thencapital Carisbrooke (although the presence of a 3rd century Roman villa in the middle of town would suggest it was a favoured spot long before this). Its position as a centre of trade accessible to the sea meant it rapidly became the main settlement in the Island’s interior. The town is now a mix of bustling streets, narrow
42 TOWNS & VILLAGES • WIGHTLIFE.COM
Newport
lanes and smart Georgian buildings, and is a popular shopping centre and home to many top high street names, some excellent supermarkets, together with some unique and charming boutiques. It also has more than its fair share of good cafés, pubs and restaurants, as well as a cinema complex, theatres, galleries, museums and late night bars. Make sure you see the colonnaded Town Hall designed by John Nash; opposite this is Watchbell Lane, where the bell used by night watchmen to ring out the hour is still in place. St Thomas’s Church, built around 1840, dominates nearby St Thomas’s Square, which was once home to the town’s corn market and is now the venue for the Farmers’ Market held every Friday. Also here is God’s Providence House, built on the spot where the spread of the plague stopped in the 1580s. The town’s other main square is St James’s, now the heart of the town’s shopping district but originally the site of the cattle market. Cinema: Cineworld; Medina Movie Theatre. Dentist: 01983 522764; 01983 529837. Do: Quay Arts Centre; Medina Leisure Centre; Westridge Golf Centre. Doctor: 01983 522198; 01983 523525. Eat: The Bargeman’s Rest; Olivo’s; Quay Arts Café; The Stag
Inn; Valentino’s (Carisbrooke). Hospital: St Mary’s, Parkhurst Road, 01983 524081. Police: High Street, 0845 045 4545. Shop: As mentioned, there are masses of shops in the town, so the advice is to wander the streets and explore them for yourself. Near to the town, foodies should check out the following: Briddlesford Lodge Farm, Farmer Jack’s (Arreton), Garlic Farm (Newchurch), Market Bakery, The Tomato Stall (Newchurch). Details for all of these can be found in the Food & Drink section on pages 80-85). Sleep: Island View Holidays (Rookley). Theatre: Apollo Theatre; Quay Arts Centre; Medina Theatre. Tourist Information Points: IOW County Press Shop, PO30 1ST; Quay Arts Centre, PO30 5BD. Vet: 01983 522822; 01983 522804. Visit: Amazon World (Arreton); Carisbrooke Castle; Coleman’s Farm Park (Porchfield); The Garlic Farm (Newchurch); Isle of Wight Bus Museum; Newport Minster; Newport Roman Villa; Old Town Hall (Newtown); Owl & Monkey Haven; Robin Hill (Arreton); Shipwreck Centre (Arreton). Visitor Information Point: Bus Station, PO30 1JZ.
seaside resort. It’s also blessed with some beautiful Georgian and Victorian buildings that give the town a true sense of grandeur. Leading up from the sea is the town’s main thoroughfare, Union Street, which gets its name from the fact that, when constructed in around 1780, it joined the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower Ryde. Union Street and the long High Street beyond are packed with interesting shops, pubs and restaurants. Collectors will love the many antique and bric-à-brac shops in the Upper High Street and the Royal Victoria Arcade in Union Street, with its tiny boutiques, curio shops, much-loved café and interesting basement museum of local history. Another point of interest is the town’s pier (it’s hard to miss, particularly if you’re arriving by Wightlink catamaran, which docks at its end). When first built, back in 1814, this was the country’s very first passenger pier. It’s over half a mile long, retains some of its original structure and affords great views of the town. Indeed, it was on the construction of the pier and the subsequent establishment of a regular ferry service in 1825 that this once sleepy town was transformed into an elegant Victorian seaside resort. Along the town’s vibrant Victorian Esplanade you’ll find
RYDE
The largest town on the Island, Ryde has a population of around 30,000, and is full of everything you’d expect in a
Ryde
a putting green, ice rink, tenpin bowling, classic seaside shops, arcades, cafés and, most importantly, access to up to six miles of sandy beach. The town boasts a busy calendar of events throughout the year, including arts festivals, regattas, an annual carnival (dating from 1888) and lantern parades. There are good transport links from Ryde: trains from here follow the east coast down to Shanklin, and buses serve all parts of the Island. Car hire: Esplanade. Cinema: Commodore Cinema. Dentist: 01983 563700; 01983 611510; 01983 568700. Do: Appley Pitch ‘n’ Putt; Leo Leisure Bingo Hall; Puckpool Park; Rosemary Vineyard; Solent & Wightline Cruises; Waltzing Waters; Waterside Boating Lake; Westridge Golf Course. Doctor: 01983 562955; 01983 565103; 01983 817200. Eat: Chocolate Apothecary; Fishbourne Inn (Fishbourne); Liberty’s; Quarr Abbey; Vineleaf Coffee Shop (Rosemary Vineyard). Nightclub: The Balcony. Police: Station Street, 0845 045 4545. Shop: You’re spoilt for choice – the town is full of tempting stores and boutiques. Why not start your day with a visit to the Chocolate Apothecary on the Esplanade? You’ll enjoy handproduced cakes and patisseries here, as well as fantastic fresh coffees and teas, all in a
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • TOWNS & VILLAGES 43 traditional apothecary setting. There are also fantastic ranges of chocolates for you to take home and share with the ones you love. Once suitably fuelled, discover the various shops on Upper Street, the High Street and beyond. Outside the town, at Made on the Isle of Wight on Bullen Road, you’ll find a comprehensive range of Island produce including chocolates, preserves, cheeses and cakes. It also stocks plenty of objects for the home – from cushions and sculpture to glassware and paintings. Sleep: Fishbourne Inn; Nodes Point Holiday Park; Whitefield Forest Touring Park. Tourist Information Point: Kollective Gifts, PO33 2DY. Vet: 01983 562878. Visit: Donald McGill Postcard Museum; Isle of Wight Speedway; Isle of Wight Steam Railway (Havenstreet); Planet Ice (for skating and to watch ice hockey); Quarr Abbey; Rosemary Vineyard; Waltzing Waters. Visitor Information Point: Bus Station, PO33 2HE.
SANDOWN
Situated in the middle of Sandown Bay with Shanklin to the south and Yaverland and the Culver cliffs to the north, the town was developed by the Victorians. They were enchanted (as so many of today’s visitors are) by the sparkling waters and the five miles of golden
Sandown
sands that make up the Bay. They built the town’s wide seafront promenades, large villas, formal gardens and magnificent pier, which still grace the town. Today, on the Esplanade you’ll find some fine Victorian and Edwardian hotels overlooking the beach below, as well as a number of shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants. The town has a lively centre, full of shops, restaurants, bars and amusements, plus plenty of visitor attractions, including the pier, which dates from 1879 and is now home to a number of all-weather amusements. On the town’s southern edge is the village of Lake, which takes its name from the Old English ‘lacu’, meaning stream. This was an early resort and is now a large village blessed with a great beach. Dentist: 01983 405937. Do: Brown’s Family Golf; Heights Leisure Centre; Sandham Grounds; Westridge Golf Centre. Doctor: 01983 408408; 01983 409292. Eat: Adgestone Vineyard; Brown’s Café; Caulkheads; Dairyman’s Daughter (Arreton); Royal China; White Lion (Arreton). Shop: There are dozens of shops in the town for gifts, souvenirs and holiday essentials. If you’re looking for kit for camping and the great outdoors. Goodyears on College Close is your place. The Garlic Farm (Newchurch)
and Isle of Wight Cheese Company, both of whose produce can be found all over the Island, are also based near here (for details, see the Food & Drink section on pages 80-85). Sleep: Mersley Farm (Newchurch); Rooftree Hotel. Tourist Information Point: Art 2 Artz, PO36 8AN. Visit: Amazon World (Arreton); Arreton Barns, Dinosaur Isle; Garlic Farm (Arreton); Isle of Wight Zoo; Sandown Pier.
SEAVIEW
A delightful Georgian village, with narrow streets, Seaview is one of the Island’s most popular sailing centres. It is a charming and tranquil spot, with a pretty high street where tiny white cottages jostle for position with large and imposing villas. Do: Goodleaf Tree Climbing Adventures; Westridge Golf. Sleep: The Boathouse, Priory Bay Hotel; The Seaview. Eat: The Boathouse; Fakenham Farm (St Helens); Priory Bay Hotel; The Seaview. Shop: Try Seaview Art Gallery for high-quality, locally produced paintings and sculptures, while on the road to Ryde, you’ll find Made on the Isle of Wight with its excellent range of edible and decorative Island produce. Visit: Seaview Wildlife Encounter; Waltzing Waters.
SHANKLIN
Shanklin is a town of great character and charm with many interesting small shops and a variety of hotels and apartments in former Victorian country houses. It has an Old Village area, elegant Victorian villas, pretty public gardens and shares the same superb beach as its more bustling neighbour, Sandown. Sheltering cliffs provide the ideal suntrap position for the seafront Esplanade, where there is safe bathing from a sandy beach, water sports, car parks, hotels, amusements and a host of pubs and restaurants. The old town at the top of the cliffs with its picturesque, thatched cottages, is also a big draw. To reach the old town from the seafront, either follow the zigzagging steps up the cliff or,
SUPERMARKETS The Island has plenty of excellent supermarkets. You’ll find Lidl on Medina Way in Newport and on Languard Manor Road in Shanklin. Morrisons has two stores: one on South Street in Newport; the other on Newport Road in Lake, while a great Aldi store opened just last year on the Newport Road in Cowes. There are Sainsbury’s stores in four island locations: the High Street in Cowes, the High street in Sandown, Foxes Road in Newport and School Green Road in Freshwater. Ryde, meanwhile, is home to Tesco Extra, located on the Brading Road. And on Well Road, East Cowes, there’s a recently opened Waitrose. Iceland also has stores in South Street, Newport and High Street, Ryde. You’re also never far away from a Co-operative food store. They’re dotted all around the Island – specifically in Bembridge (two locations), Carisbrooke, West Cowes (two locations), East Cowes, Newport, Ryde (three locations), Sandown (three locations) and Shanklin (three locations). And finally, Tesco Express stores can be found at Cowes, Newport, Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor, Wootton Bridge and Yarmouth.
if you feel like preserving your energy, take the town’s famous lift. Shanklin is home to the famous chine (ravine) that bears its name. This was the Island’s very first tourist attraction, is home to the Pipeline Under the Ocean (Pluto) exhibition, and is just a short distance from the town centre. Dentist: 01983 864411; 01983 863339. Do: Shanklin Esplanade Golf. Doctor: 01983 862245. Eat: Morgans; The Plough; The Steamer Inn. Police: Landguard Road, 0845
44 TOWNS & VILLAGES • WIGHTLIFE.COM
Ventnor Beach n Zuveir Jameer
045 4545. Shop: Don’t let the name fool you – Godshill Cider has a shop in Shanklin Old Village, selling local preserves, liqueurs, pickles, oils, wines, hampers, baskets and more. The beautifully located gift shop at Shanklin Chine is also well worth a visit, while bargain hunters should track down the British Heart Foundation Shop on Regent Street. Also check out House of Chilli in Branstone for all things chilli (from sauces to babygrows!). Sleep: Aqua Hotel; The Grange Hotel; Landguard Holiday Park; Lower Hyde Holiday Park; Pink Beach; Sunny Beach SelfCatering Apartments; Upper Chine Holiday Cottages. Theatre: Shanklin Theatre. Tourist Information Point: Vernon Cottage, PO37 6AA. Vet: 01983 718430. Visit: Owl & Falconry Centre (Appuldurcombe); Shanklin Chine; Summer Arcade.
VENTNOR
Ventnor is the southern most resort on the Island and one of the steepest and most sheltered towns in Britain. It was dubbed ‘England’s Madeira’ by the Victorians. They believed its climate was ideal for the treatment of respiratory diseases, and developed it as a health resort – indeed, the town’s excellent botanic gardens are built on the site of what was once the Royal National Hospital for Diseases of the Chest.
Ventnor’s crescent-shaped beach is backed by shops, cafés and restaurants. From here, two roads zigzag steeply past handsome villas up to Upper Ventnor. Next door to Ventnor is the village of Bonchurch, which boasts some large and handsome Victorian houses, as well as a pretty village pond and fabulous sea views. This is a lovely village that hugs the side of St Boniface Down – the overhanging cliff means that while some parts are flooded in sunshine, others are permanently enveloped in shade. Dentist: 01983 853721; 01983 852189. Do: Nettlecombe Farm Coarse Fishing. Doctor: 01983 852427. Eat: The Buddle Inn (Niton); The Hambrough; The Pond Café (Bonchurch); The Royal Hotel; The Spy Glass Inn; Ventnor Botanic Gardens Café; The White Lion (Niton). Police: Church Street, 0845 045 4545. Shop: A trip to the delightful Ventnor Botanic Gardens is always good for the soul and the souvenir shop here is full of good things for green-fingered types and a great place for a relaxed lunch or cup of coffee and cake. Fish and seafood lovers should visit Ventnor Haven Fishery (see page 84). Sleep: Chale Bay Farm (Chale); Enchanted Manor (Niton); Hillside; Lake Hotel; Nettlecombe Farm; Niton Barns (Niton); The Royal Hotel;
Winterbourne (Bonchurch). Tourist Information Point: Seasons, PO38 1RY. Vet: 01983 522822. Visit: Appuldurcombe House (Wroxall); Blackgang Chine (Blackgang); Donkey Sanctuary (Wroxall); Owl & Falconry Centre (Appuldurcombe); Ventnor Botanic Garden.
YARMOUTH
With a royal charter dated 1135, Yarmouth is the Island’s oldest town. It was sacked by the French in 1377 and 1524, and suffered numerous raids until Henry VIII improved security by building a castle in the town, which was completed
Yarmouth
in 1547. Surrounded by the sea on one side, the River Yar on another and a large expanse of marshland on the rest, the town is pretty much the same size as it was back in the 16th century – indeed, some of the grid system laid out by the Normans is still in use. Make sure you visit its pretty, colourful harbour where you’ll find a unique, 700-foot-long timber pier dating from 1876, as well as the town’s castle. You should also explore the pretty town square, flanked by the 18th century town hall and a number of pleasant shops, pubs and restaurants. Do: Wight Cycle Hire. Doctor: 01983 766155. Eat: The Bugle; Horse & Groom (Ningwood); The New Inn (Shalfleet). Police: High Street, 0845 045 4545. Shop: Angela’s Deli stocks a range of excellent Island produce; Blue has a superb collection of clothes, accessories and gifts; Anne Toms’s Yarmouth Gallery for souvenirs to adorn your walls and home. Sleep: The Orchards Holiday Park; The Bugle. Tourist Information Point: Harbour Office, PO41 0NT. Vet: 01983 522822. Visit: Fort Victoria (Planetarium, Marine Aquarium & Maritime Museum, Model Railway and Underwater Archaeology Museum); Yarmouth Castle. Visitor Information Point: Bus Terminal, PO41 0NT.
46 GETTING AROUND THE ISLAND • WIGHTLIFE.COM you’re planning a long stay on the Island, you might also consider a Key card, the company’s new smartcard: buy your tickets online, safe in the knowledge that your tickets are safe if your card is lost or stolen. If you’re going out in the evening, meanwhile, you can get unlimited travel between 7pm and 7am with a Nightrider ticket. For more information about fares, tickets, routes and even bus hire, visit islandbuses.info or phone 01983 827000. For bus times, call 0871 200 2233.
TRAINS
visitisleofwight.co.uk
Island Travel DISCOVER THE ISLAND WITH WIGHTLINK Wightlink has various money-saving deals for foot passengers to the Island: Triplelink packages combine Stagecoach Coastline travel on buses serving Portsmouth, day return crossing from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head and unlimited travel on the Island’s trains. Wight Rover tickets include day return travel from Portsmouth to Ryde or Lymington to Yarmouth and unlimited travel for the day on Southern Vectis buses. Steam Liner tickets allow for return passenger ferry crossing and unlimited travel on Island Line trains and the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. Island Express tickets combine day return travel from Portsmouth to Ryde and unlimited travel for the day on Island Line trains. For more information, call 0871 376 1000 or visit wightlink.co.uk.
BUSES
Bus company Southern Vectis operates 13 routes, covering all parts of the Island, including ones that meet the ferries at Yarmouth and Ryde. It also operates three open-top tour buses: Shanklin Steamer, Needles Breezer and Downs Breezer, plus a coach tour (dubbed Island Coaster) which follows the Island’s southern coast. Regular bus tickets can be bought direct from the driver, online at islandbuses.info, from the Southern Vectis travel shop in Newport, or from any of over 50 shops across the Island displaying the PayPoint logo. English National Concessionary Passes are valid for free, off-peak travel Monday to Friday and at any time on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays. Under-fives travel free, while those aged five to 18 and all NUS cardholders travel half-price. For unlimited bus travel, ask for a Rover or Freedom ticket. Rover tickets give you unlimited travel on the network for either one or two days, while Freedom tickets have durations of seven, 30 or 90 days. If
Island Line Trains, part of Stagecoach South Western Trains, operates the eight and a half miles of passenger railway on the Island. The route runs between Ryde and Shanklin, stopping at Smallbrook Junction (where there’s an interchange with the Isle of Wight Steam Railway), Brading, Sandown and Lake. It’s a beautiful route, and you’ll be making the journey on old London Underground trains, for this is what all of the company’s rolling stock is made up of. Trains operate from around 6am until after midnight. Throughout most of the day there are two trains an hour, and the company has a range of ticket types, including season tickets (for seven-day, one-month, three-month and annual durations) and promotional tickets with discounts to some of the Island’s top visitor attractions. Call 0845 6000 650 or visit islandlinetrains.co.uk for details.
CYCLE HIRE
Situated 100m from the Yarmouth Cycleway and a five-minute walk from the Wightlink ferry terminal, Wight Cycle Hire is the perfect base to explore West Wight. The company has 100 Dawes cycles, tandems, trikes, trailers, tag-alongs and childseats. Bikes can also be delivered Islandwide. Call 01983 761800 or visit wightcyclehire. co.uk.
ESPLANADE CAR RENTAL
If you’re coming on holiday without your car, but want to get back behind the wheel for a couple of days to explore the Island, head for Esplanade Car Rental in George Street in Ryde – just a short walk from Ryde Pier Head where Wightlink’s catamarans dock. They have a great range of Volkswagens on their books, with cars to suit every taste and budget. To get in touch, visit esplanade. co.uk or call 01983 562322.
52 ISLAND GARDENS • WIGHTLIFE.COM
Round & Round the Gardens
A
mild climate with above average sunshine combined with a very favourable topography make the Island a gardenlover’s paradise. Let your (green) fingers do the walking on Wightlife’s whistlestop horticultural tour… Our first stop is the ruined mansion of Appuldurcombe House at Wroxall. Until it was bombed in the Second World War, this was the grandest estate on the Island. These days, not much more than the shell of the building survives, but what a shell it is! It sits in 11 acres of glorious parkland, landscaped by the one and only ‘Capability’ Brown.
to more than 3,000 carefully tended varieties of bonsai trees and shrubs. Set in a sheltered valley, Mottistone Gardens is the National Trust’s most southerly ‘dry’ garden. The Trust is experimenting with a Mediterranean-style planting scheme here to take advantage of the southerly location. This means you’ll see plants such as banana and ginger lilies, as well as a small olive grove. Colourful borders contain many drought-resistant plants alongside more traditional varieties. There’s also a rose garden, wild flower banks, an organic kitchen garden and hidden pathways.
