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Escape from the Snug and return a few hours later inspired, refreshed and relaxed by doing something different every day! The choice is yours...

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A great App showing you where you are in the world

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Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app

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Locus Map - mobile outdoor navigation app

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Multi-functional mobile outdoor navigation app for hiking, cycling, geocaching, sailing, flying and other sports activities and traveling

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The Best Deals we can find

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WiFi: EE-JM9Q8R

Password: Wgp4G396ew4baDc7

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Just a few ideas...

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Great Aerial view which climbs over the Station Snug & Station House before exploring the Steam Railway.

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Isle of Wight - Havenstreet Steam Railway - 4k Drone footage

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Tickets, Prices & Discounts - Isle of Wight Steam Railway (Havenstreet) - WhichMuseum

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Entry to Steam Railway
Please note that the Station Snug is pet free and an entirely separate entity from the Steam Railway which is not open 365 days of the year, so do check iwsteamrailway & haven-falconry websites before you book if that's the reason for your visit. Your Airbnb booking does not give you preferential access to the Steam Railway.

The link above offer the best entry prices I have found so far.

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Tickets, Prices & Discounts - Isle of Wight Steam Railway (Havenstreet) - WhichMuseum

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Find tickets and view all prices and discounts for Isle of Wight Steam Railway in Havenstreet and buy tickets online.

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What's happening at Havenstreet Station right now - just a 30 second walk from the Station Snug!

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Isle of Wight Webcams

Isle of Wight Webcams was started by Dave Russell, a former ITV News reporter/cameraman who's lived on the Island for nearly 40 years. More recently WightFibre has joined forces with Dave to support more cameras going live on the island. Together we aim to promote the Isle of Wight by installing new, and upgrading existing cameras to give the world more of an insight into our beautiful Island life.

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Isle of Wight Webcams Isle of Wight Webcams was started by Dave Russell, a former ITV News reporter/cameraman who's lived on the Island for nearly 40 years. More recently WightFibre has joined forces with Dave to support more cameras going live on the island.

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Ideas for Day Trips to the Isle of Wight

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Looking for a day trip, here is our guide to visiting the Isle of Wight in a day!

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Combley Woods

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Go Slow Around the Island

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in a given amount of time.

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At Island Riding Centre we offer Riding School activities from group to private lessons, beach and trail rides and onsite hacks – the perfect place…

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Golf Course Links

Ryde

Shanklin

Westridge

Osborne

Newport

Freshwater Bay

Cowes

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Local eats we love

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FREE Entry & access to the Steam Railway Restaurant, Cafe, Bar & Museum! Book Train Rides and check when they are open at https://iwsteamrailway.co.uk/

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About
Book online now.
A tree climb with Goodleaf is uncomplicated, top quality fun that's highly rated by our climbers - people have called Goodleaf 'outstanding' and a 'once in a lifetime experience' on TripAdvisor.

Our popular two hour tree climbing experiences are the perfect introduction to the magical thrill of tree climbing. The experience takes place with small groups of climbers. There's no pressure to climb high or even reach the top of the tree; you might just enjoy the unusual experience of sitting on a branch and taking in your surroundings. We provide qualified and experienced instructors who will teach you the ropes (and the knots!), to enable you to take to the canopy of our stunning mature oak tree. We provide the latest safety equipment including harness and helmet.

Please read about the updates we have made to our experience because of Covid-19.
We think tree climbing with Goodleaf is great because:
- It's tech free time for adults and kids.
- You absorb amazing physical and mental health benefits just by being out in nature, let alone getting this close to it.
- Our tree climbers often achieve way more than they expected - tree climbing is a great self confidence boost.
- Our lovely staff are on hand supporting and ecouraging you throughout your climb.
- We provide what one Trip Advisor review called 'The World's Best Flapjack' as part of the 2 hour experience!

Goodleaf is based in Appley Park in Ryde and just a two minute walk from the sandy beach of Appley. There are lovely places to eat near by or you can bring a picnic to enjoy in the park or on the beach. There's a pay and display car park nearby, but don't forget we offer a 5% discount if you travel to us on foot, bike, bus or train.
ESSENTIAL RECREATIONAL TREE CLIMBING
Our intensive three day recreational tree climbing course is for those who want to take their recreational tree climbing further.
BRANCH OUTS
We do branch out to other trees from time to time. Our e-newsletter sign up is the best place to keep up to date.

