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Introducing:
The Magical Isle of Wight
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The beautiful Isle of Wight lies just three miles off the south coast of England, immediately below Southampton and Portsmouth. It is separated from the mainland by The Solent, a very busy shipping lane frequented by large ocean-going liners and enormous freight containers, most of which are going to, or coming from, Southampton docks.
In addition to these,
regular ferry services
run from Lymington, Southampton and Portmouth to the island.
NASA image of the Isle of Wight
Viewed from space, the island looks like a squashed diamond dissected by the River Medina which arises in the south and flows out into The Solent at Cowes, in the north.
It measures just 23 miles from west to east, and 13 miles from north to south, so nothing is very far away! Indeed, depending on the time of day and the season, 30 to 45 minutes driving will usually take you from one end of the island to the other.
Despite being only three miles from the busy, busy mainland, the Isle of Wight is, by contrast, a haven of peace. Life here runs at 33 rpm, not 78 (or, in today's jargon, it runs on dial-up, not 8G broadband!).
Speeding is not an option: the roads are too bad.
Motorway?
Forget it! The nearest you'll get to a motorway is the half mile stretch of dual carriageway (the only bit on the island) at Newport!
So slow down, George! Enjoy the ride, enjoy the scenery, enjoy the peace!
And please mind
the pheasants, the red squirrels and the badgers
- they have no road sense whatsoever!
A red squirrel feeds in our garden
The busiest (and most developed) parts of the Isle of Wight lie in the north (around Cowes, Newport and Ryde), and in the east (all around Sandown Bay) where you will find hotels and guest houses, amusements, museums, and other
tourist attractions.
Elsewhere, especially in the south and west, you will encounter winding country lanes, pretty villages, rolling countryside, towering cliffs and chalky downs,
beautiful beaches,
fabulous pubs,
and miles and miles of natural, unspoiled coastline.
The coastal path near Chale on the south coast
Fortunately, much of this beautiful little island is protected by The National Trust which owns 10% of the total area, including 17 miles of coastline, many areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) and several buildings of historic interest such as
Bembridge Windmill,
Newtown Old Town Hall ,
and
St Catherine's Oratory.
Similarly, English Heritage own and look after other buildings of architectural and historical interest such as
Carisbrooke Castle,
and the former residence of Queen Victoria,
Osborne House.
Naturally, the island is a magnet for sailors of all ages - especially during Cowes Week and the annual 'Round The Island Race' when in excess of 1,700 yachts of all shapes and sizes race to be the first to sail around the 62 miles of coastline. It's quite a spectacle to behold with sails of every shape and colour gleaming in the sunlight!
The island is also a favourite venue with cyclists for the 'Cycling Festival' (usually in September) and with walkers who come here year after year for the 'Isle of Wight Walking Festival' (May) or simply to explore, alone, the 500+ miles of footpaths and bridleways.
It is also, of course, the venue for two enormously popular music festivals each year - 'The Isle of Wight Festival' and 'Bestival'.
These are simply a few of the many, many events that take place here each year. There is always something going on, no matter what the season and no matter what the weather! And there's always somewhere to stay. So please do come and see us, and have yourself a fabulous holiday!
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