Next call is Blackgang Chine, Britain’s very first theme park. Many are attracted by the thrilling rides, but plenty also come for the park’s cliff-top gardens. The site occupies 40 acres and has surprises around every corner. Look out for the giant hedge maze, the Victorian-style water gardens and the spectacular viewing areas. Beautiful Calbourne Water Mill is well worth a visit. It is one of the oldest working water mills in Britain (mentioned, incidentally, in the Domesday Book). The mill is situated in 10 acres of stunning landscape, with ancient woodlands, natural plantings and the beautiful habitats of the mill stream and mill ponds. At Carisbrooke Castle, you’ll find the delightful Princess Beatrice’s Garden, which celebrates the years 1913 – 1944 that Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter lived here as Island Governor. The garden was designed for English Heritage by former BBC Gardener’s World presenter Chris Beardshaw, and is a visual treat, both from the ground and looking down from the castle ramparts.
Historic Nunwell House, near Brading, is truly charming – it has a delightful Georgian walled garden, long herbaceous borders, a terrace garden with superb Solent views and the Long Walk with many specimen trees and roses. Completing the picture are the Lavender Steps, arboretum and statuary.
Next, continue on to fabulous Godshill Model Village and admire intricate gardening at its finest. Located behind the walls of the Old Vicarage, the garden extends for almost two acres and is home
“It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot.” These were Queen Victoria’s words after her first visit to Osborne House. This magnificent estate is home to the Island’s grandest gardens. Around 50 acres are open to the public, including
the formal terraces overlooking the Solent and the renovated walled kitchen garden, complete with original greenhouses. There’s also a children’s play area, a museum, and a miniature fort and barracks. You can visit the newly restored Swiss Cottage, where the royal children played, and to the north of the house, you’ll find the royal children’s vegetable plots, the orchard, wildflower meadows and quiet woodlands. For a change of scene, head to the 88 acres that make up Robin Hill Adventure Park near Arreton. This award-winning park is a big hit with the green-fingered. It has a path that wends its way through gorgeous woodland, taking in a set of ponds and a number of themed areas, each inspired by an element of the Island’s history and culture. Work by local sculptors line the Sculpture Walk, while the Driftwood Dome promises a sensory experience with a difference. The park hosts the Island’s popular Spring Garden Show and is home to the marvellous ‘Electric Woods’ when special lighting, sounds and special effects bring the woodland to life. Shanklin Chine is a natural highlight of the Island. More than 150 varieties of wild plants live here, plus over 50 species of moss and liverworts. You’ll see ferns, grasses, wild garlic, golden saxifrage, wild fuchsia and winter-flowering heliotrope, as well as a wild water garden. Various new plants are steadily being introduced to the chine, with the aim of having as many different species here as possible. Finally, continue along the coast to Ventnor Botanic Garden, which is unrivalled in the UK for its collections of subtropical plants grown unprotected out of doors. Ever-evolving landscapes depict the Americas, New Zealand, Australia, Africa, Japan and the Mediterranean, blending traditional and modern horticulture in a series of temperate and sub-tropical gardens and walks. There’s an excellent visitor centre, a superb temperate house, a palm garden, colourful borders and a cliff-top wildflower meadow. Above: Flower at Ventnor Botanic Garden n Rachel Burton
54 GET ACTIVE! • WIGHTLIFE.COM
Keeping kids happy on holiday is child’s play with the Trust...
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • GET ACTIVE! 55
Now, everyone loves a good holiday. But there is no point denying the fact that while children see a holiday as a giant adventure, filled with laughter, ice cream and splashing in the sea, parents often see things a little differently, and filling the long days can sometimes be a bit of a challenge.
B
ut don’t panic. In fact, take a deep relaxing breath and put your trust in the Trust, which has some great ideas for wild and wonderful adventures for everyone on the Isle of Wight.
For a couple of years now, the National Trust has had a campaign called 50 things to Do before you’re 11¾. Including things like ‘camp out in the wild’, ‘catch a crab’, ‘climb a huge hill’ and ‘jump over waves’, they are a series of challenges for the young (and the young at heart) to get them outdoors and closer to nature.
THINGS TO DO ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT ON NATIONAL TRUST LAND: 1. Climb a tree – Mottistone Gardens 2. Fly a kite – Bembridge & Culver Downs 3. Jump over waves – Compton Bay 4. Explore inside a tree – Borthwood Copse 5. Hunt for fossils and bones – Compton Bay 6. Climb a huge hill – Tennyson Down 7. Pick blackberries growing in the wild – Bembridge Windmill 8. Check out the crazy creatures in a rock pool – Nodes Point, St Helens 9. Go on a nature walk at night – Mottistone Common 10. Go bird watching – Newtown National Nature Reserve
The National Trust cares for some of the Island’s most beautiful coast and countryside – perfect places for kids to release their inner ‘wild’ side and try as many of the Trust’s ‘50 things’ challenges. Kathryn Wilson, Visitor Operations Manager for the National Trust on the Isle of Wight says, “When I was a child, I did most of the 50 things without realising it: I would often spend weekends walking in the countryside and playing in woodlands. The summers were always sunny, especially when we were holidaying on the Island, and I spent hours on the beach hunting for shells and sea life and in the sea paddling or swimming. “There’s nothing quite like fresh air, exercise and family time. You can’t beat the fun you have in the Great Outdoors and creating memories that will last a lifetime. “But sometimes, convincing your kids to get outside can be a bit of a struggle. That’s why we’ve created ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’. We really want to encourage kids to get mucky, discover their wild side and most of all enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer!”
There are some very simple things to get started toward your half century. Try running around in the rain (No. 6), make a daisy chain (No. 16), pick blackberries growing in the wild (No. 21), or go bird watching (No. 44). Simply register on the 50 Things website (50things.org.uk) to unlock games, special certificates, and rewards for the young ‘explorers’. You can also pick up a 50 Things scrapbook at any of the National Trust locations on the Island: Bembridge Windmill, Mottistone Gardens, the Needles Old Battery and Newtown National Nature Reserve visitor point.
All images courtesy of NTPL
So why not try jumping over waves at Compton Bay, making a grass trumpet at Bembridge Windmill, birdwatching on the Needles Headland, canoeing down a river at Newtown Nature Reserve, or finding crazy creatures in the rock pools at St Helens? Success is not always guaranteed – but fun certainly is. For any questions about the National Trust on the Isle of Wight. call 01983 741020 or visit nationaltrust.org.uk/isleofwight.
56 GET ACTIVE! • WIGHTLIFE.COM
Island Walking: A StepBy-Step Guide The Isle of Wight has more footpaths per square mile than any English county and hosts the largest walking festival in the UK. Its mild climate is complemented by surprisingly diverse scenery, so, whether you’re a seasoned hiker or Sunday stroller, the Island will have the perfect walking route for you, says Jim Kerr.
W
ith over 500 miles of signposted, well-maintained paths and around 30 miles of Heritage Coastline, the Island offers walks to suit all abilities and there’s heaps to look out for. Wild spring flowers, birdlife in winter, spectacular geology, prehistoric remains, ancient castles, beautiful Victorian resorts and thatched cottages, ancient churches and fine pubs in picturesque villages are just some of the highlights.
GENTLE STROLLS
For a gentle introduction to Wight walking, there’s no shortage of websites offering ideas and tips. Route maps for a number of coastal and inland trails under 10 miles in length, for instance, are available at visitisleofwight.co.uk. The National Trust site features a number of family and dog-friendly walks (see nationaltrust.org. uk), while the Ramblers website (iowramblers.com) has links to many of the downloadable walks on the Island. At gifttonature. org.uk, meanwhile, you can buy a great map pack, which is comprised of a set of five short circular walks including the Red Squirrel Safari, a particular favourite with families. The site also features a number of other nature and heritage walks. Back in the real world, the island’s Visitor Information Points (for locations, see the Towns & Villages feature on pages 38 to 44) are a good source for route maps and books on Island walks.
ON THE MARCH
If you’re looking for a more challenging walk, once again, the National Trust website comes up trumps, with a number of selfguided trails. A personal favourite is the ‘St Catherine’s Down: monk and the merchant’, a breathtaking, 8km circular walk with some steep climbs, loads of history and spectacular panoramic views across the Island. I also adore the Tennyson Trail. This Above: visitisleofwight.co.uk Right: Walkers, The Needles; visitisleofwight.co.uk
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • GET ACTIVE! 57 breath-taking route stretches from the Needles to Carisbrooke, and is widely held to be among the top 10 walks in the country (download available at visitisleofwight.co.uk). Twelve More Favourite Walks by the Ramblers contains several longer walks, as well as a few shorter routes. The 67 miles of the Coastal Path can be walked in four days at a leisurely pace, although many like to take longer over it, enjoying the largely unspoilt coastline of white chalk cliffs and quiet estuaries. The views are stunning and the Island’s heritage can be explored along the way. The coastal route can be divided into six easily managed sections, and route maps for each are available at visitisleofwight.co.uk.
NATURE WALKS
The National Trust owns and maintains several historic properties and about 10% of the Island’s total area, including miles of unspoilt coastline and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Details of ranger-guided walks and fun-packed family activities on the Island are available on the Trust’s website. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust runs a programme of outdoor walking activities throughout the year, in which local experts share their knowledge of the Island’s natural and local history (for information call 01983 760016 or visit hiwwt.org.uk). The RSPB reserve at Brading marshes is one of the best places to spot wildlife in the UK, including birds, flowers, dragonflies and butterflies. The reserve offers miles of quiet footpaths with a variety of walks through varied habitats, each taking two to three hours. Entrance is free, the footpaths are open at all times, and dogs are welcome provided they are kept on leads (more details at rspb.org.uk). Rare species of butterflies, bees and bugs can also be seen in Briddlesford woods, near Wootton Bridge, and there are occasional guided walks around the ancient woodland (see ptes.org for details). It’s All About the Birds is a lovely online guide to wetland wildlife on the Island. The site (itsallaboutthebirds.co.uk) is organised by location, with maps, a species index, recommended bird-watching trails, and field guides to mammals, reptiles, insects and flora in the Island’s five main wetland areas.
HISTORY ON FOOT
There are plenty of Island trails to take you back in time. Walk in the footsteps of dinosaurs at Brook Bay, where you can spot the Island’s famous prehistoric footprints (see page 20). Ancient burial landscapes can be seen at Afton Down and Headon Warren. The Island features many old churches, and the monastery at Quarr is clearly visible from a nearby footpath. On the east coast, there’s the Island’s only windmill, dating from around the 1700s, at Bembridge; while out west, there’s a 17th century watermill at Calbourne, and the Island’s military past and long-abandoned rocket-testing site can be taken in on the walk to the Needles.
WALKING EVENTS The Isle of Wight Walking Festival takes place in May with a walking weekend held in October (see Calendar of Events at the front of the magazine for details). With over 200 walks, the festival is the biggest event of its kind in the UK. Around 20,000 walkers take part each year, many travelling from overseas to participate. Highlights include ‘Walk the Wight’ and the five-day Carnival Trail (a 100-mile route linking carnival towns and villages across the Island). The festival also includes toddler- and dogfriendly walks, while the Isle of Wight ‘speed-dating walk’ is also hugely popular (five subsequent ‘walks down the aisle’ plus one baby walker so far!) The full festival programme is available to view at isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk. Away from the festival, the Isle of Wight Challenge is a charity event around the Coastal Path that takes place 23-24 August (choose either the 106km or 56km routes – see isleofwightchallenge.com for details).
Ghosts & Ghouls
Island Ghost Walks host Marc Tuckey has been entertaining visitors and Islanders alike with tales of smugglers, shipwrecks and spiritual happenings for 20 years. Marc’s spooky visitations include Ventnor Botanical Gardens (keep your eyes on the trees and bushes), Carisbrooke Castle and indoors at Northwood House (attics and cellars!). Tours take place throughout the year as well as during the Walking Festival and, of course, at Halloween. The Ghost Walks normally start at about 8pm and you can book a place by calling 01983 520695 or else visit ghostisland.com.
Wheelchair Friendly
Accessible Countryside for Everyone recommends the following walks for the less mobile: Appley Park, Ryde (particularly noted for its tarmac coastal footpath along the northern border); the Western Yar Easy Access Ramble (a four-mile circuit (map at iowramblers.com)); and Newtown Harbour (disabled access to one of the hides and easy access to the town quay and town copse). For information, visit accessiblecountryside.org.uk/southeast/iow.
Nordic Walking
Nordic Walking, in which poles are used to aid the step, was developed by Scandinavian cross-country skiers in the 1930s as a way of keeping fit during the summer months. There are a number of routes on the Island that are suitable for Nordic Walking. The gently undulating terrain from Godshill to Stenbury Down is a good place to start, and this 8km stroll along quiet lanes should take just under three hours. The Island even has its own Nordic Walking Instructor – Andy Savage. Contact him on 01983 810932 or at nordicwalkingisleofwight.co.uk.
Shake a Leg!
There are several walking holiday providers on the Island such as Wight Walks, Step by Step and HF Holidays, offering anything from simple baggage transfer and half-day guided walks to eight-day expeditions. There are plenty of walkerfriendly places to stay and Wightlink offers special rates for foot passengers, so pick up a map, grab a leaflet, go online or visit a bookshop, then take your pick from the many superb route maps and guides available to enrich your time on the Island and broaden your horizons.
58 GET ACTIVE! • WIGHTLIFE.COM
Welcome to Bicycle Island Very few Island cycling features fail to mention that the Isle of Wight has been named as one of the top family and day cycling destinations by the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, while the Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel guides placed the Island among the world’s best cycling destinations. This one is no exception!
T
he Island has hundreds of miles of cycle routes to suit serious bikers and weekend pedallers. Dedicated cycle tracks, many using former railway lines, are car-free, well-signposted and suited to all fitness and ability levels. With many trails passing along the coast and through countryside Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Island is undoubtedly one of the best places to cycle in the UK. With no motorways, it’s pretty much Sunday driving seven days a week on the Island, so there’s miles of small roads for serious racing cyclists and quiet country lanes for recreational and touring cyclists to potter along. With its chalky cliffs and ancient downland, open woodland and marsh, and a coastline scarred by deep chines, the Island is often referred to as England in miniature. In all, there’s over 200 miles of scenic off-road bridleways, cycle ways and byways which are great for mountain biking, as well as plenty of quiet country lanes that are accessible to all cyclists. Whether on- or off-road, there’s a wealth of great pubs and cafés along the way for refuelling, plenty
of cycle-friendly accommodation if you are staying for a few days, and a full calendar of bike events catering for every kind of cyclist. The go-to location for information about cycling on the Island is the award-winning tourism website vistisleofwight.co.uk. Its ‘Bicycle Island’ pages provide links to all the best cycle tourism services such as bike hire and cycle holiday outfits. Here also, you’ll find information and mapping for these below, some of the Island’s best cycle routes.
REWARD YOURSELF ON THE ‘TASTE’ ROUND THE ISLAND CYCLE ROUTE
One thing for sure when you have cycled a fair way is that you deserve a treat or two. The 62-mile, Taste Round the Island Cycle Route is a spectacular ride through some of the Island’s best scenery, with a wealth of mouth-watering food and drink stops. Taken over four days, there is a variety of quality accommodation en route. Mainly using quieter lanes, the route takes you through historic villages such as Newtown and near local food hotspots such as Adgestone Vineyard and the Garlic Farm. The very best Above & right: visitisleofwight.co.uk
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • GET ACTIVE! 59 gastro pubs for lunch and cafés for cream teas are highlighted on this well-signposted and moderately hilly route. A number of local companies offer baggage transfer services so you can relax by traveling light, letting your bags travel ahead to your night’s accommodation. Want to avoid the worst of the hills? Then simply hop aboard the coaster bus, where its purpose-built bike racks allow you to load your bike aboard and sit back over the downland on the Island’s southern tip (islandbuses.info).
FAMILY FUN ON THE RED SQUIRREL RAIL TRAIL
The Island offers many safe places for family cycling. Young bikers can enjoy the experience from the comfort of ‘tag-alongs’ – minibikes that attach to the back of an adult model – and these are available for hire from various bike shops on the Island. The best family route has to be the Red Squirrel Rail Trail. This wildlifethemed trail runs from Cowes to Sandown, then loops back on itself via Wroxall and Godshill. Most of this route is on wellsurfaced, traffic-free former railway paths. In part, it follows the Medina Estuary, one of the 10 best coastal rides in the country according to The Guardian newspaper. Its wooded hedgerows and river estuaries are great places to meet our elusive native Red Squirrel or see varied birdlife. The Red Squirrel Rail Trail is the perfect place to try a ‘beginners’ multi-day tour with an overnight stop in the Island’s Sandown/Shanklin ‘bay area’ before you ride back across the Island.
CATCH PANORAMIC VIEWS ON THE CHALK RIDGE EXTREME
Off-road cycling is a great way to explore the Island and see parts to which you would not normally have access. The Chalk Ridge Extreme is a 53-mile circular mountain bike route. Serious mountain bikers will tear into its steep high downs, chalky descents and rocky/rooty singletrack. The route can, however, be broken into a multi-day adventure with accommodation and guides provided on the way. Its way marked and exciting tracks form an alternative off road, round-the-Island route. The Good Mountain Biking Guide has highlighted sections of this route as probably the best chalk trail in the UK.
SHORT & SWEET ON ONE OF THE ISLAND’S ‘DAY RIDES’
The Bicycle Island pages on visitisleofwight.co.uk also feature a collection of the best of the Island’s ‘day rides’. These are graded, so you can chose from easy-peasy pedalling to short-but-tough mountain bike challenges. A popular short family ride in the West Wight goes from Freshwater Bay to Yarmouth on an old railway line alongside the River Yar. Other rides include short trips down the Esplanade at Ryde and the Sandown to Shanklin sea walls. If you’re looking for ready-made routes in a book format, we recommend Cycling Wight and Cycling Wight 2 by Ian Williams and John Goodwin, suitable for leisure and family riders. Isle of Wight Cycle Routes by Alan Rowe also describes 10 routes from easy to challenging.
CYCLING EVENTS The Island hosts a number of cycling events from spring to deep winter. The Randonnée takes place on Sunday, 4 May, and this year’s rides are either 100km or 55km in length. The event starts at 9am and finishes at 6pm (see cycleisland. co.uk for details). During the same holiday weekend, the Vectis Roads Cycling Club holds a three-day Cycling Festival (3-5 May; details at vectiscc.org.uk).
Cycling Festival
The Island’s annual Cycling Festival takes place 14-29 September. Serious pedal-heads will ‘enjoy’ the Hills Killer, an orienteering/endurance ride that takes in three, seven or, for the most advanced riders, 14 hills. Each event requires riders to visit several checkpoints by navigating their route via a map and grid references.
Cycle the Wight
Cycle the Wight features 70- and 50-mile routes round the Island in aid of the British Heart Foundation and takes place on Sunday, 21 September. Other festival events include bike maintenance workshops around the Island, tiny tots cycle adventures and gentle Sunday runs; last year’s festival even featured a pedal-powered cycle cinema! Details of these and all Cycling Festival events, including route maps, can be found at sunseaandcycling.com.
West Wight Triathlon
For the serious athlete, the West Wight Triathlon, comprising a pool swim of 400 metres; a bike ride of 25km; and a 5km run, takes place on Sunday, 28 September. For more information go to westwight.co.uk/triathlon.
Wiggle Wight Winter Sportive
The Wiggle Wight Winter Sportive is a road ride that takes place on Sunday, 30 November. The ride starts and finishes just outside Yarmouth ferry terminal, and there is a ferry ticketed option including event entry, return ferry crossing and free parking on the Lymington side. Start is 8:30am with mince pies at the two festive feed stops! More details and online entry at: ukcyclingevents.co.uk/events/wiggle-wightwinter-sportive
SO IT’S TIME TO ‘GET ON YOUR BIKE!’
With over £500,000 of public money being invested in the Island’s cycling infrastructure and development this year alone, employment from the Bicycle Island phenomenon is sure to grow. This growth is, in turn, being supported by investment from the private sector as cycle tourism businesses offer an increasingly broader and better range of services. Some companies that are meeting the cycling challenge on the island include: high quality bike hire at wightcyclehire.co.uk; guided cycle rides and holiday outfitters at gpsport.org; baggage transfer service at movemybag-isleofwight.com. Also look out for accommodation that is accredited under Quality in Tourism’s ‘cyclist welcome’ scheme qualityintourism.com where visitors with bikes can relax at the end of a day’s ride. So whether it’s just a three-hour sampler or a three-day tour you are undertaking, Bicycle Island has it all. Wightlink encourages visitors to enjoy the Island by bicycle, and pushbikes are carried free of charge on all of its three ferry routes – from Portsmouth Gunwharf or Lymington for cars and from Portsmouth Harbour for foot passengers. So what are you waiting for? It’s clearly time to saddle up!
60 GET ACTIVE! • WIGHTLIFE.COM
Sport & Leisure Holidays are a great time to try your hand at a new sport or to practise what you love best somewhere completely different. The Island offers masses of opportunities to do either. Here are some suggestions to hone your skills and get that heart pumping... ANGLING Bembridge, Tel. 01983 874100 or 01983 872185 cachalot-charters.co.uk
staying at the farm’s holiday cottages fish for free, while non-residents are charged £5 per rod. Open from dawn to dusk all year round. Parking and toilets on-site.
Fishing at Rookley
Scotties Fishing Tackle
Cachalot Charters
Rookley Country Park, Tel. 01983 721675 rookleyfishery.co.uk Two well-stocked fishing lakes and on-site bait and tackle shop. They are ideal for experienced anglers looking for a relaxing fishing break, with personal tuition also available for enthusiastic beginners.
Nettlecombe Farm
nr Whitwell, Tel. 01983 730783 nettlecombefarm.co.uk Nettlecombe Farm has three lakes, all well-stocked with carp, roach and tench. A peaceful place to pass the time, the lakes offer something for all abilities – from experienced anglers to complete novices. Guests
Newport, Tel. 01983 522115 Sandown, Tel. 01983 404555
BOWLS Bembridge Coast Hotel Bembridge, Tel. 01983 873931
Indoor Bowls Club
Ryde, Tel. 01983 564336
Shanklin Bowling Club Shanklin, Tel. 01983 863777
CROQUET Ryde Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club
Ryde, Tel. 01983 562095 rltcc.co.uk
CYCLING The Bike Shed
Ryde, Tel. 01983 568833 Merstone, Tel. 01983 868786 Hire, sales and repairs, plus delivery and collection service (free for four or more bikes).
GP Sport
Tel. 07733 363035 gpsport.org GP Sport arranges cycling holidays on the Island for all levels of riders (laying on travel, accommodation, bike hire and experienced guide). They also run free guided Sunday rides in conjunction with the ‘Sunday Social’, a group of Island mountain bikers.
Top Gear Cycle Hire
Cowes, Tel. 01983 299056 topgearhire.com
Wight Cycle Hire
Yarmouth, Tel. 01983 761800 wightcyclehire.co.uk Walk in and ride hire centre on the old railway line to
Freshwater and an Islandwide delivery service. Located just a five-minute walk from Wightlink’s terminal and the town’s bus station, their hire centre is a great place to start your cycling adventure. With over 100 cycles, they have the Island’s largest range of bikes, including trekking, hybrid, road, MTB, tandem and trike. They also have lots of children’s bikes, as well as trailers, taga-longs and childseats. Bikes can be delivered Island-wide – make sure to book no later than 3pm the day before you require delivery. Yarmouth also has a bike workshop and on-site mechanic.
DIVING Aqua Diving School Lake, Tel. 01983 408301 aquadivingschool.co.uk
Island Divers
Cowes, Tel. 01983 240255 iowdivers.co.uk
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • GET ACTIVE! 61 Ventnor Golf Club
Ventnor, Tel. 01983 853326 ventnorgolfclub.co.uk
Westridge Golf Centre
nr Ryde, Tel. 01983 613131 westridgegolfcentre.co.uk The Island’s only pay-asyou-play golf course and floodlit driving range. It has an excellent nine-hole course and a well-stocked shop. PGAqualified coaches on-site and an excellent club fitting service.
ICE SKATING Planet Ice
Ryde, Tel. 01983 615155 planet-ice.co.uk This rink has excellent facilities and is situated right on Ryde Esplanade. It has special parent and toddler sessions and discothemed events.
PARAGLIDING Butterfly Paragliding Chale, Tel. 01983 731611 paraglide.uk.com Goodleaf Tree Climbing
FLYING Specialist Flying School Sandown Airport, Tel. 01983 402402 flyingschool.com
GOLF Browns Golf Course
Sandown, Tel. 01983 402447 Now run by the Isle of Wight Zoo, this is one of the Island’s largest pitch and putt courses. It has two 12-hole pitch and putt courses, 15-hole long shot putting and 18-hole bantam putting. Drinks and snacks available in the clubhouse. Situated on the seafront.
Cowes Golf Club
Cowes, Tel. 01983 292303 cowesgolfclub.co.uk
Freshwater Bay Golf Club
nr Yarmouth, Tel. 01983 752955 freshwaterbaygolfclub.co.uk
The Needles View Pitch & Putt Course
Off the Alum Bay Road Tel. 01983 756771 Now reopened with an outdoor tearoom serving cream teas, rolls, cakes and home-made ice cream. Also selling wood crafts and Needles photographs. Stunning views.
Newport Golf Club
Newport, Tel. 01983 525076 newportgolfclub.co.uk A challenging nine-hole course. Fantastic views and good food in the clubhouse.
Ryde Golf Club
nr Ryde, Tel. 01983 614809 rydegolfclub.org The club welcomes golfers of all ages and levels of expertise. An excellent nine-hole course layout with some alternate tees for the second nine.
Shanklin & Sandown Golf Club Lake, Tel. 01983 403217 ssgolfclub.com
High Adventure Paragliding Centre
Yarmouth, Tel. 01983 741484 high-adventure.uk.com
RIDING Allendale Equestrian Centre
Godshill, Tel. 01983 840258 allendale-ec.co.uk A British House Society (BHS) approved riding and training centre. Top class tuition for all levels as well as fun rides for beginners and children. There’s hacking in beautiful countryside, plus day rides and pub rides for competent riders.
Brickfields Riding School
Ryde, Tel. 01983 566801 brickfields.net/riding_school. php
Hill Farm Riding Freshwater, Tel. 01983 752502 hillfarmstables.com
Trotters Riding School Ryde, Tel. 01983 568701
SAILING Bembridge Sailing Club Bembridge, Tel. 01983 872686 bembridgesc.net
Brading Haven Yacht Club
Bembridge, Tel. 01983 872289 bhyc.org.uk
Cowes Sailing School Cowes, Tel. 01983 289631 cowessailingschool.co.uk
Gurnard Sailing Club
Gurnard, Tel. 01983 295169 gurnardsc.org.uk
Island Sailing Club
Cowes, Tel. 01983 296621 islandsc.org.uk
Island Youth Water Activities
Cowes, Tel. 01983 293073 iywac.org.uk
Medina Valley Centre Newport, Tel. 01983 522195 medinavalleycentre.org.uk
Seaview Yacht Club Seaview, Tel. 01983 613268
UK Sailing Academy
Cowes, Tel. 01983 294941 uksa.org UKSA aspires to provide the very best maritime education to kids of all abilities to develop self-confidence and motivation.
Yarmouth Sailing Club Yarmouth, Tel. 01983 760270 yarmouthsailingclub.org.uk
SWIMMING & LEISURE CENTRES Isle of Wight Sports Club
Seaview, Tel. 01983 613108 iwsports.co.uk Situated in the heart of Seaview, the club has courts for tennis, badminton and squash, an excellent swimming pool, gym and handsome club room and gardens. The Club offers temporary and visitor membership options.
62 GET ACTIVE! • WIGHTLIFE.COM The Heights
Sandown, Tel. 01983 405594 iwight.com/ theheightsleisurecentre A range of activities including swimming, gym, spa, steam room, sauna, sun bed, squash courts and bistro.
Medina Leisure Centre
Newport, Tel. 01983 523767 iwight.com/ medinaleisurecentre Swimming pools, sports hall, gym, fitness classes, climbing wall, sauna, infra-red heat cabin, café.
Puckpool Park
Ryde, Tel. 01983 562086 Facilities include two tennis courts, swings, slides, roundabouts, crazy golf, lawn bowls, putting green, beautiful gardens and a café.
Sandham Grounds
Sandown, Tel. 01983 402747 Fun for all the family: 18-hole crazy golf course, 18-hole putting course and three tennis courts.
Waterside Pool
Ryde, Tel. 01983 563656 Heated indoor pool with retractable roof – located next to the boating lake and Ryde beach.
Westridge Squash & Tone Zone Gym
Ryde, Tel. 01983 566243 iwight.com/westridgecentre A friendly centre with seven squash courts and gym.
West Wight Sports Centre
Freshwater, Tel. 01983 752168 westwight.co.uk Two heated pools, excellent gym, sports hall and café. Activities for all ages, including swimming, canoeing, diving, snorkelling and trampolining, plus special holiday activities for children.
TENNIS Ryde Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club
Ryde, Tel. 01983 562095
Ryde Mead Lawn Tennis Club
Ryde, Tel. 01983 282692
Sandham Grounds
Sandown, Tel. 01983 402747
Seaclose Park
Newport, Tel. 01983 527088
Ventnor Tennis Club
Ventnor, Tel. 01983 854898
TENPIN BOWLING Superbowl
Ryde, Tel. 01983 617070 rydesuperbowl.co.uk This substantial ten pin bowling centre is located next to the beach on Ryde’s esplanade.
Sandown Pier Superbowl
Sandown, Tel. 01983 404122
Compton Bay visitisleofwight.co.uk
TREE CLIMBING Goodleaf Tree Climbing Appley Park, Ryde Tel. 0333 800 1188 goodleaf.co.uk Enjoy a tree top adventure like no other! Qualified and experienced instructors will teach you the ropes, and using the latest technical gear, you’ll ascend into the branches and practise your new tree climbing skills. At the top enjoy beautiful sea views, swing around in the canopy or simply unwind in a special tree top hammock. After your descent, relax and enjoy some home-made refreshments. Goodleaf’s unique ‘have a go’ sessions are fun, adventurous but safe and eco-friendly. Adults: £38; children: £28. Bookings must be made in advance. Group discounts available.
WIND / KITESURFING & SURFING Earth, Wind and Water Shanklin, Tel. 01983 866269 blog.earthwindwater.co.uk
iSurf
Tel. 07968 609169 iowsurf.com Mobile surf school.
UK Sailing Academy
Cowes, Tel. 01983 294941 uksa.org
Williams Windsurfing Shanklin, Tel. 07747 774009
Wight Water Adventure Sports Isle of Wight Adventure Activities
Sandown, Tel. 01983 404987 wightwaters.com
With over 25 years of practical industry experience and knowledge, Wight Waters can offer you the most professional watersports packages on the Island.
OTHER WATER SPORTS Island Youth Water Activities
Cowes, Tel. 01983 293073 iywac.org.uk
Wight Water Adventure Sports
Sandown, Tel. 01983 404987 wightwaters.com
SHOP Goodyears Outdoors
Sandown & Newport Tel. 01983 408181 & 01983 525525 goodyears.co.uk Goodyears has an ever increasing product list to offer something for everyone, from the occasional backpacker to the family camper and caravanner.
Wight Outdoors
Freshwater Tel. 01983 753111 wightoutdoors.co.uk West Wight’s only specialist outdoor store, stocking a range of clothing, equipment and gear for all sorts of outdoor activities, including cycling, walking, surfing and kayaking. They also offer West Wight’s only surf and wetsuit hire. Also a full range of camping accessories and emergency supplies.
64 PLACES TO VISIT • WIGHTLIFE.COM
Appuldurcombe House visitisleofwight.co.uk
Places to Visit Great days on the Island more often than not include a trip to one of its top attractions. But where to go? You’ll find ideas aplenty over the following pages...
THEME PARKS
Blackgang Chine Chale (map reference: I7), PO38 2HN Blackgang Chine is not only the oldest theme park in the UK, it is also one of the most iconic tourist destinations in the country. Set on the cliff edge overlooking the stunning south coast, the park is filled with an eclectic mix of attractions and magical theme worlds including Cowboy Town, Pirate Cove, Fairy Land, Valley of the Dodos, Rumpus Mansion and much more. Popular rides include the Water Force Slide and Cliff Hanger roller coaster. New for 2014 is the breathtaking Restricted Area 5. Enter through the gates at your own risk! Marvel at the scale of the new life-size moving dinosaurs and encounter the
most realistic experience since time began! The journey through the ‘Restricted Area 5’ enclosure will bring you up close and personal with dinosaurs of all types including an Argentinosaurus, bigger than a double decker bus and possibly the largest animatronic T-Rex in the country! Plus, don’t miss the Dinosaur Discovery Days and Big Night Out Firework parties which take place every week during the summer holidays. Remember, also, that visitors can come back for free as often as they like for up to seven days after their first visit. Tel. 01983 730330 blackgangchine.com Open daily 29 Mar - 2 Nov. Please check the website for opening times, prices (including the joint saver ticket with sister park, Robin Hill) and full calendar of events.
The Needles Park Alum Bay (B5), PO39 0JD The Needles Park is the Isle of Wight’s best value family attraction with world famous coloured sand cliffs that overlook the Isle of Wight’s most famous landmark – The Needles Rocks and Lighthouse. The Needles Park offers guests free entry and a range of ‘pay as you go’ attractions for all the family, including the spectacular chairlift to the beach, Alum Bay Glass and Sweet Manufactory. There is a variety of children’s attractions including a traditional Victorian carousel, Spins and Needles Tea Cup ride and the Games Kiosk which includes tin can alley and hook a duck. You even win a prize every time! Also don’t miss the amazing 4D family cinema that brings you an extra dimension in thrills!
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • PLACES TO VISIT 65 Age and height restrictions apply on certain attractions. Full catering and retail facilities available. Tel. 0871 720 0022 theneedles.co.uk Open Easter - end Oct: daily from 10am. Hours are extended every Thursday throughout August for the Magic in the Skies firework nights. The park is also open during the winter, although some of the attractions (including the chairlift) will be closed. No admission charge; you only pay to park your car. Check the website or follow the park on Facebook for special events and offers.
Robin Hill Adventure Park & Gardens Downend, Arreton (K4), PO30 2NU With some incredible day and night time experiences taking place throughout the year, Robin Hill, featuring the stunning ‘Electric Woods’ is not to be missed in 2014.The Island’s award-winning country attraction boasts a fantastic blend of rides – including the quarter mile downhill toboggan – falconry and adventure play for fun-loving families and children, and relaxing woodland gardens, ponds and walks for discerning adults to enjoy. Robin Hill is also one of the best places on the Island to spot a rare red squirrel and is a magnet for wildlife enthusiasts. Add into the mix some spectacular ‘Electric Woods’ evening woodland illumination events and the park really does lend itself to multiple visits throughout the season. Remember, also, that visitors can come back for free as often as they like for up to seven days after their first visit. Tel. 01983 527352 robin-hill.com Open: 29 Mar - 31 Aug from 10am. Open for ‘Electric Woods’ evenings only: 3-23 Oct. Open day & evening (including the ‘Electric Woods’) from 10am until late: 18 Jul 31 Aug & 24 Oct - 2 Nov. Please check website for prices (including our joint saver ticket with sister park, Blackgang Chine) and full details of events.
HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS Appuldurcombe House Wroxall (K6), PO38 3EW Once the grandest mansion on the Island, Appuldurcombe House is a jewel in south-east Wight. These days, thanks to a bomb blast during the Second World War, elegant and romantic ruins are all that’s left of this 18th century house. But, standing in impressive grounds designed by ‘Capability’ Brown, they’re well worth seeing. The shell of the house has been partially restored and is now in the hands of English Heritage. Red squirrels can be seen in the grounds. Tel. 0870 333 1181 english-heritage.org.uk/ appuldurcombe For opening times and prices, call or visit the English Heritage website.
Bembridge Fort
Bembridge Down (O4), PO36 8QY Part of this Victorian fort is occupied by an industrial tenant and the remainder is in a derelict condition, but guided tours are available. Tel. 01983 741020 nationaltrust.org.uk/ isleofwight Open: Apr - end Oct, every Tue. Cost £3.50, incl. National Trust members.
Bembridge Windmill Bembridge (P4), PO35 5SQ This picturesque, 300-yearold windmill is one of our best loved landmarks. Dating from around 1700, it is the only surviving windmill on the Island, and has much of its original machinery intact. Cared for by the National Trust, it affords great views from the upper floors. Small kiosk selling soft drinks, ice cream and gifts. Tel. 01983 873945 nationaltrust.org.uk/ isleofwight Open 15 Mar - 2 Nov: daily, 10.30am-5pm (or at dusk if earlier). Last admission 30 mins before closing. Gift Aid Admission*: adults: £4.30; children: £2.15; family tickets: £10.75. Free entrance for
National Trust members. *Includes a 10% donation; visitors can pay standard admission prices which are displayed at the property and online.
Brading Roman Villa Brading (N5), PO36 0EN Brading Roman Villa is one of the finest Roman sites in the UK. The award-winning Visitor Centre and Museum offers a unique insight into Roman life in Britain, from beautifully preserved mosaic floors to an extensive collection of Roman archaeology.
Calbourne Water Mill, Museums & Picturesque Grounds Calbourne (F4), PO30 4JN A 17th century water mill, milling every day at 3pm, except Saturday. There has been a mill here since the 11th century. Attractions include 1896 Roller Mill, war museum, rural museum, fire station, ancient oak woodland walk, straw bale building, 18-hole putting course, family croquet, family clay play, pétanque, pedalos and punting on the mill stream. The Water Mill’s fully licensed café serves fresh, home-cooked food, as well as delicious cream teas that can be enjoyed on the pretty patio or to take away. The gift shop sells, among other things, flour, oats, mueslis, freshly baked breads and beautiful pottery. Tel. 01983 531227 calbournewatermill.co.uk Open Apr - Nov: 10am-5pm. Adults: £7; concessions: £6; children (5-16 yrs): £4; under5s: free; family tickets: £19. All return visits are free.
Carisbrooke Castle (limited)
Newport (I4), PO30 1XY This storybook castle is steeped in history. Once the prison of Charles I and, until 1944, the official residence of the Island’s Governor, the castle is now a fascinating historical attraction. It is also home to the Carisbrooke Donkeys, who happily demonstrate how donkeys turned the treadwheel in the
well house in the late 17th century. There are a number of fascinating hands-on interactive displays, plus a virtual tour which guides visitors through the castle’s colourful history and explores the different roles it has played over the centuries. The castle museum has a fascinating collection relating to the history of the Island. The Edwardian-style Princess Beatrice garden is a delightful place to relax. Gift shop and café on-site. Tel. 01983 522107 english-heritage.org.uk/ carisbrooke For information on opening times and prices, call or visit their website.
Isle of Wight Steam Railway Smallbrook Junction, Wootton (N3), PO33 4DS Inspiring, surprising and award-winning, your visit to The Isle of Wight Steam Railway will charm, engage and captivate, leaving some lasting memories of a special day out. Thrill to the sight and sound of powerful majestic steam engines, breathe in the evocative smells of a real steam railway, and soak-up the rhythm of quiet rural stations while enjoying the friendliness of traditionally uniformed staff. Settle back aboard beautifully restored Victorian and Edwardian carriages for a 10mile ride behind a vintage steam locomotive and discover an idyllic view of the Island’s unspoilt countryside, or hop off at one of the stations and watch the trains go by! New for 2014 is the Train Story Discovery Centre, a fabulous attraction bringing to life those locomotives, carriages and wagons, uncovering their impact on our lives and showing what happened when
KEY Suitable for wheelchair users Toilets on-site Café or restaurant on-site Dogs welcome
66 PLACES TO VISIT • WIGHTLIFE.COM The Needles Old Battery
Mottistone Gardens NTPL images
they were no longer needed on the railways! There are also numerous events throughout the year, including ‘The Festival of Transport’, ‘A Midsummer’s Night Steam’, ‘The 1940s Experience’, ‘Midsummer Jazz’, Wine and Real Ale Festivals, a Steam and Country Show, and ‘The Railway Folk’. Meals and snacks are available in the licensed refreshment rooms, plus there’s a shop, museum, woodland walk, picnic area and children’s play area. Tel. 01983 882204 iwsteamrailway.co.uk Open most days Mar - lateJune; daily from late-June - late-Sep; selected days Oct - Dec. Online tickets (including steam train fares): adults £10.50; children (5-15): £5.50; infants (0-4): free; family: £26.50 (2 adults & 2 children). On the Gate: adults: £12; children (5-15): £6; infants (04): free; family: £30 (2 adults & 2 children). Admission to Havenstreet Station for nontravellers: £5. (Please note: All tickets are valid for one day.) Kids go free during the Easter Holidays from 6-24 April, and throughout August.
Mottistone Gardens (limited)
Mottistone (F5), PO30 4EA A magical garden with colourful herbaceous borders, shrub-filled terraces and views to the sea. Families can explore the garden with a Discovery Trail and also search for the hidden flowerpot men! Tea garden, National Trust gift shop and plant sales, plus delightful
walks onto the Downs and to the coast. Mottistone is located between Brighstone and Brook on the B3399. Tel. 01983 741302 nationaltrust.org.uk/ isleofwight Open 16 Mar - 30 Oct: Sun - Thu, 11am-5pm. Last admission 30 mins before closing. Gift Aid Admission*: adults: £ 5.10; children: £ 2.55; family: £12.75. Free entrance for National Trust members. *Includes a 10% donation; visitors can pay standard admission prices which are displayed at the property and online. The manor house is only open on two days: Sun 25 May for National Trust members only (guided tours 9.30am-12pm, self-guided tours 1-5pm) and to other visitors on Mon 26 May, 11am5pm (additional charges apply). Last entry both days 4.30pm.
The Needles New Battery
West Wight (A5), PO39 0HJ The fascinating underground rooms of the New Battery is home to a small but extraordinary exhibition about the top secret rocket-testing programme that was carried out here during the 1950s and ’60s as part of Britain’s Race for Space during the height of the Cold War. It is now cared for by the National Trust. There’s a refreshments kiosk but no WC. Tel. 01983 754772 nationaltrust.org.uk/ isleofwight Open 15 Mar - 2 Nov: daily, 11am-4pm. Free admission.
West Wight (A5), PO39 0HJ A spectacular cliff-top fort overlooking the Needles. Built in 1862, it is now cared for by the National Trust. The Battery’s amazing story is told in a series of newly recreated, atmospheric rooms, whilst cartoons by artist Geoff Campion illustrate the part it played in the history of modern Britain. There are two original guns on the parade ground, while a tunnel leads to a bird’s eye view of the Needles. Younger visitors can explore the site with a Discovery Pack and/or on a soldier or inspector trail. There’s a shop on-site, as well as a tea room selling home-made sandwiches, soups, cakes and refreshments. Tel. 01983 754772 (for disabled access please phone ahead) nationaltrust.org.uk/ isleofwight Open 15 Mar - 2 Nov: daily, 10.30am-5pm. Last admission 30 mins before closing. Closes in high winds. Please phone on day of visit to check. (Tea Room only: open 8 Nov - 14 Dec, Sat & Sun, 11am-3pm. No admission charge during these periods as remainder of site is closed.) Gift Aid Admission*: adults: £5.90; children: £2.95; family: £14.75. Free entrance for National Trust members. *Includes a 10% donation; visitors can pay standard admission prices which are displayed at the property and online.
Newport Roman Villa (limited)
Newport (J4), PO30 1HA On the edge of Newport town centre, the remains of this
Above: The Needles Old Battery NTPL images
Roman farmhouse are well worth discovering. The site was unearthed in 1926, and a large proportion has now been revealed and is open to the public. Three of the rooms on display have mosaic floors, and the largest of these has a fireplace. The villa’s hypocaust system and bathroom are great examples of Roman central heating and plumbing. Scenes of life within the villa have been recreated, as has the fascinating traditional Roman herb garden. Handson activities are available in the education room. There’s something for all the family here, including craft activities and a photo hunt. Tel. 01983 529720 iwight.com/ newportromanvilla Open 2 Apr - 3 Nov: Mon - Sat, 10.30am-4pm; Sun, 12-4pm (July & Aug only). Adults: £3; children & senior citizens: £2.20; family tickets: £9.
Nunwell House Brading (N4), PO36 0JQ Tel. 01983 40724
Newtown Old Town Hall
Newtown (G3), PO30 4PA Tiny Newtown once sent two members to Parliament, and the Town Hall was the setting for often turbulent elections. In 1933, the building was saved and given to the National Trust by the Ferguson Gang, a group of anonymous benefactors. It now contains a local history exhibition. Regular art exhibitions take place throughout the year. Tel. 01983 531785 nationaltrust.org.uk/ isleofwight
68 PLACES TO VISIT • WIGHTLIFE.COM
Osborne House
Open 16 Mar - 23 Oct: Sun, Tue, Wed & Thu, 2-5pm. July & Aug: Sun - Thu, 2-5pm. Also open Bank Holiday Mondays. Closes at dusk if earlier. Last admission 15 mins before closing. Adults: £3.30; children: £1.65; families: £8.25. Free for National Trust members.
Osborne House (limited)
East Cowes (J2), PO32 6JX Osborne House was once Queen Victoria’s seaside home where she spent time with her large family. Designed by her beloved husband, Prince Albert, it’s a must-see attraction on the Island. The estate is vast and there is so much to see, both within the house, built in the style of an Italian villa, and the stunning grounds. See the sumptuous Royal Apartments and take a glimpse at royal family life in the Queen’s private rooms, including the Royal Nursery and the Queen’s Bedroom – all looking just as they did when Osborne was the centre of the British Empire. The fabulous grounds include a magnificent walled kitchen garden, Italianate terraces and a Swiss Cottage and Museum where the royal children once played – this now has interactive displays about the princes and princesses. Queen Victoria’s private beach is also open to visitors, complete with the royal bathing machine and alcove seat overlooking
the Solent. On-site facilities include a shop, quality restaurants and an excellent children’s play area. Tel. 01983 200022 english-heritage.org.uk/ osborne For information on opening times and prices, please call or visit their website.
Quarr Abbey Ryde (L3), PO33 4ES Quarr Abbey is a working Benedictine Monastery and home to a community of monks who dedicate their life to prayer, contemplation and community life. With free entry to the grounds, you can visit the church and pilgrim chapel, pop along to the art gallery and bookshop, or simply wander the grounds to experience the tranquil atmosphere of the monastery. Visitors will enjoy the tranquillity of the teashop café that offers freshly made food which makes the most of Quarr Abbey’s own produce. The farm shop offers a variety of local Island produce along with Quarr Abbey’s own unique range of products which include jams and chutneys, honey, apple juice and cider, all made with Quarr Abbey’s own allotment-grown produce which is also available to buy. For anyone interested in the life and history of Quarr Abbey, tours are available on the first Tuesday of every month, and every Tuesday in
July/August at 11am. A new visitor and exhibition centre opens in the summer months as part of the Heritage Lottery Fund project, giving visitors the chance to learn about the history and life of Quarr Abbey. Visitors can also enjoy the newly landscaped grounds which include improved visitor access, a resurfaced car park with a new access route, and a new orchard area that is being introduced. Tel. 01983 882420 quarrabbey.co.uk Open daily (except Good Friday). Summer: 10am-5pm; Sundays, 11.15am-5pm. Winter: 10am-4pm; Sundays, 11.15am-4pm.
Winkle Street
Calbourne (F4), PO30 4JF Known by some as the Island’s best kept secret, Winkle Street is a delightful lane in the picturesque village of Calbourne. It was originally called Barrington Row, named after longtime residents of Swainston Manor. On one side, it is bordered by a row of stone and thatched cottages, on the other by a stream which flows under an old stone bridge and into an ancient sheepwash.
Yarmouth Castle (limited)
Yarmouth (D3), PO41 0PB Located in the centre of delightful Yarmouth, Yarmouth Castle was the last and most sophisticated of Henry VIII’s coastal defences. Built to keep French incursions at bay (the town had been sacked by sailors from France, first in 1377 and later in 1524), it was actually completed after the king’s death in 1547, and was fitted with the very first new-style ‘arrowhead’ artillery bastion to be built in England. With its magnificent views over the western Solent, it is also a perfect picnic spot. Displays inside evoke Yarmouth’s past and tell the story of the 16th century ship that was wrecked near the castle. Tel. 01983 760678 english-heritage.org.uk/iow Call or visit their website for information on opening times and prices.
ARTS & CRAFTS Alum Bay Glass Needles Park, Alum Bay (B5), PO39 0JD Established in 1972, Alum Bay Glass is the Isle of Wight’s longest established glass studio. From its large viewing gallery, visitors can watch the creation of beautiful functional and decorative glassware, using techniques that have been refined over many centuries. You can buy some of their breathtaking creations in the on-site shop. Tel. 0871 720 0022 alumbayglass.co.uk Open Easter - end-Oct, daily from 10am. Restricted opening times in winter. Entry: £1.
Arreton Barns Main Road, Arreton Located in the centre of the Island, Arreton Barns is fast becoming the main hub for local craftspeople and artists. The barns comprise a number of artisans producing some beautifully unique and bespoke gifts. The past year has seen the introduction of a new wave of craftspeople including a silversmith, encaustic artist, glassblowers, florist and many more. The Corn Exchange on site is the must-stop spot for luxury handbags and jewellery on the Island with a wonderful selection of homeware and textiles too. The site also features a real ale pub, a 12th century church, duck pond, village green, farm shop and sweet shop. Free parking and free admission all year round. Tel. 01983 528353 arretonoldvillage.co.uk
Chessell Pottery Barns Chessell (E4), PO41 0UE All ages are encouraged to have a go at painting their own pottery in this friendly, familyrun studio. Stay for lunch and a glass of wine, or an awardwinning cream tea under the willow tree in the relaxing courtyard. The renowned ‘Island Cream Tea’ is something special: a generous helping of freshly baked scones, delicious strawberry jam especially made
70 PLACES TO VISIT • WIGHTLIFE.COM at Chessell, and real clotted cream, all served on beautiful Chessell-made strawberry pottery. Full Afternoon Tea is also available for an extra special treat – booking for this is essential. Browse the Gift Barn, which stocks the pottery’s own Chessell Ware, and a large range of Emma Bridgewater pottery, as well as many carefully chosen gifts, cards and a wide range of toys. Baby changing, high chairs, disabled access and toilets on-site, plus plenty of parking. Tel. 01983 531248 chessellpotterybarns.co.uk Open Tue - Sun, 9.30am5.30pm (closed Mondays in term time). Free admission.
Isle of Wight Pearl Brighstone, PO30 4DD A celebration of all that’s wonderful about the world of pearls. For more than 25 years, Isle of Wight Pearl have travelled the globe for the very best freshwater, Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea pearls. They then lovingly craft these into necklaces, earrings, bracelets, brooches, cuffs and more. To find out more about the different types of pearls and how they are cultured, join one of their fun and informative ‘Pearl Masterclasses’ – but please make sure you book in advance. You’ll find them on the stunning south coast where you can enjoy breathtaking views over the English Channel. Good café on-site, with home-made cream tea a speciality. Tel. 01983 740 352
The Old Smithy Godshill (K6), PO38 3HZ Situated in the heart of Godshill, The Old Smithy boasts a variety of well-stocked gift shops, including wellknown fashion brands and home interiors. Browse in the Old Forge and Cottage, stroll through the landscaped garden with its pixie and fairy grottos which, this year, see the return of the Godshill Witch, and enjoy lunch or mouth-watering cakes in the coffee shop. Tel. 01983 840364 theoldsmithy.com
ANIMAL PARKS & FARMS Amazon World Zoo Park
nr Arreton (L5), PO36 0LX Amazon World Zoo Park is a multi award-winning attraction, and an expression of the owner’s passion for the rainforest and animals. There is so much to see and do at the park, which is home to the Island’s largest collection of exotic animals. Walk through tropical surroundings where exotic birds fly overhead, admire the beautiful ocelots or watch the inquisitive meerkats going about their business. Search for sloth dozing in the trees, while armadillos run around on the floor. In Wild Madagascar, you can actually walk in an enclosure with the lemurs while they scamper around. With Amazon World’s approach to animals, you’ll get a rare opportunity to get up close to rarely seen animals and reptiles. The park prides itself on its great breeding record and conservation projects which are helping to protect some of the planet’s most endangered animals. Tel. 01983 867122 amazonworld.co.uk Open daily from 10am. Please see website for more details and prices.
Colemans Petting Farm Porchfield (H3), PO30 4LX One of the most popular elements to the multi-activity Colemans Farm Park is its Petting Farm. There are lots of friendly animals here and plenty of interactive, hands-on daily activities. New animals joining this year include Flo, an adorable alpaca, and Gin and Tonic, two characterful donkeys! Also on-site you’ll find a wonderful indoor/ outdoor play space (see page 76) plus a coffee, book and gift shop. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tel. 01983 522831 colemansfarmpark.co.uk Open daily, 10am-4.30pm. For prices, discounts, seasonal activities and other information, please visit their website.
Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary
Wroxall (K6), PO38 3AA The sanctuary is currently home to 80 donkeys. You can sponsor one for £20 a year. In return, you’ll receive an Adoption Certificate featuring a photograph of your chosen donkey. Great gift and coffee shop. Tel. 01983 852693 Open Feb half-term - Oct halfterm: 10.30am-4.30pm.
Isle of Wight Owl & Falconry Centre Wroxall (K6), PO38 3EW The Isle of Wight Owl & Falconry Centre at Appuldurcombe House now has a Rare Breeds Farm. Located in the south of the Island, this unique attraction offers a fun-filled day out for all ages. There’s an indoor play barn, an excellent café and gift shop, plus the chance to feed and cuddle baby animals. You can also go on tractor rides and explore the historic Appuldurcombe Estate. During peak times, there are lots of hands-on farm activities, such as walking a goat, lambing live, and cuddling a little fluffy baby chick. The Falconry Centre offers three themed flying displays every day (indoors when wet), with owls, eagles and even vultures. New this year are tractor and trailer rides that take you on an exploration
Isle of Wight Zoo
of the historic parkland to see the rare breed cows. If you wish to experience a little more interaction, why not book an individual or family falconry experience, when you can have a go at flying some of their beautiful birds for yourself? In all, there are around 300 acres of unspoilt countryside to explore – including a listed park and all within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Tel. 01983 852484 appuldurcombe.co.uk Open 1 Apr - 30 Sep: from 10am. Your all-inclusive ticket including the falconry, farm park, tractor trailer rides, and indoor soft play centre is: Adults: £8.50; concessions: £8; children: £6.50; family tickets (two adults, three children): £27. Please check before you visit to ensure your desired activities are taking place.
Isle of Wight Zoo Sandown (N5), PO36 8QB The ‘Zoo on the Beach’ delivers an inspirational wildlife experience right next to Sandown Bay. The friendly atmosphere is perfect for getting to know the animals, from tigers and white lions to lemurs and meerkats in their brand new enclosure. There are daily tours and big cat feeding demonstrations, while younger children will love making new friends during the regular animal encounters.
72 PLACES TO VISIT • WIGHTLIFE.COM MUSEUMS Brighstone Community Library & Village Museum Brighstone (G5), PO30 4AX North Street in the beautiful village of Brighstone is a picturesque row of old, thatched buildings, which is home to some pretty cottages, the post office, library and the interesting and evocative village museum. Tel. 01983 740446 Open all year. Tue, 9am12.30pm; Thu, 1.30-4pm; Sat, 10am-4pm. Free admission.
Carisbrooke Castle Museum Owl & Monkey Haven
Don’t worry if you don’t get to see everything you want during your visit – visitors can return within a week for just £1. Tel. 01983 403883 isleofwightzoo.com Opening hours (weather permitting): Apr - Sep: 10am5.30pm; Oct: 10am-4pm; Winter weekends, 11am-3pm, weather permitting. Last admission 30 mins before closing. For winter opening, special experience bookings, admission prices, tours, presentations and activities, please phone or see website. Disabled access throughout.
The Owl & Monkey Haven
Newport (K3), PO30 2NB Since acquiring charitable status in 2013, there’s never been a better time to visit the Island’s Gold award-winning Owl & Monkey Haven! Recent developments have seen the park expand to over double its original size, and an abundance of recent arrivals (which include Barbary apes, leaf monkeys, kookaburras and a baby capuchin!) mean there are plenty of new animals to see and discover. From the noisy whooping gibbons to the large and impressive colobus monkeys, the Owl & Monkey Haven lays claim to the biggest primate collection on the Isle of Wight, all rescued from various backgrounds.
There’s a fascinating daily talks programme, and, for a memory you’ll never forget, why not arrange a marmoset encounter before your visit? These exclusive experiences take you inside the marmosets’ enclosure where you will be able to feed and interact with these inquisitive South American monkeys (see website or call for details). Featuring beautiful grounds, tea room, gift shop, two adventure play areas, excellent disabled access throughout, free car parking and complimentary seven-day return! Tel. 01983 530885 owlandmonkeyhaven.co.uk Easter - 30 Sep: 10am-6pm (last entry 5pm); 1-31 Oct: 10am-4pm. For prices and winter opening hours please phone or visit website.
Seaview Wildlife Encounter
Seaview (O3), PO34 5AP Getting mobbed by wallabies and meerkats might send some people running, but animal enthusiasts will be in seventh heaven at this multi-award winning attraction. Situated in a stunning parkland setting overlooking the sea, this hidden gem offers a warm and friendly interactive wildlife experience where the focus is always on involvement. The dynamic keeper team
deliver nine hands-on feeding presentations each day, where guests can get up-close and personal with a vast array of tame and exotic feathered and furry friends! Guests looking for an exclusive experience can now choose one of the park’s incredibly popular VIP Wildlife Encounters. The ‘Keeper For A Day’ scheme, for instance, gives you a ‘behind the scenes’ actionpacked day, and the popular Junior Wildlife Experience is geared towards the younger generation of animal lovers. The ‘Wildest Place for a Special Date’, meanwhile, includes a five-star champagne lunch and is the perfect choice for a first date, honeymoon treat, birthday present or any special occasion! With a licensed café serving home-made lunches and cream teas, together with an extensively stocked gift shop, this truly is a magical day out for all the family! Tel. 01983 612261 seaviewwildlife.com Open: 29 Mar - 2 Nov: 10am5pm (last admission 4pm). Open 1 Oct - 2 Nov: 10am4pm (last admission 3pm). Adults: £9.75; children (3-15 yrs incl): £7.75; senior citizens: £8.75. A second visit can be made within seven days of your first visit for just £2 per person (proof of identity required). No dogs allowed due to freeroaming wildlife.
Newport (I4), PO30 1XY Managed by the Carisbrooke Museum Trust, this museum, situated in the castle’s Great Hall, focuses on social and Island history. There’s a gift shop and tea room on-site. For information about Carisbrooke Castle itself, please see its main entry on page 65. Tel. 01983 522107 carisbrookecastlemuseum .org.uk
Dimbola Museum & Galleries
Freshwater (C4), PO40 9QE Dimbola Lodge was the home of the celebrated Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. Saved from the bulldozers, Dimbola has been described as an ‘unexpected delight’ and the ‘best kept secret on the Isle of Wight’. Now known as Dimbola Museum and Galleries, there is a lot to see and do, from a permanent exhibition of Julia Margaret Cameron’s life and work, to a changing programme of contemporary photography from around the world, plus an exhibition showcasing the history of the Isle of Wight music festival. There is also a delightful tea room and gift shop. Tel. 01983 756814 dimbola.co.uk Open Apr - Oct: seven days a week, 10am-5pm; Nov Mar: Tue - Sun, 10am-4pm. Adults: £5; concessions: £4.50; children under 16, friends of the JMCT and holders of National Art Passes: free.
74 PLACES TO VISIT • WIGHTLIFE.COM Classic Boat Museum Newport (J3), PO30 2EF Tel. 01983 533493
Cowes Maritime Museum
Cowes (I2), PO31 7SG Tel. 01983 823433 iwight.com/ cowesmaritimemuseum
Dinosaur Isle
Sandown (N5), PO36 8QA In a spectacular, Pterosaurshaped building, just over the sea wall, this is Britain’s first purpose-built dinosaur attraction. It’s a unique destination, where you walk back through a fossilised time tunnel to the period of the dinosaurs, 120 million years ago. In this all-weather attraction you’ll find life-sized models of the Island’s famous five dinosaurs, including an animatronic Neovenator. There is a large collection of fossils, a fossil-identification service and the chance to speak to experienced paleontologists. Guided fossil hunts (for which pre-booking is essential) run throughout the summer, and are a fun and popular addition to a visit. Tel. 01983 404344 dinosaurisle.com Open Apr - Aug: 10am-6pm; Sep - Oct: 10am-5pm; Nov Mar: 10am-4pm. Adults: £5; children: £3.80; concessions: £4; family tickets (two adults, two children): £16.50.
Isle of Wight Bus Museum
Newport (J3), PO30 2EF Tel. 01983 533352 iowbusmuseum.org.uk
Museum of Island History
Newport (J4), PO30 1TY Located in Newport’s Guildhall, the museum explores the history of the Island from the time of the dinosaurs to the present day. Tel. 01983 823366 Open Tuesdays & Thursdays: 10.30am-4pm.
NATURE Adgestone Vineyard nr Brading (N4), PO36 0ES Adgestone is thought to be England’s oldest commercial vineyard and holds one of the UK’s last remaining subterranean fermentation cellars. Positioned on the south-facing slope of Brading Down in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the 10-acre site is the perfect place to relax with the whole family. Visitors can collect a picnic hamper and sit amongst the vines taking in the spectacular sea views. An audio tour takes you around the vineyard and down into the cellars talking you through the winemaking process and finishes with wine tasting. To mark your visit, why not
Electric Woods at Robin Hill
Dinosaur Isle
have your English wine label personalised? The shop sells Island products, and visitors can have lunch in the newly refurbished licensed café (specialising in sharing platters, olives, home-made cakes and jackets). Tel. 01983 402882 english-wine.co.uk Daily, 10am-5.30pm (winter times vary). Free entry.
Electric Woods Robin Hill Adventure Park & Gardens (K4) PO30 2NU Look out for the opportunity to visit Robin Hill at night when the spectacular ‘Electric Woods’ events take place. As darkness falls, a beautiful five-acre pocket of ancient English woodland studded with specimen trees, comes alive with sound, colour and spectacular lighting, creating a unique setting for all to enjoy. Live acoustic music and evening entertainment including the ‘Electric Woods Cinema’ and ‘Owls by Twilight’ add to the experience. Visitors can come back for free as often as they like for up to seven days after their first visit. Tel. 01983 527352 electricwoods.co.uk Please check the website for prices, times and full details of events including Festival of Light. Robin Hill is open day and evening from 10am until late: 18 Jul - 31 Aug & 24 Oct
- 2 Nov. Open until late in the summer, school holidays and October half-term. 3-23 Oct: open evenings only.
The Garlic Farm Newchurch (L4), PO36 0NR See and learn all about garlic at the UK’s largest and most famous garlic farm. A gourmet farm shop sells garlic plaits, garlic pickles and chutneys, vampire relishes, garlic beer and ice cream, along with a wide range of quality foods and gift products. Complete your visit with a meal in the excellent Garlic Farm Restaurant, which is set in beautiful surroundings – you can see red squirrels and watch the resident peacocks, whilst enjoying a delicious meal or coffee and home-made cake. The Island’s famous annual Garlic Festival takes place near the farm (please see Calendar of Events for more information). Tel. 01983 865378 Restaurant Tel. 01983 867333 thegarlicfarm.co.uk Open Mon - Sun, 9am-5pm.
Rosemary Vineyard Smallbrook Lane, Ryde (N3), PO33 4BE With free admission, guided tours and tasting, a trip to Rosemary Vineyard should be on your itinerary. Stroll round the vines, tour the winery,
76 PLACES TO VISIT • WIGHTLIFE.COM watch the ‘vine to wine’ video and then enjoy free tasting of wines, liqueurs, juices and ciders. Guided tours are run on selected days where you can learn about the equipment used and the wine making process – see main advert on page 15 for more details. Their gift shop is stocked with their own produce along with gourmet Island produce, including; mustards, garlics and biscuits. While here, treat yourself with a visit to the Vineleaf Coffee Shop, with stunning views overlooking the vines and offering a large selection of light lunches and snacks, home-made cakes and cream teas, quality teas and freshly ground coffees. Tel. 01983 811084 rosemaryvineyard.co.uk Open all year. Apr - Sep: Mon - Sat, 10am-5:30pm; Sun, 10am-4pm. Oct: Mon - Sat, 10am-5pm; Sun, 10am-4pm. Nov - Mar: Mon - Sun, 10am4pm. (Closed Sundays during January and February.) Coffee shop times may vary.
Shanklin Chine (limited)
Shanklin (M6), PO37 6QT Visit this famous leafy gorge, the Island’s earliest attraction – much loved by poets, artists and writers. The steep-sided winding path is a magical place, full of rare plants, woodland, wildlife and enchanting waterfalls. After dusk, during the main summer months, subtle illuminations create a different world. 2014 is the final year of their fascinating Turner exhibition, which follows JMW Turner’s journey around the Island from his sketchbook of 1795, and new this year is an exhibition of 12 pictures of the Island by William Daniell, marking the 200th anniversary of the artist’s travels around Britain. Their permanent PLUTO (Pipe Line Under The Ocean) video and display continues, with the addition this year of a special feature, commemorating the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. A Memorial to 40 Royal Marine Commando who trained at the Chine ahead of the invasion is situated near the lower entrance of the Chine. The Coastal Educational Display
moved to the Chine last year and is a great benefit to school parties. Take time to relax in the conservatory and tea room, leading to the gift shop. On the beach below, Fisherman’s Cottage, built by William Colenutt in 1817, offers a choice of excellent food and real ale, which can be enjoyed on the sun terrace. Tel. 01983 866432 shanklinchine.co.uk Open 1 Apr - 2 Nov: 10am-5pm (and until 10pm from 23 May - 7 Sep). Adults: £4; senior citizens: £3.50; children (5-14): £2.20; infants: free; family tickets (two adults, two children): £11.00, (two adults, three children): £12.50. Group rates 10+ (excluding schools and reduced tickets): 10% discount; mobility impaired: £1.50.
Ventnor Botanic Gardens
Ventnor (L7), PO38 1UL Set on a beautiful stretch of coastline, this is the UK’s only subtropical botanic garden. It lies in the remarkable microclimate of the ‘Undercliff’, protected from cold northerly winds by chalk downs. Indeed, with an average rainfall of 28 inches, the climate here is more akin to the Mediterranean. The 22-acre garden includes rare plants from all over the world, including species that don’t grow anywhere else in the UK. The garden is divided into areas of the world, including Australia, South America, the
Mediterranean, Japan and South Africa – there is also a cliff-top meadow overlooking a playground, a walled garden, a medical garden, a wonderful hydrangea dell and a Tropical House exhibition. The visitor centre houses the delightful Edulis restaurant, various exhibitions, a reference library, gift shop and plant sales. Tel. 01983 855397 botanic.co.uk Open from 10am until dusk, all year round.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS Colemans Play Barns Porchfield, nr Newport (H3), PO30 4LX The play barns at multi-activity Colemans Farm Park offer imaginative play opportunities for young children. The huge space is packed with exciting elements including a zip slide, haylofts, tyre swings and tunnels. It is complemented by an outdoor pedal tractor park, a new cottage garden model railway, and an outdoor picnic area. Also on-site is the popular Petting Farm (see page 70) plus a coffee, book and gift shop. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tel. 01983 522831 colemansfarmpark.co.uk Open daily, 9.30am-5pm. For prices, discounts, seasonal activities and other information, please call or visit their website.
Fort Victoria Country Park
nr Yarmouth (C3), PO41 0RR Tel. 01983 823893 fortvictoria.co.uk Built on the Island’s north shore to guard the Solent, the remains of Fort Victoria now house an aquarium, an underwater archaeology centre, a planetarium and a model railway. The surrounding country park offers seashore and woodland walks, and the site is one of the best vantage points for watching the Solent’s boats and shipping.
Goodleaf Tree Climbing The Goodleaf Tree, Appley Park, Ryde PO33 1ND See the Island from a whole new angle – come tree climbing with Goodleaf and enjoy a tree top adventure like no other. Before you take to the branches, qualified and experienced instructors will teach you the ropes, and using the latest technical gear, you’ll ascend into the tree and practise your new climbing skills. When you reach the top, enjoy beautiful sea views, swing around in the canopy or simply unwind in our special treetop hammock. After your descent to ground, relax and enjoy some home-made refreshments. Goodleaf’s unique ‘have a go’ sessions are fantastic fun, adventurous but safe, ecofriendly as well as being a wonderful experience to share
Goodleaf Tree Climbing
78 PLACES TO VISIT • WIGHTLIFE.COM on stage and dancing with music! The breathtaking, 40-minute production is presented in five acts, each one a completely different musical style. A favourite for all ages! There is free car and coach parking on-site, as well as disabled access and facilities. Tel. 01983 811333 waltzingwaters.co.uk Open daily, 25 Jan - 19 Dec. Shows hourly 10am-4pm inclusive. Added evening shows 5 Apr - 31 Oct at 7.15pm & 8.15pm. Adults: £4.95; children (4-14 yrs incl) £2.85; seniors & students: £4.50.
Wight Karting Model Village
with the whole family. Tel. 0333 800 1188 (call costs the same as a landline) goodleaf.co.uk Adults: £38; children: £28. Bookings must be made in advance. Group discounts available.
The Model Village Godshill (K5), PO38 3HH This unique and vintage attraction will take you back to the halcyon days of Island life, and has to be seen to be believed. These awardwinning gardens have been lovingly tended by the same family since 1969 to create the perfect setting for some truly delightful models. The 1.5-acre garden is home to over 3000 manicured confers and shrubs and has inspired many a garden makeover. The scale models are painstakingly and humorously crafted, and include real thatched cottages, an airfield, working railway, football match and, of course, the model of the model of the model! The gift shop has a range of good value gifts. On fine days relax at the Nammet Hut with tea and cake and enjoy the atmosphere. Tel. 01983 840270 modelvillagegodshill.co.uk Open Mar - Oct: daily from 10am. Please check the website for information and prices.
Sandown Pier Sandown (M5), PO36 8JT Traditional and modern entertainment throughout the pier, including tenpin bowling, crazy golf, children’s play area, dodgems, slides, children’s rides and also the very latest in amusement machines. A genuine all-weather attraction, topped off by a great bar-café with stunning views across the bay. Fishing is allowed from the end of the pier, but is seasonal and weather-permitting. Tel. 01983 404122 sandown-pier.com Open all year. Free admission.
Solent & Wightline Cruises Tel. 01983 564602 solentcruises.co.uk
Summer Arcade Shanklin (M6), PO37 6BG Situated in the middle of Shanklin’s vibrant, fun-packed esplanade, Summer Arcade offers a range of great entertainments and activities for all the family, including tenpin bowling, fabulous crazy golf, video games, a Moto GP circuit, large children’s play area, excellent gift shops and a range of delicious snack bars. It also has all the traditional arcade games and simulations you would expect at a traditional amusement arcade
along with some state-of-the art video technology. Tel. 01983 867585 summerarcade.co.uk Open mid-Mar - 31 Oct: daily, 9am-10pm (11pm in August). 1 Nov - mid-Mar: 9am-9pm. Free admission.
Waltzing Waters Ryde (N3), PO33 1QS This year Waltzing Waters celebrates 20 years as one of the Isle of Wight’s most popular visitor attractions. With comfortable indoor seating, performances run daily, come rain or shine. Tonnes of water explode into the air, illuminated by rainbows of colours – all live Summer Arcade
Ryde (N3), PO33 1QS This purpose-built, 460m all-weather track adds junior and adult adrenaline action to the Island’s list of mustdo’s. Arrive and drive or grand prix style group action available in brand new 270cc Sodi RT8 Karts. Whatever the weather, you’ll be given the right karts and clothing for you to fully enjoy your race day experience. Driving starts at eight years old. Wifi and clubhouse with great food, drink and hospitality complete the picture. Book online to avoid peak times. Find them behind Tesco Extra in Ryde – just follow the road signs straight on at the Tesco Extra entrance mini-roundabout. Tel. 01983 565366 wightkarting.co.uk
80 FOOD & DRINK • WIGHTLIFE.COM
Tastes of Wight Many of the Island’s top food and drink producers are only too happy to open their doors to visitors. With dedicated driver in place and belt loosened a notch or two, Wightlife discovers the crème de la crème.
BEERS, WINES & CIDERS Adgestone Vineyard
nr Sandown, Tel. 01983 402503 english-wine.co.uk (map reference: M4. See page 50) Red, white, rosé and sparkling wines, and an interesting cellar tour takes you through the entire winemaking process. The shop sells a number of local products, while snacks and light lunches are served in the pretty café.
Goddards Brewery
nr Ryde, Tel. 01983 611011 goddards-brewery.co.uk Throughout the year, Goddards produces four awardwinning ales: Ale of Wight, Special Bitter, Scrumdiggity and Fuggle Dee Dum. It supplements these with seasonal specials, namely
Inspiration, Winter Warmer, Duck’s Folly, Iron Horse and Hoppiness. Available in pubs and shops all over the Island.
Godshill Cider Company
Godshill & Shanklin, Tel. 01983 840680 godshillisleofwight.co.uk (map references: K6 & M6) The devil may get the best tunes, but apples get the best names! Pig’s Snout, Porter’s Perfection, Somerset Redstreak, Taunton Fair Maid and Town Farm no. 59 are just some of the varieties grown by the Godshill Cider Company. And they’re put to great use – producing six different types of cider. The company also makes some fiery ginger beer, country wines and liqueurs. They sell all this alongside a wide range of Island produce in two well-appointed shops, one in Godshill, the other in Shanklin.
Isle of Wight Brewery
Newport, Tel. 01983 821731 islandbrewery.co.uk Nipper Bitter, Wight Gold, Yachtsman’s Ale, Wight Knight and Vectis Venom are the beers produced by this Newportbased business. Their caskconditioned ales are available in pubs across the Island.
Rosemary Vineyard
Ryde, Tel. 01983 811084 rosemaryvineyard.co.uk (map reference: N3) With over 30 acres of vines, this is one of the largest vineyards in the country. Southfacing slopes and a sheltered valley location mean it’s ideally situated to take advantage of the Island’s mild climate. And take advantage it does – producing an exceptional range of white, red, rosé and sparking wines, as well as some award-winning liqueurs, country wines, ciders and apple
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • FOOD & DRINK 81 juice. It sells all its produce in its Vineyard Shop, as well as various tasty Island treats – from mustards and chutneys to biscuits and sweets.
Yates Brewery
Newchurch, Tel. 01983 867878 yates-brewery.co.uk Yates’s range consists of Best Bitter, Undercliff Experience, Blonde Ale, Holy Joe, Wight Winter, Special Draught, Old Ale and Yule Be Sorry. These are available in pubs and shops all over the Island. Specialist brews, including Garlic Beer using garlic from The Garlic Farm and Tropic Ale which uses hops grown at Ventnor Botanic Garden are occasional additions.
DAIRY Calbourne Classics
nr Shalfleet, Tel. 01983 531204 calbourneclassics.co.uk (map reference: G3) Three Gates Farm in Shalfleet is home to 160 Holstein Friesians, and where the milk produced by these pedigree cows goes into making the wonderful dairy products sold under the name Calbourne Classics. Choose from moreish cheesecakes, the Island’s only clotted cream, up to 14 varieties of award-winning ice cream or the most delicious pint of milk that you could hope to try!
Isle of Wight Cheese Company
Sandown, Tel. 01983 402736 isleofwightcheese.co.uk Given its location – right inside the Queen’s Bower Dairy – getting its hands on fresh, unpasteurised milk was never going to be a problem for the Isle of Wight Cheese Company. The tangy Gallybagger is well worth a taste, but it was with the Isle of Wight Soft and the Isle of Wight Blue that the company gained its stellar reputation. When the mood takes it, the company also makes two limited edition cheeses: Old Gaffer Blue and Gallybagger Mature. Available Island-wide.
Isle of Wight Ice Cream Company
Newport, Tel. 01983 539238 isleofwighticecream. co.uk Established just two years ago by four intrepid Islanders, the Isle of Wight Ice Cream Company makes 12 flavours of incredibly moreish ice cream all named after Island towns. Available at attractions, cafés and restaurants around the Island.
Minghella’s Ice Cream
Wootton, Tel. 01983 883545 (map reference: xx) A real Island institution, this family-run business has been producing ice creams and sorbets on the Isle of Wight for more than 60 years. Incredibly, they now have over 170 flavours to choose from! Available Island-wide.
BREADS & CAKES Calbourne Water Mill
Calbourne, Tel. 01983 531227 calbournewatermill.co.uk (map reference: F4) Ten different flours are produced at this 17th century watermill, with milling demonstrations daily at 3pm (except Saturdays). Homemade breads, biscuits, cakes and sweets are available in the shop (and also at shops across the Island), plus jams, pickles and various flours. There’s also an extremely pretty, licensed café on site.
The Island Bakers
Lake, Tel. 01983 400450 theislandbakers.com This award-winning bakery was established in 2010 by husband and wife team John and Helen Fahy, whose food odyssey had previously taken them to the kitchens of Buckingham Palace, the Savoy, the Waterside Inn at Bray and the French Laundry in California. They now make and distribute a huge range of delicious artisan breads and baked goods across the Isle of Wight. You can buy from them direct at the Island’s Famers’ Markets.
DO TRY THIS AT HOME... Miniature Victoria Sponges for Afternoon Tea by Bridget Wells at Chessell Pottery’s Courtyard Café INGREDIENTS:
Sponge: 200g soft butter (we like to use butter from Rew Valley Dairy when available) 200g caster sugar 200g free-range eggs, from Brownrigg Poultry 150g self-raising flour, sieved 50g ground almonds ½ tsp baking powder Filling: 75g strawberry jam 200ml whipping cream from Rew Valley Dairy 1 tsp caster sugar 1 vanilla pod Makes approx. 20 cakes. To make the sponge… 1. Pre-heat oven to 170ºC. Grease a silicon mini cupcake mould. 2. Cream together the butter and sugar until light. 3. Gradually add the egg, beating well – make sure the batter is evenly mixed. 4. Sift together the flour and baking powder. Add this and the ground almonds to the wet mixture. Mix to combine but do not over mix. 5. Put the cake mix into a piping bag and pipe equal into each cake mould to ¾ full. 6. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown and springy to the touch. 7. After removing from the oven, leave to cool for 10 minutes in the moulds, before de-moulding and placing on a cooling rack to finish cooling completely. To make the filling… 1. To make a Chantilly cream, you need to place your cream, and sugar into a mixing bowl. 2. Cut the vanilla pod in half lengthways and scrape out the vanilla seeds. Put the seeds into the cream. 3. Whisk the cream etc to stiff peak, but take care not to over whisk, as this will begin to split. 4. Put into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle. 5. For ease and precision you can put the jam into a piping bag, with a thin nozzle. Alternatively you can use a teaspoon. If you are using shop bought jam, you may need to beat quickly with a spoon to soften the jam. The assembly… 1. Using a sharp serrated knife, slice the sponges in half. 2. Pipe the cream around the edge of the bottom layer, leaving a gap in the centre. The cream should be approx. 8-10mm high. 3. Fill the void in the centre of the cream with jam and place the top half of sponge on top. 4. Dredge with icing sugar and serve.
82 FOOD & DRINK • WIGHTLIFE.COM Isle of Wight Bacon Company
Godshill, Tel. 01983 840210 isleofwightbacon.co.uk Specialists in dry-cured bacon, gammon, ham, sausages and all the traditional cuts for roasting. Available Island-wide.
Isle of Wight Biltong Tel. 01983 611288 / 07715 181491 isleofwightbiltong.co.uk Established in 2011, Isle of Wight Biltong produces
Isle of Wight Biltong
Market Bakery
Newport, Tel. 01983 521187 (map reference: J4) This traditional bakery makes its own pies, cakes, bread and pastries, including local specialities such as Newport buns, dough cake and Isle of Wight doughnuts.
CHOCOLATE Chocolate Apothecary
Ryde, Tel. 01983 718292 chocolateapothecary.co.uk (map reference: M3) Wonderful hand-made confectionery, patisseries and cakes to take away or enjoy in this charming café, housed in an old Victorian pharmacy.
Chocolate Island
Godshill, Tel. 01983 840090 chessell.plus.com/chocolate (map reference: K5) This shop, set in a beautiful 17th century thatched cottage, sells delicious hand-made chocolate goodies and has a viewing area where visitors can watch the making and decorating of chocolate. It also has a charming on-site café.
JAMS, HONEY, RELISHES & JUICES Island Mustards
Bembridge, Tel. 01983 875949 theislandmustardcompany. co.uk Many of the mustards produced by this Bembridgebased business are made
from Victorian recipes, including garlic, horseradish, chilli, honey, whisky, thyme & tarragon and Wight wine. You’ll also find jams, preserves, herb jellies, Worcester sauce, chutneys and pickles.
Mary Case Honey
Tel. 01983 740223 Mary Case has over 80 hives dotted around West Wight – a spread that means each batch of her honey is unique. All the honey and honeycomb is sold at Newport’s Farmers’ Market, alongside beeswax candles, furniture polish and soap.
Sharon Orchard
Ashey, Tel. 01983 564595 sharonorchard.com (map reference: N3) Sharon Orchard is a 4000-tree apple orchard in the beautiful Ashey Valley near Ryde. 20 apple varieties are grown here, which go into making delicious juices, ciders, mustards, pickles and preserves available all year. In the autumn these are joined by fresh apples.
MEAT Dunsbury Lamb
Brook, Tel. 01983 740152 dunsburyfarm.co.uk (map reference: E5) A choice of boxed whole or half lambs and a selection of cuts is available from this farm, buried deep in the heart of West Wight. Mutton is also available throughout the year. Lamb tasting sessions organised on a regular basis.
delicious, award-winning, handmade beef biltong. They currently make six flavours: Black Pepper, Garlic, Oak Smoked, Oupa’s Original, Sweet Chilli and Air-Cured Sausage. You’ll find these very tasty treats in shops all around the Island, including Made on the Isle of Wight, The Garlic Farm, the Southern Co-ops in Freshwater, Cowes and Bembridge, as well as in the shops at Wightlink terminals and on their car ferries.
DO TRY THIS AT HOME... Slow Cooked Isle of Wight Pork Belly with Sticky Bourbon Glaze by Charlie Bartlett at The Garlic Farm INGREDIENTS:
1-1.5kg belly pork 1 roughly sliced onion 2 carrots roughly chopped 1 bulb garlic broken into cloves but not peeled 1 bay leaf torn into three 1 pot of The Garlic Farm onion marmalade 1 measure bourbon 50ml balsamic vinegar 1 dessertspoon honey 2 tablespoons tomato ketchup 1 smoked garlic bulb Serves 4-6 Method: Heat the oven to 150°C. Put the onion, carrots, bay leaf and garlic cloves into the base of a roasting tin and lay the pork belly on top. Score the skin with a sharp knife and add enough water to just cover the base of the pan. Season the pork and cover tightly with foil. Put into the preheated oven. After an hour, check there is still some liquid in the pan, and if not, top up with boiling water. Put back into the oven for another hour. Remove the tray from the oven and turn the heat up to 200250°C. Take the foil off and put the roasting tray back in the oven for about 20 minutes more. The skin will crisp up and colour and you’ll know when the meat is cooked as it will easily pull apart with two forks. Peel the smoked garlic and crush or chop finely. Put it into a small saucepan along with the onion marmalade, bourbon, vinegar, honey and ketchup. Warm through gently, stirring frequently but don’t let it boil. Cut the pork belly into chunks and serve on creamy mashed potato with black garlic stirred through. Spoon the sauce over the top. This dish is great with steamed carrots and kale.
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DO TRY THIS AT HOME... Isle of Wight Crab Ramekin by Alan Staley at The Seaview Hotel INGREDIENTS:
100g Isle of Wight white crab meat 100g mixed white and brown crab meat 250g béchamel sauce 1 tsp anchovy paste 1 tsp English mustard ½ tsp chopped parsley ½ tsp cayenne pepper Juice of ½ lemon 150g grated mature Cheddar Salt and pepper Makes 4 ramekins. Method: 1. Start by turn the grill to hot. 2. Meanwhile, in a pan, warm the béchamel sauce over a very low heat until it starts bubbling. When hot all the way through, remove from the heat and stir in the crab, anchovy, mustard, parsley and cayenne. Season well and add lemon juice to taste. 3. Divide the mixture evenly between four ramekins and top with the grated cheese. 4. Place under the grill until the cheese is golden and bubbling. 5. Serve straight from the grill with a wedge of lemon and hunk of fresh bread.
SEAFOOD Bembridge Fish Store
Bembridge, Tel. 01983 875572 bembridgefish.co.uk (map reference: P4) A wide range of fresh fish – Bass, Bream, Plaice, Dover Sole, Ray Wing, Mackerel, Red and Grey Mullet, Pollack and Cod to name but a few – as well as crab and lobster (plus prawns and mackerel during the summer). Prepared fish dishes, such as fish pie, fish cakes, crab pasties and crab cakes, are also available. Home delivery service provided.
The Best Dressed Crab! Bembridge, Tel. 01983 874758 (map reference: O4) Situated in Bembridge, The Best Dressed Crab prepares the most delicious crab and lobster direct from the fishing
boat. And when we say ‘direct’, we mean ‘direct’ – you simply couldn’t find fresher. Enjoy dressed crab in its shell, tubs of crab, whole crabs, whole lobsters, prepared lobsters, giant crab claws and spider crab claws. When in season, Bembridge prawns are available, as are local whelks.
Ventnor Haven Fishery Ventnor, Tel. 01983 852176 (map reference: L7) The Blake family, who have been fishing in the seas off Ventnor for generations, are the brains (and brawn) behind this crab fishery and haven on Ventnor’s Esplanade. It is renowned for the quality of its crab and lobster, available live, cooked or prepared from the fishery seven days a week. The fishery shop sells not just excellent crabs and lobsters, but also whatever the daily catch brings in.
OTHER The Garlic Farm
Newchurch, Tel. 01983 865378 thegarlicfarm.co.uk (map reference: L4) Established by the Boswell family over 30 years ago, the Garlic Farm is the UK’s premier grower of garlic and source of all things garlic. In its wellstocked shop, you’ll find 12 varieties of bulbs and plaits, as well as an array of tasty relishes and pickles. There are also growing kits, gadgets and various chilled products, such as butter and bread, linked by a common theme: you guessed it – garlic! Situated close to Arreton, the farm is also home to the famous Garlic Festival (see Calendar of Events), which attracts upwards of 20,000 people each summer.
Godshill Cherry Orchard
Godshill, Tel. 07973 382965 godshillcherries.co.uk (map reference: K6) The orchard is located on the southern slopes above picturesque Godshill and is home to more than 4000 cherry trees. You can buy their cherries on roadside stalls, at Farmer Jack’s, and in Island Co-op Stores and delis. Farmer Jack’s
House of Chilli
Godshill, Tel. 01983 244554 houseofchilli.com (map reference: L5) In this spicy, fiery addition to the Island’s food map, visitors can wander amongst chilli plants and buy both plants and seeds, as well as fresh and dried chillies. They also have for sale an astonishing range of chilli products imported from all over the world, including chilli sauces, chilli chutneys, chilli fudge, chilli chocolate, chilli vodka and even chilli beer. A great collection of chilli-related merchandise is also available, as is clothing for all ages.
The Tomato Stall
Arreton, Tel. 01983 866907 thetomatostall.co.uk The Tomato Stall has been growing tomatoes in the Arreton Valley for over 20 years. This wonderful business grows and sells an incredible range of toms and tomato products, including sauces, drinks, ketchups, chutneys and relishes. They sell their wares in shops and farmers’ markets across the south of England and London (including Waitrose, and, if you please, Fortnum & Mason and Selfridge’s), supply Jamie Oliver’s restaurant, Fifteen London, and even flog their juice in Paris. Incroyable!
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • FOOD & DRINK 85
DO TRY THIS AT HOME... Bembridge Crab & Isle of Wight Smoked Haddock Crêpe served with Mornay Sauce, Poached Egg & Tomato Concasse by Ben Cooke at The Little Gloster INGREDIENTS:
Crepe: 250g flour 2-3 eggs 25g melted butter 550ml milk
Farmer Jack’s
SHOPS Briddlesford Lodge Farm
Wootton, Tel. 01983 884650 briddlesfordlodgefarm.co.uk (map reference: K3) Briddlesford Lodge Farm is a working dairy farm that has been in the same family’s hands since 1923. In the farm shop, you’ll find a good variety of local produce, including unpasteurised milk, cream and butter from the farm’s award-winning Guernsey herd, produce from the Isle of Wight Cheese Company, Island Fresh Lamb, Calbourne Classics and Isle of Wight Garlic.
Brownrigg’s Farm Shop & Butchery Godshill, Tel. 01983 840191 brownriggfarmmeats.co.uk (map reference: K5) If only all butcher’s shops were like this! This excellent new shop opened in November last year and stocks a great range of free-range poultry (chicken, duck, plus seasonal goose and turkey), delicious Ruby Red Devon Beef and lamb (all from Brownrigg farm), plus pork, wild game, sausages, offal and eggs.
Farmer Jack’s
Arreton Barns, Arreton farmerjacks.co.uk (map reference: K4) Farmer Jacks sells a massive range of Island and regional products and puts together a range of bespoke hampers filled with the best produce around. With a deli counter, an
in-house butcher and a widely stocked food hall, it makes you wish all shops could be like this.
Made on the Isle of Wight
Ryde, Tel. 01983 564949 madeonisleofwight.com (map reference: N3) More than 300 suppliers (all, as the shop’s name suggests, from the Island) provide stock for this business in Ryde. They have an astonishing range of stuff for sale. As their website puts it: ‘From food to fine art, turkeys to textiles, jams to jewellery, puddings to pottery, we sell the best of everything made or grown on the Isle of Wight’.
The Real Island Food Company
realislandfood.co.uk Billed as ‘your local butcher, baker, fishmonger, greengrocer, deli and grocer all rolled into one’, this online shop specialises in local, seasonal food, and delivers Island-wide every week and arranges mail order shipments across the UK.
Island Farmers’ Markets
You can meet loads of the producers mentioned on these pages and many more at one of the Island’s excellent farmers’ markets. They take place at St Thomas’s Square, Newport on Fridays from 9am to 2pm, and at Ryde Town Square on Saturdays from 8.30am to 12.30pm. Make it a date!
Mornay Sauce: 50g flour 50g butter 400ml milk 100ml cream 75g strong hard cheese (Gallybagger IOW) Crêpe Filling: 200g 50/50 white and brown crab meat 600g smoked haddock Finely chopped chives and dill Pinch of cayenne pepper Seasoning to taste
Tomato Concasse: 3 vine-ripened tomatoes, skinned and diced 30ml good virgin olive oil Juice of half a lemon Finely chopped chives and dill Salt and pepper to taste To Garnish: 4 free range eggs lightly poached Strong hard cheese (Gruyere or Comté) Chervil a few sprigs Lemon wedges deseeded Serves 4 starter portions.
1. Make the Crepes using the classic pancake method – sieve flour then mix dry to wet ingredients. This will make up to 10 crepes leaving you some to make dessert or breakfast with the next day. Keep four aside, the rest can be refrigerated. 2. Make the sauce by cooking the flour and butter to a blond roux for at least three minutes. Slowly add the milk and cream whilst stirring on a medium heat. Add the cheese when the sauce has thickened. Reserve about 100ml of the sauce in a separate pan. 3. For the filling, skin the smoked haddock and dice roughly into 1cm pieces. Mix in the crab, cayenne pepper and seasoning. Add this mix to the mornay sauce and bring to a slow simmer. Add the herbs and check the flavor – you should have a wonderful smokey rich crab infused sauce, perfectly seasoned and slightly spicy. Keep Warm. 4. Dress the diced tomatoes with the ingredients listed, add a pinch of sugar if it tastes too sharp but if the tomatoes are ripe you shouldn’t need to. 5. Assemble the crepe parcels by spooning the hot filling onto the centre of the four reserved crepes. Fold the edges of the crepes into the middle to create a tidy bundle. Place onto a lightly greased baking sheet, then keep warm in the oven whilst you poach the eggs to your liking. To Serve: Place a parcel in the middle of a plate, pour a little of the reserved mornay sauce over the parcels, top with some cheese and grill to melt. Finish with a poached egg and garnish with the tomatoes, lemon wedges and chervil. Enjoy with a nice glass of Gruner Veltliner. Double the size and give two poached eggs for a satisfying main course.
86 FOOD & DRINK • WIGHTLIFE.COM
The Little Gloster
Eating Out From top restaurants and great gastro pubs to charming cafés and tip-top tea shops, the Island has some truly excellent eateries – suiting not just every taste, but every budget too.
RESTAURANTS Shanklin, Sandown, Ventnor, Godshill & surrounding South Wight
‘edible plant’) is a new, high quality restaurant, where the focus is on super-fresh, local ingredients, many of which are grown on-site in the botanic garden.
The Brasserie
The Pond Café
Shanklin PO37 6BN Tel. 01983 863024 The Brasserie opened in 2013 and has become an extremely popular spot. Offering diners a great menu with a choice of meals prepared from fresh produce where possible and cooked to a very high standard, the Brasserie has a stylish and modern finish and is situated within The Aqua on Shanklin seafront.
edulis
Ventnor Botanic Garden PO38 1UL Tel. 01983 855397 On the bottom floor of the Visitor Centre, edulis (Latin for
Bonchurch PO38 1RG Tel. 01983 855666 Situated in the heart of Bonchurch, The Pond Café’s menu features Italianinfluenced rustic dishes and great home-made cakes and breads.
The Hambrough Restaurant
Ventnor PO38 1SQ Tel. 01983 856333 The Hambrough specialises in high-end dining in a beautifully appointed restaurant. Choose from an excellent à la carte menu, a tasting menu, a lighter lunch menu or a delicious afternoon tea.
Royal China
Sandown PO36 8DE Tel. 01983 401128 Royal China has a number of loyal fans. And it’s not hard to see why – they offer first rate Pekinese, Cantonese and Szechuan cooking in this top restaurant that’s open seven days a week. Free home delivery service and special take-away menu available if you want to take your noodles to the beach.
The Royal Hotel
Ventnor PO38 1JJ Tel. 01983 852186 For a taste of luxury, head to the elegant Royal which stands grandly above Ventnor. The restaurant here has retained two AA Rosettes for outstanding food for 17 years running. Eat in the stylish Appuldurcombe Restaurant or alfresco on The Riviera Terrace, with its spectacular views.
88 FOOD & DRINK • WIGHTLIFE.COM Cowes, Newport & Middle Wight Bahar
Cowes PO31 7RR Tel. 01983 200378 This is a very good, wellappointed restaurant featuring high quality Indian cuisine. It has a varied and extensive menu and rapid response takeaway service.
The Little Gloster
Gurnard PO31 8JQ Tel. 01983 298776 This Gurnard gem offers unpretentious food and high quality service in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. The menu captures British food at its best with Scandinavian influences. It is intentionally simplistic in order to bring out the true flavours of the locally sourced, seasonal produce. A perfect place for a quiet meal, to celebrate a special occasion or simply unwind with a glass of wine whilst taking in a spectacular sunset.
Lugleys of Cowes
Cowes PO31 7QS Tel. 01983 299618 Lugleys of Cowes is a contemporary restaurant located on the parade next to the Royal Yacht Club and overlooking the Solent. The restaurant specialises in locally sourced steaks and seafood. Seasonal dishes are served in a relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere. The crew bar and heated terrace add to the fun.
Lugleys of Newport
Newport PO30 5ET Tel. 01983 822994 Whether business or pleasure, Lugleys of Newport has something to offer. The food, service, atmosphere and surroundings are refined and intimate. At the rear of the restaurant is the secret walled garden which is a real suntrap and is charming for dining al fresco in the warmer months.
Quarterdeck Bar & Eaterie
Rookley Country Park PO38 3LU Tel. 01983 721800 Food at the Quarterdeck is great – crafted by true food
fanatics with a flair for the special. Choose from indulgent breakfasts and light bites, to sumptuous salads and delicious evening meals. And eat either outside on the terrace or inside the family friendly restaurant.
The Terrace Restaurant East Cowes PO32 6JX Tel. 01983 200022 Situated in the old chapel at Osborne House, offering Modern English cuisine.
Valentino’s
Tel. 01983 522458 An extensive menu of fresh, home-cooked meals, from house specials to classic Italian dishes.
Ryde, Bembridge & surrounding East Wight Island Room Restaurant
Priory Bay PO34 5BU Tel. 01983 613146 The Island Room Restaurant at the Priory Bay Hotel is a gastronomic restaurant serving a tasting menu only. Many ingredients (such as herbs, mushrooms, shellfish and vegetables) are foraged on the Priory Bay estate; the rest come from local farmers, fishermen and producers. The menu focuses predominantly on seafood, local game and woodland produce. Open Thursday to Saturday, evenings only. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours before you wish to dine.
Seaview Hotel & Restaurant
Seaview PO34 5EX Tel. 01983 612711 The fabulous Seaview offers a range of dining opportunities, from the award-winning restaurant to its famous bar and the sun-baked terrace. Enjoy Great British dishes created by head chef Alan Staley, with many of the ingredients sourced from the hotel’s very own farm.
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park
Bembridge PO35 5PL Tel. 01983 872671 Whitecliff Bay’s cliff-top diner has stunning views and a large
terrace. Full English breakfasts and tasty bar food that’s served thoughout the day.
PUBS & BARS Shanklin, Sandown, Ventnor, Godshill & surrounding South Wight Bonchurch Inn
Bonchurch PO38 1NU Tel. 01983 852611 Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
17th century. It is known for its great home-cooked dishes and for the trademark griffinshaped maze set in its pleasant gardens. This is the sister inn to the Horse & Groom in Ningwood, and it prides itself on serving a weekly carvery, menu choices for the smaller appetite, and an excellent fine children’s menu.
The Met Wine Bar
Niton PO38 2NE Tel. 01983 730243 The Buddle Inn is a traditional 16th century inn located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. If you love inglenook fires, low beams and flagstone floors, this place is for you. With over six real ales, live music and a locally-sourced menu, this inn is highly recommended, and approved by The Good Pub Guide.
Ventnor PO38 1JP Tel. 01983 855441 This stylish wine and tapas bar at the centre of Ventnor esplanade has wonderful sea views. Its relaxed atmosphere creates a continental feel and leather seating adds to the ambience perfectly. When the sun is shining, the outside paved area is perfect for enjoying a delicious meal or snack with a glass of wine from the extensive wine list or a cold beer. The menu is first class, and includes local devilled crab, homemade chilli, olives, piri-piri chicken, cured meats, mixed breads and a wide choice of tapas.
Caulk Heads
Perks
Buddle Smugglers Inn
Sandown PO36 8AY Tel. 01983 405080 This popular traditional pub is just a stone’s throw from the beach at Sandown and is a great place for all the family to enjoy. It’s all-change at the pub for 2014, with a refurbishment, new management and an exciting new menu.
The Fisherman’s Cottage
Shanklin PO37 6BN Tel. 01983 863882 Historic Fisherman’s Cottage, dating back to 1817, is situated in a unique setting on the beach, at the foot of Shanklin Chine. The pub offers a lovely family atmosphere, superb home-cooking and a variety of excellent beers and wine which can be enjoyed on the sun terrace. It is closed during the winter months. Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
The Griffin
Godshill PO38 3JD Tel. 01983 840039 The Griffin is a large stonebuilt inn that dates back to the
Ventnor PO38 1LT Tel. 01983 857446 Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
Pointer
Newchurch PO36 0NN Tel. 01983 865202 Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
The Spyglass Inn
Ventnor PO38 1JX Tel. 01983 855338 The delightful and awardwinning Spyglass is an historic, family-run pub sitting at the western end of Ventnor Esplanade in possibly the most enviable position on the seafront. It is well known for its excellent seafood, including Ventnor Bay lobster and crab, as well as many other mouthwatering delights on offer from its excellent specials board and the main pub menu. This lively pub features live music from many local artists most days of the week, varying from classical guitar to traditional jazz. The Spyglass is recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
90 FOOD & DRINK • WIGHTLIFE.COM The Steamer Inn
Shanklin PO37 6BS Tel. 01983 862641 The Steamer Inn’s beautiful outdoor terrace makes the most of one of the finest waterside locations on the Island, with panoramic views across the English Channel and a superb, safe, sandy beach just a pebble’s throw away. Local seafood is the speciality of the kitchen, with its famous Seafood Chowder consistently on the menu. The Steamer is a free house filled with seafaring memorabilia and offering a great range of real ales, lagers and wines. With a busy live music schedule, the pub is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing evening. Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
Taverners
Godshill PO38 3HZ Tel. 01983 840707 Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
The White Horse
Whitwell PO38 2PY Tel. 01983 730375 Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
The White Lion
Niton PO38 2AT Tel. 01983 730293 The White Lion is an 18th century family inn situated in the heart of Niton village – just a stone’s throw from Blackgang Chine. With its large floodlit garden, it is ideal for all the family. The kids can let off steam on the bouncy castle and play area and enjoy Punch and Judy shows and magicians throughout the summer. The pub has an impressive menu, featuring locally-sourced, seasonal produce, and adopts a ‘kids eat free when dining with an adult’ policy.
Cowes, Newport & Middle Wight The Bargeman’s Rest
Newport PO30 5BS Tel. 01983 525828 This picturesque inn overlooks Newport Harbour and the River Medina and is within three minutes walk of the town centre. The comfortable
spacious bar is steeped in nautical memorabilia where you can enjoy delicious home-cooked, traditional food. The outdoor seating area is only a few feet from the river and, with up to eight real ales, lagers and a large wine list, is the perfect place to enjoy a drink. There is live entertainment on offer most nights and Sunday lunchtimes, as well as annual events such as real ale festivals and the Island’s main Trafalgar Day Celebrations.
Blacksmith’s Arms
Carisbrooke PO30 5SS Tel. 01983 529263 Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
The Dairyman’s Daughter
Arreton Old Village PO30 3AA Tel. 01983 539361 This traditional pub, set within Arreton Barns is beautifully decorated in traditional vintage memorabilia, this pub has a lovely outdoor courtyard and sheltered seating area. A wide range of freshly prepared, home-cooked dishes, using Island produce wherever possible, has earned this pub a strong reputation. Up to eight real ales, lagers and ciders as well as a large selection of fine wines are available. Live entertainment is offered regularly and throughout the year the pub hosts a range of events such as the annual Sweetcorn Fayre and real ale festivals.
The Folly Inn
Whippingham PO32 6NB Tel. 01983 297171 Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
The Stag
Newport PO30 5TW Tel. 01983 522709 A tastefully refurbished inn on the main Cowes to Newport Road, this new edition to the Inns of Distinction group has already gained a fine reputation for its dining. With four-star AA-graded accommodation and a friendly relaxed atmosphere, this is a great pub to visit any time and day of the year.
The Stag
The Sun
Cowes PO31 7QH Tel. 01983 293163 Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
with a strong local accent and often with an emphasis on seafood. It also boasts an extensive wine list and has number of ales on tap. It has a cosy and stylish bar area, a convivial dining room plus a large patio overlooking the Solent. Reservations are advised as this is a popular dining venue.
Valentine Gray
Crab & Lobster
Calbourne PO30 4JA Tel. 01983 531231 Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
The Union
Newport PO30 1NS Tel. 01983 523344 Situated in central Newport, ‘VG’ is proving popular for its stylish and comfortable vibe. Themed with a modern take on Victoriana and serving one-ofa-kind cocktails, real ales, craft beers and wines straight to your table, VG is the perfect place for socialising and to enjoy live music and quality DJ sets.
The White Lion
Arreton PO30 3AA Tel. 01983 528479 Approved by The Good Pub Guide.
Woodvale
Gurnard PO31 8LE Tel. 01983 292037 Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
Ryde, Bembridge & surrounding East Wight The Boathouse
Seaview PO34 5AW Tel. 01983 810616 Situated on the edge of chic Seaview, The Boathouse has an ever-changing specials board
Bembridge PO35 5TR Tel. 01983 872244 With spectacular views of the Solent, this award-winning, family-friendly pub is popular with locals and visitors alike. It boasts an extensive and extremely tempting menu, from traditional pub favourites to sensational seafood platters and locally-caught lobster. A first-rate selection of real ales and wines completes the picture – so much so that the pub has been named the Good Pub Guide Island Dining Pub of the Year 2014.
The Fishbourne
Fishbourne PO33 4EU Tel. 01983 882823 The Fishbourne offers quality dining in a friendly pub environment, matched with superb ales and an extensive wine list. With a wonderful new patio area with Solent views, this is a really delightful spot. The beach is nearby and Quarr Abbey is a 10-minute walk away. The pub also has four-star AAgraded accommodation. The Fishbourne is approved by The Good Pub Guide.
92 FOOD & DRINK • WIGHTLIFE.COM The New Inn
Shalfleet PO30 4NS Tel. 01983 531314 The historic New Inn dates back to 1743 and has a welldeserved reputation for its dining – recognition for which has seen it approved as the Island Dining Pub of the Year by The Good Pub Guide for many years, most recently in 2013. It has an attractive outside eating area and is just a stone’s throw from the National Trust estuary at Newtown.
The Red Lion The Fishbourne
The Old Village Inn
Bembridge PO35 5SF Tel. 01983 872616 The Old Village Inn is a great addition to the Island’s east coast scene. The pub specialises in meat and seafood dishes sourced from reputable local fishermen and butchers. Add to that over 30 real ales selected every month and a fine wine list, the ‘OVI’ provides a refined and relaxed atmosphere for eating and drinking.
The Pilot Boat
Bembridge PO35 5NN Tel. 01983 872077 Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
The Seaview Hotel
Seaview PO34 5EX Tel. 01983 612711 This Island gem boasts the Pump Bar. This hidden secret is first and foremost a locals’ pub but it is firmly situated within the hotel itself. You’ll find a range of well-kept local ales behind the bar and great bar classic meals from the hotel’s famous kitchen. Dogs welcome. Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
Yarmouth, Freshwater & surrounding West Wight Bugle Coaching Inn
Yarmouth PO41 0NS Tel. 01983 760272 A 16th century coaching inn with flagstone floors, oak beams and inglenook fires. With a renowned, Islandsourced menu, six real ales, extensive wine list and seven fully refurbished, en suite rooms, the Bugle is a perfect spot for sailing crews and holiday makers alike. Live music throughout the summer months in the heated garden terrace.
The Crown Inn
Shorwell PO30 3JZ Tel. 01983 740293 Approved by The Good Pub Guide.
Horse & Groom
St Helens PO33 1UJ Tel. 01983 872337 Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
Ningwood PO30 4NW Tel. 01983 760672 This popular, family pub has a characterful lounge and dining area, a large conservatory, pretty garden and children’s play area, with climbing frame, bouncy castle and crazy golf. It offers an exciting menu that makes use of local produce. Food is served all day, including quality breakfasts from 9am. A great family pub, and approved by The Good Pub Guide.
The White Hart
The King’s Head
The Vine
Havenstreet PO33 4DP Tel. 01983 883485 Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
Yarmouth PO41 0PB Tel. 01983 760351 Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
Freshwater PO40 9BP Tel. 01983 754925 Approved by The Good Pub Guide.
CAFÉS & TEAROOMS Shanklin, Sandown, Ventnor, Godshill & surrounding South Wight Beach Café
Summer Arcade, Shanklin PO37 6BG Tel. 01983 867585 With great views overlooking the beach, this café is a hit with families.
Chale Bay Farm Tea Room & Garden
Hulverstone PO30 4EH Tel. 01983 741124 Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
Chale, PO38 2JF Tel. 01983 730950 Set at the luxury Chale Bay Farm Guest House, the Tea Room & Garden are open to non-residents from Easter to September, serving cream teas, cakes, drinks and other snacks. Fully licensed. Large car park with stunning views.
Wheatsheaf
The Garlic Farm Café
The Sun
Yarmouth PO41 0PH Tel. 01983 760456 Recommended in The Good Pub Guide.
The Wight Mouse Inn
Chale PO38 2HA Tel. 01983 730 431 This 17th century coaching inn is famous for its views across the sea and down to the Needles and Tennyson Down. Perched on the cliff top, it is also near the beaches of Blackgang and Ventnor. Owned by Hall and Woodhouse, one of the few remaining family brewers in the country, it has a welcoming restaurant, bar area and lounge, plus a large southfacing terrace, garden and all-weather children’s areas. Recommended in The Good Pub Guide. The Garlic Farm Café
Newchurch PO36 0NR Tel. 01983 867333 Fully licensed café-restaurant serving lunches prepared by renowned Island chef, Charlie Bartlett, using local, seasonal produce, as well as quality coffee and exquisite homemade cakes.
Old Smithy Coffee Shop
Godshill PO38 3HZ Tel. 01983 840364 Excellent snacks and lunches, freshly-prepared salads and baguettes, daily specials and Sunday roasts. Also quite wonderful cream teas and cakes, including strawberry meringues, tarts and pavlovas. It was declared the winner of the Wight Food Guide ‘Best Café’ category for 2013/2014.
94 FOOD & DRINK • WIGHTLIFE.COM The Plantation Room Café
Ventnor PO38 1UL Tel. 01983 855397 The Plantation Room Café at Ventnor Botanic Gardens is open throughout the year for lunch and afternoon tea. The team add a few freshly-picked ingredients from the garden to produce delicious light lunches using ultra fresh homebaked bread, seasonal salads and daily specials, as well as tempting cream teas with their unique flowering Jasmine tea.
The Royal Hotel
Ventnor PO38 1JJ Tel. 01983 852186 For a real treat, enjoy threetiers of immaculate sandwiches, moreish mini éclairs, meringues and a bite-size Victoria sponge, accompanied by scones and homemade preserves from the hotel’s organic garden.
Ship Ashore Tea Rooms
Blackgang PO38 2HN Tel. 01983 732115 Situated inside Blackgang Chine theme park, this is a delightful tea room with stunning coastal views. Light lunches, home-made savouries, cakes and cream teas are all available. Open daily from 29 March - 2 November.
Cowes, Newport & Middle Wight The Square
Newport Tel. 01983 559090 In the heart of town, The Square serves a variety of home-made produce from
sandwiches and baguettes to traditional pasties and pies. A great afternoon tea is available, as are freshly made breakfast sandwiches and coffee.
Ryde, Bembridge & surrounding East Wight Chocolate Apothecary
Ryde PO33 2DY Tel. 01983 718292 Chocolate Apothecary serves award-winning hot chocolate and, for the adventurous, dark hot chocolate with chilli. A wonderful range of handmade chocolates, cakes and petit fours all made on-site. The café is situated on Ryde’s seafront, in what was once a Victorian Chemist. Top drawer for atmosphere!
Costa Café at Ryde Pier Head
Ryde PO33 2HF Tel. 07887 628551 The full range of Costa’s coffee, drinks, sandwiches, cakes and snacks are available, plus sweets, newspapers and magazines. The recently refurbished café is situated at the end of the pier, offering spectacular views of Ryde’s seafront and beyond.
Quarr Abbey
Ryde PO43 4ES Tel. 01983 898543 Visitors to beautiful Quarr Abbey will enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the popular teashop café that offers speciality teas and coffee as well as freshly-made food, including soups, paninis and daily specials, which makes
Chessell Pottery Barns
Chocolate Apothecary
the most of the abbey’s own fresh produce. Relax in the beautiful gardens or in front of the wood-burning stove in the winter months.
The Vineleaf Coffee Shop
Ryde PO33 4BE Tel. 01983 811084 With stunning views overlooking the vines of Rosemary Vineyard, the Vineleaf Coffee Shop offers a large section of light lunches and snacks, home-made cakes and cream teas, quality teas and freshly-ground coffees. Why not enjoy your lunch with a glass of the vineyard’s own award-winning wines and juices? Groups welcome. Open all year.
Yarmouth, Freshwater & surrounding West Wight Chessell Pottery Barns
Yarmouth PO41 0UE Tel. 01983 531248 Sample freshly-prepared lunches or a sublime, awardwinning cream tea under a delightful willow tree in the relaxing courtyard at this family-run, working pottery. Island chef Bridget Wells prepares delicious, locallysourced lunches and the famous ‘Island Cream Tea’ which uses home-produced strawberry jam and real clotted cream. Tea is even served on Chessell’s own specially decorated plates! Freshly ground espresso coffee made by trained baristas, plus an extensive range of homebaked cakes and other treats are also available.
The Needles Park Pantry
Alum Bay PO39 0JD Tel. 0871 720 0022 With freshly-prepared food and drinks, from light snack to hearty meals, this is a great place to rest after an exhilirating walk on Tennyson Down.
The Needles View Pitch and Putt Course Off the Alum Bay Road PO39 0JD Tel. 01983 756771 This outdoor seated tearoom area with stunning views of the Needles is now fully reopened, and is part of the excellent pitch and putt course. It serves hand-made bread rolls, cakes and cream teas as well as home-made ice cream. High tea and gourmet picnics are available in July and August. There’s also a range of local wooden crafts and stunning photographs for sale.
Warren Farm Tearoom
Alum Bay PO39 0JB Tel. 01983 753200 The cream teas at Warren Farm are “one of Britain’s quintessential summer experiences” says The Sunday Times (June 2013). This tea room on a working farm serves award-winning cream teas, homemade cakes, sandwiches and savouries in an idyllic location overlooking the National Trust’s West High Down and Headon Warren. A perfect place for walkers on the Tennyson Trail and visitors to Alum Bay. There’s also a tempting selection of homemade and local produce for sale.
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • STAYING OVER 95 gardens just 400 yards from the sea. Four spacious lounges including a bar. 20 bedrooms, all en suite, with LCD TVs and views to sea, Downs or village. High quality breakfasts.
Northcourt Manor
HHHH Visit England Guest Accommodation Shorwell PO30 3JG Tel. 01983 740415
Pink Beach Guest House
The Little Gloster
Staying Over So you’re looking to get from the Isle of Wight to the Land of Nod? Couldn’t be easier. Take your pick from luxury hotels to simply stunning campsites and everything in between...
B&BS, HOTELS & GUEST HOUSES Shanklin, Sandown, Ventnor & surrounding South Wight The Aqua
HHHH Visit England Guest Accommodation Shanklin PO37 6BN Tel. 01983 863024 With over 20 bedrooms and located in a prime position on Shanklin seafront, The Aqua provides everything today’s visitors need to enjoy their stay in Shanklin. The hotel has been owned and managed by the same family for the past 35 years and is re-fitted and redecorated annually to maintain the standards expected by today’s travellers.
Chale Bay Farm Luxury Guest House Chale, Ventnor PO38 2JF Tel. 01983 730950 Refurbished to luxury standards, this guest house is set in 26 acres of rolling fields with views of The Needles.
The en suite rooms have minibars, i-Docks, HD satellite TV and free Wi-Fi, and two family suites have an additional TV/ DVD. Many rooms have private patios, and kids and singlenight stays are welcome.
Enchanted Manor HHHHH AA Guest Accommodation Niton PO38 2NG Tel. 01983 730215
The Hambrough
HHHHH AA Guest Accommodation Ventnor PO38 1SQ Tel. 01983 856333 This is a delightful boutique hotel in the heart of Ventnor. All but one room have views to sea and the excellent Hambrough Restaurant serves delicious, locally-sourced food.
The Lake
HHHH AA Guest Accommodation Bonchurch PO38 1RF Tel. 01983 852613 The Lake is situated in two acres of beautiful, secluded
Shanklin PO37 6BN Tel. 01983 864645 A warm welcome awaits you at the Pink Beach. Situated right on the seafront with a sandy beach just across the road. This friendly guest house offers six comfortable en suite rooms and is surrounded by great food, drink and entertainment venues.
The Royal
Ventnor PO38 1JJ Tel. 01983 852186 HHHH AA Hotel Built in 1832, The Royal is one of the oldest hotels on the Island and is one of only 30 establishments to be listed in every Michelin Guide since it was first published in 1911. The Royal was also the first hotel on the island to achieve Four AA Stars and has held 2 AA Rosettes for excellent food for 17 years.
The Wight Mouse Inn
Chale PO38 2HA Tel. 01983 730431 This 17th century inn boasts the most spectacular views. Stunning rooms offering modern, comfortable accommodation. Each room has a TV.
Cowes, Newport & Middle Wight Braunstone House Hotel
Newport PO30 5ET Tel. 01983 822994 A 17th century, four-star executive hotel, with some of the finest suites on the Island. This gem of a place has its own walled garden and restaurant. It is situated in the heart of Newport but offers all the tranquility of a country hotel.
96 STAYING OVER • WIGHTLIFE.COM The Little Gloster
Gurnard PO31 8JQ Tel. 01983 200299 The Little Gloster has three beautiful en suite B&B rooms that are decorated in a simple and extremely stylish Scandinavian style, offering a delightful home from home experience right on the water’s edge. An excellent restaurant and bar, plus a beautiful garden complete with croquet lawn all make for a place you simply won’t want to leave.
The Stag Inn
HHHH AA Inn Newport PO30 5TW Tel. 01983 522709 The Stag boasts four beautifully appointed en suite bedrooms, offering a new accommodation alternative in the Newport and Cowes area. Large car park and a plentiful breakfast.
Ryde, Bembridge & surrounding East Wight The Boathouse
HHHH AA Inn Seaview PO34 5AW Tel. 01983 810616 Four en suite rooms, each tastefully furnished for a relaxing break by the sea. Three double rooms all with sea views and one twin room with jacuzzi bath. A popular destination with great reviews.
Crab & Lobster
HHHH AA Inn Bembridge PO35 5TR Tel. 01983 872244 This friendly pub has great views of the Solent and offers excellent bed and breakfast accommodation. Five bedrooms, all en suite: two with sea views, and one of these has a luxurious sleigh bed. The restaurant won this year’s Good Pub Guide’s award for Isla of Wight Dining Pub of the Year.
The Fishbourne Inn
HHHH AA Inn Fishbourne PO33 4EU Tel. 01983 882823 This charming pub offers bed and breakfast accommodation in five newly refurbished en suite rooms, some with sea views. Fantastic breakfasts and all four-star AA graded.
Priory Bay Hotel
HHH AA Hotel Priory Bay PO34 5BU Tel. 01983 613146 For something truly special, head to Priory Bay, the Isle of Wight’s leading country house hotel. Set within a 60-acre estate, its period buildings have spectacular views out to sea. Stunning gardens and woodland run down to the bay and the hotel’s very own private sandy beach. A stunning selection of rooms are available, as is a highly acclaimed restaurant.
The Seaview
HHH AA Hotel Seaview PO34 5EX Tel. 01983 612711 The famous Seaview is listed in the Top Fifty Places to Eat by The Sea (The Times) and in the Top Ten Family Hotels in the UK (The Good Hotel Guide). It has 29 rooms and suites, all with bathrobes, flat screen TVs and DVD/CD players. Eat at and drink in the cosy Pump Bar, stylish Naval Bar or gorgeous sun-trap terrace.
Yarmouth, Freshwater & surrounding West Wight Bugle Coaching Inn
Yarmouth PO41 0NS Tel. 01983 760272 The seven fully refurbished en suite rooms at The Bugle, situated in the heart of historic Yarmouth, have stone-fitted bathrooms, flat screen TVs, digital radios, room service and unrivalled views. You’ll be assured of a great night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast to follow!
The George
Yarmouth PO41 0PE Tel. 01983 760331 HHH AA Inspector’s Choice Hotel The George in Yarmouth is a delight – a gracious 17th century townhouse nestling on the water’s edge between the Tudor castle and pier in bustling Yarmouth.
Sentry Mead
HHHHH AA Guest Accommodation Totland PO39 0BJ Tel. 01983 753212
HOLIDAY VILLAGES & SELF-CATERING Shanklin, Sandown, Ventnor & surrounding South Wight Landguard Holiday Park
Shanklin PO37 7PJ Tel. 01983 863100 In a woodland setting, this park has both caravan holiday homes and luxury lodges. Facilities include two pools, a restaurant, takeaway, play areas, games room, shop and club.
Lower Hyde Holiday Park
Shanklin PO37 7LL Tel. 01983 866131 HHHH Visit England Holiday Touring & Camping Park AA Merit: 84% An excellent park with a fantastic heated outdoor swimming pool with flume and a children’s paddling pool, plus an indoor spa pool. There’s a great kids clubs here, which will keep the little ones occupied while the adults relax by the pool. Now open throughout the year, owners can come back again and again. The park has recently opened a brand new bar and restaurant that serves tasty food and refreshing drinks. There’s also Squires Showbar, providing great entertainment in the evenings.
Nettlecombe Farm Holiday Cottages & Fishing Lakes
HHHH Gold – Visit England Self-Catering nr Whitwell PO38 2AF Tel. 01983 730783 Winner of Tourism South East’s Beautiful South Award, Nettlecombe Farm offers luxurious self-catering accommodation either in the main farmhouse, barn or stable conversions. Nine high quality, self-contained properties that sleep between two and ten people. A variety of animals live here, including reindeer, emu and alpaca, along with traditional farm animals. Coarse fishing in three lakes, mini-farmyard, children’s play areas, function barn and yoga.
Niton Barns
Niton PO38 2BW Tel. 01983 731506 HHHH Visit England Self-Catering Niton Barns consists of eight barns, converted in 2008, now offering light and spacious areas and boasting all the mod cons you’d expect from a premier self catering accommodation.
Sunny Beach
Shanklin PO37 6BH Tel. 01983 867900 Luxury self-catering apartments on Shanklin seafront with panoramic views. There are six apartments, all sleeping four and with free WiFi. Just a short walk from the Old Village, Chine and town centre.
Upper Chine Holiday Cottages & Apartments
HHHH AA Self-Catering Shanklin PO37 6QR Tel. 01983 867900 Luxury self-catering in cottages and apartments – all beautifully furnished and fully equipped. Facilities include indoor pool complex with spa, sauna and gym. Adjacent parkland and beautiful coastal and countryside walks all within easy reach.
Cowes, Newport & Middle Wight Gurnard Pines
Cowes PO31 8QE Tel. 01983 292395 Try your hand at new sports and enjoy healthier holidays and breaks with family and friends. Gurnard Pines has superb self-catering lodges and villas in a breathtaking woodland setting with quality leisure facilities.
Mersley Farm
Newchurch PO36 0NR Tel. 01983 865213 Mobile 07838 140081 Converted barns and farm cottages in a glorious setting near the sea. A total of six properties, which can sleep up to ten – all fully equipped and offering a range of facilities including gardens, BBQ area, tennis court and fishing. Shop and restaurant on-site.
98 STAYING OVER • WIGHTLIFE.COM indoor heated swimming pool, tennis court and children’s play area. Situated just yards from the beach, the excellent self-catering cottages boasts quality oak furniture, TV with Freeview and WiFi access. A number of cottages also come with your own private outdoor hot tub to enjoy.
CAMPING & TOURING Ryde, Bembridge & surrounding East Wight Whitecliff Bay
Rookley Country Park
Rookley PO38 3LU Tel. 01983 897430 Rookley Country Park is centrally located and set in 23 acres of beautifully manicured parkland. It has a choice of self-catering caravans, spacious cottages and camping pitches. Open all year, with an exciting range of activities and amenities on-park, including: indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, on-site bar and restaurant, entertainments lounge, on-site take-away and two fabulous fishing lakes.
Thorness Bay
Cowes PO31 8NJ Tel. 01983 523109 HHHH Visit England Holiday Touring & Camping Park AA Merit: 85% Situated on a gentle wooded slope that leads to a quiet bay. Facilities include an entertainment venue, indoor pool, all-weather sports court, a number of dining options and an amusement arcade.
Ryde, Bembridge & surrounding East Wight Nodes Point
St Helens PO33 1YA Tel. 01983 872401 HHHH Visit England Holiday Touring & Camping Park AA Merit: 86% Nodes Point is set in a spectacular position. It covers 65 acres of beautiful parkland that runs down to the beach. Attractions include an indoor pool, an adventure playground, an all-weather sports court and evening entertainment.
St Helens Holiday Park
St Helens PO33 1UX Tel. 01983 897430 St Helens Holiday Park enjoys a glorious setting in lovingly maintained grounds and is only a short walk from the gorgeous local beach. With barbecue and picnic areas, outdoor heated swimming pool and sports field, this park is perfect for families, as well as for couples seeking that truly peaceful and relaxing getaway.
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park
HHH Visit England Holiday Park Bembridge PO35 5PL Tel. 01983 872671 With its own secluded beach, this is the perfect spot for a family holiday. The park has a wide range of accommodation to suit all tastes: from glamping and Vintage Caravans to holiday homes and luxury gites. There’s outdoor and indoor pools, an outdoor playground, a soft play area, the Nab Bar and Culver Club which serves food from morning through to midnight. The park also has a packed programme of activites for everyone. Holiday homes for sale from £19,995.
Yarmouth, Freshwater & surrounding West Wight Colwell Bay Holiday Cottages
Freshwater PO39 0DA Tel. 01983 897430 Colwell Bay Holiday Cottages is open all year, and has an
Rosemary Vineyard Touring Park
HHH Visit England Touring Park Ryde PO33 4BE Tel. 01983 811084 This beautiful touring park is set on the edge of the vineyard estate. Six pitches, all with electrical hook-ups. The Vineleaf Coffee Shop is near the park, and serves a selection of light lunches and snacks.
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park
HHH Visit England Holiday Park Bembridge PO35 5PL Tel. 01983 872671 Dedicated area for touring and camping with a separate area for canvas village including vintage camping and bell tents, perfectly set on a south-facing, gentle slope with stunning views. Please see the previous entry in the column on the left for further park details.
Yarmouth, Freshwater & surrounding West Wight Compton Farm Brook PO30 4HF Tel. 01983 740215
Grange Farm
AA 4 Pennants nr Brighstone PO30 4DA Tel. 01983 740296 Grange Farm is situated on the beautiful south-west coast with sea and countryside views. The area is ideal for cycling, walking, fishing and fossil hunting and there is direct access to the local beach. This is a small, family-run farm, with many unusual, friendly animals,
including alpacas, pigs, goats, horses, a donkey, poultry, small pets and water buffaloes.
Heathfield Farm Camping Park
AA 4 Pennants Freshwater PO40 9SH Tel. 01983 407822 A peaceful park with 60 level, spacious, marked pitches for touring and camping. Great location for a relaxing holiday retreat, or a fun-packed family holiday. Just two miles from Yarmouth and the Needles.
Really Green Yurts Freshwater PO40 9XR Tel. 07802 678591
CAMPING EQUIPMENT Goodyears Outdoors
Sandown & Newport Tel. 01983 408181 & 01983 525525 goodyears.co.uk Forgot some camping gear or toilet chemical? Fear not! Goodyears has a product list to offer something for everyone, from the casual backpacker to the family camper and caravanner. They also stock an excellent range of clothing and footwear, as well as spares for your caravan or motorhome at their Sandown branch.
HOLIDAY LETS Island Cottage Holidays
For an outstanding range of properties to let on the Island, look no further than Island Cottage Holidays (Tel. 01983 403377, islandcottageholidays. co.uk). From cute cottages with just a single bedroom to grand country houses that can sleep up to ten, they boast an exceptional portfolio. In total, their website has details of as many as 122 properties, which you can filter through using various categories, such as ‘seaside cottages’, ‘luxury and 5-star cottages’ and ‘dog-friendly cottages’.
100 PORTSMOUTH • WIGHTLIFE.COM including ‘A Study in Sherlock’ (in celebration of the years Sir Arthur Conan Doyle lived in the city), ‘The Dickens Quilts’, ‘Football in the City’ and, this year only, ‘Lest We Forget’, telling the stories of people who took part in World War One on the home front and in the trenches. Close by, you’ll also find Charles Dickens’s Birthplace Museum, furnished in the style of 1809, when Charles’s parents, John and Elizabeth Dickens, set up home here.
Aerial view of Portsmouth
Portsmouth
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efore heading home after your Island break, take time to explore historic Portsmouth. This fascinating city has so much to offer, from cultural and historical attractions to fine restaurants, bars and shops.
smell the history of the Royal Navy through a collection of artefacts and award-winning exhibitions, such as the walk-through Trafalgar Experience. The last principal attraction at the dockyards is Action Stations, which shows what life in today’s Royal Navy is like through a mixture of physical challenges, simulators and technological experiments.
The city, population 205,000, is the home of the Royal Navy and has been one of the country’s foremost naval ports for centuries: Henry V assembled his troops here before sailing to France in 1415; Henry VIII built the world’s first dry dock here in the 1540s; Nelson set off to Trafalgar from here in 1805; and the city was a key embarkation point for the D-Day landings of 1944.
You don’t have to go to the dockyard to get a feel for the city’s nautical past – you can almost taste the history in the narrow lanes and seafront battlements of Old Portsmouth. The area was once the haunt of press gangs and it’s still easy to imagine these tough recruiters roaming the streets for would-be sailors. The taverns around here were once as rough as rough can be and offered them rich pickings, but today are convivial spots to enjoy drinks or a meal.
The city’s naval heritage is brought to life at the famous Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory, and Britain’s first iron-hulled battleship, HMS Warrior 1860, can both be found here. Mary Rose, the jewel of Henry VIII’s fleet, also rests here. A new £35 million, state-of-the-art museum dedicated to this most famous of ships opened its doors in May 2013, bringing together once again the hull and most of the 19,000 artefacts that were raised with her from the seabed back in 1982. Also in the Historic Dockyard is the National Museum of the Royal Navy, housed in huge Georgian storehouses, where you can see, touch, hear and even
Close by, you’ll find the city’s cathedral, whose history dates back to 1180. This is a beautiful building with a light stone exterior and towering bronze doors. Inside, the cathedral has an immense feeling of space and serenity – a result of the vast arches and pillars in the nave and the huge windows that let light flood in. Also near here is the City Museum, home to a number of fascinating exhibitions, Right: Spinnaker Tower at dusk
Now make your way to the seafront development of Gunwharf Quays. There are some excellent outlet stores here, great bars, some first rate restaurants, a multiplex cinema, a contemporary art gallery, bowling alleys and nightclubs. And looming over the whole ensemble is the Spinnaker Tower, a stunning 170-metre structure with three viewing decks, and incorporating the largest glass floor in Europe. A scenic walk runs from Gunwharf Quays to Southsea seafront at the southern tip of Portsea Island, along a route lined by distinctive blue street lanterns. There’s a mass of stuff to see in Southsea, including the D-Day Museum with its famous Overlord Embroidery. Inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, this traces the progress of Operation Overlord, from its origins in the dark days of 1940 to victory in Normandy in 1944. The Royal Marines Museum, situated on the seafront at Southsea, is a proud celebration of this elite fighting force, set in striking Victorian surroundings. The Natural History Museum is located here and is a must for anyone interested in local wildlife and geology. It also houses an aquarium and handsome butterfly house. Also pay a visit to Southsea Castle, dating back to 1544, and the award-winning Blue Reef Aquarium, with its walk-through underwater tunnel. And if all that’s not enough, there’s Southsea’s beautiful seafront with its playgrounds, funfair and plenty of outside space in which to unwind.
WIGHTLINK.CO.UK • THE NEW FOREST & LYMINGTON 101
The New Forest & Lymington
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raveling on Wightlink’s Yarmouth – Lymington route? Then make time to discover the fabulous New Forest and the Georgian gem that is Lymington, which sits on the Forest’s southern edge.
THE NEW FOREST
One of the UK’s 15 national parks, the New Forest spreads from the Avon Valley to Southampton Water and from the Solent coast to the edge of the Wiltshire downs. In total, it covers an area of about 145 square miles, and, despite its name, is far from new. It actually dates back to 1079, when William the Conqueror bought the land as a hunting ground and named it ‘Nova Foresta’. The term ‘forest’ was a legally defined area where ‘beasts of the chase’ (i.e. deer and wild pig) and their food were protected for the pleasure of the monarch. It was not necessarily a wooded area in the modern sense, and this explains the remarkable range of countryside found here – from mixed woodland and open heaths to rolling fields and marshland. When William bought the land, he introduced a number of by-laws and concessions to local people, many of which are still in place. For example, people who live in the Forest (known as commoners) can, to this day, let cattle, ponies and donkeys roam freely around the forest, can turn out pigs for 60 days a year and can gather wood for fires. Today, about 500 people exercise these rights, paying fees on about 7000 animals
each year. Each autumn a ‘round up’ is organised, during which all the animals are corralled and checked before the onset of winter. Each animal is branded with the commoners’ individual marks and their tails are clipped to show that their grazing fee has been paid. The fact that the Forest is still used in this way makes it Europe’s largest surviving area of ancient pasture woodland. It also adds a certain frisson to a trip to the villages in the Forest, as horses and cows are often seen wandering through their lanes and, more often than not, have right of way over cars. The whole Forest is a wonderful area to explore by walking, cycling and on horseback. For general enquiries about your visit, call the New Forest National Park Authority on 01590 646600 or visit newforestnpa.gov.uk.
LYMINGTON
For rest and relaxation after the great outdoors, look no further than the villages and towns in the Forest for somewhere to unwind. Lyndhurst, Beaulieu (home to the excellent National Motor Museum) and Brockenhurst are all utterly delightful, as, of course, is Lymington, a charming harbour town on the west bank of the Lymington River. This historic market town (population 14,300) grew over the centuries on the back of various industries – notably salt production, ship-building, trading and smuggling. The 18th century was its golden age – a fact reflected in its splendid architecture. Its High Street is charming – the elegant buildings here Above: Captain’s Row, Lymington © New Forest District Council
are home to a variety of shops, some well known, others unique to the town. Every Saturday, the street is taken over by the Lymington Charter Market, a streetmarket whose origins date back to the 13th century. Today, you’ll find stalls selling everything from local foods and plants to craft items and household goods. At the top of the High Street, make sure you see St Thomas’s Church, built in around 1250. The High Street runs down to the town’s harbour, where you’ll come across a series of delightful cobbled lanes. You can spend many a happy hour here, exploring an array of boutiques, tearooms, cafés and pubs. Given its location, it probably comes as no surprise that the town is a hugely popular sailing resort. It has two large marinas (Berthon and Haven) and two sailing clubs (the Royal Lymington Yacht Club and Lymington Town Sailing Club). A stroll around the marinas is a great way to pass the time, while if you fancy something a little more exerting, pay a visit to the open-air seawater swimming pool. This first opened its doors in 1833, and remains a popular spot with residents and visitors alike. In addition to being one of the best sailing venues on the south coast, one of the town’s greatest selling points is the fact that it’s surrounded by natural beauty. Obviously, to the north is the New Forest, while to the west are four miles of coastal nature reserve – a twitcher’s paradise and designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. To help make the most of your time in and around Lymington, visit the Visitor Information Point in the town museum at New Street (01590 676969).
Island Spotting... WIN!
A wonderful family holiday on the
Isle of Wight
Can you work out what these 12 pictures are of? What are they and where would you find them? If you can figure them out, you’re in with a chance of winning one of three family holidays on the Isle of Wight in 2015, courtesy of those very generous people at Island View Holidays. See page 29 for details.
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WIGHTLIFE MAGAZINE
YOUR FREE GUIDE TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT!
ISSUE ONE: 2014 | WIGHTLIFE.COM