SCHOOL AND YOUTH GROUPS
Why not try an adventurous learning experience for your class? We welcome school parties and scout groups and have excellent group rates.

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Book online now. A tree climb with Goodleaf is uncomplicated, top quality fun that's highly rated by our climbers - people have called Goodleaf 'outstanding' and a 'once in a lifetime experience' on TripAdvisor. Our popular two hour tree climbing experiences are the perfect introduction to the magical thrill of tree climbing.

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The Isle of Wight celebrates its highly reputed status as one of the top cycling destinations in the world. Not only are we home to some of the UK’s best scenery, we also have around 200 miles of cycl…

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Briddlesford Farm 'Bluebell' Cafe - excellent food!

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Briddlesford Farm produces excellent dairy produce, has an onsite cafe and offers educational farm experiences.

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The Isle of Wight is a true walker's paradise. As one of the UK's most beautiful places to enjoy the outdoors, we welcome thousands of walkers to the Island year after year as they explore our 68-mile-long coastal path and our criss-cross network of footpaths and trails.

The Needles chalk stack is one of the most photogenic and iconic landmarks on the Isle of Wight that walkers won't want to miss. These tall, jagged rocks mark the very western tip of the Island and can be spotted emerging from the rolling hills of Tennyson Downs on the south west coast. The Freshwater Bay to the Needles circular route is the perfect hike for ramblers looking for a challenge.

More than half of our Island is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which offers breath-taking scenery everywhere you look. Our southern beaches provide not only a great place to rest but also an exciting and fascinating insight into the prehistoric reality of dinosaur life on the island.

The Coastal Path

The Isle of Wight Coastal Path can be split into six sections and takes you around the whole circumference of the Island. You'll pass through busy harbours in sailing towns, sandy seafronts on award-winning beaches and wildlife havens at serene nature reserves.
Find out more
A walk with a theme

The Isle of Wight is steeped in history, culture, music and the arts ranging from Queen Victoria's holiday home to evidence of dinosaur life. Whether you enjoy taking a step back in time, learning about fossils or our literary heroes, there's a walk here for you.
Find out more
Family-friendly walks

There are plenty of areas on the Isle of Wight where your children can enjoy walking in a safe and fun environment. Along the beach or through the woods, take your pick from our family-friendly selection here.
Find out more

Travelling to and around the Isle of Wight on foot

The Isle of Wight is easy to access as a foot passenger and once you arrive you'll find it just as easy to get around. Red Funnel, Wightlink and Hovertravel offer high-speed services for foot passengers and each Island terminal has excellent onward travel links by bus. If you're travelling to Ryde, you'll also be able to explore the east side of the Island by train directly from the Pier Head. Visit our sustainable travel page for further information.
Find out more
Other great sources of information

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The Isle of Wight is a true walker's paradise. As one of the UK's most beautiful places to enjoy the outdoors, we welcome thousands of walkers to the Island year after year as they explore our 68-mile-long coastal path and our criss-cross network of footpaths and trails.

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Some best loved Beach escapes

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You can come to this coffee house after seeing The Royal Victoria Arcade. You can order perfectly cooked sandwiches. A collection of good beer is recommended to visitors.

Musicians play live music in the evening. Nice decor lets the visitors relax. Based on the guests' feedback on Google, The Star Coffee & Ale House deserved 4.6.

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The Star Coffee & Ale House in Ryde - Restaurant reviews

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You can come to this coffee house after seeing The Royal Victoria Arcade. You can order perfectly cooked sandwiches. A collection of good beer is recommended to visitors. Musicians play live music in the evening. Nice decor lets the visitors relax. Based on the guests' feedback on Google, The Star Coffee & Ale House deserved 4.6.

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Birdwatching

Red Squirrel Spotting

Seal Scoping

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Come rain or shine, a Sea Glass Hunt is always a winner!

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Head to the eastern side of the Island and search for treasure waiting to be discovered on the beach. Sandown, Lake and Bembridge are all places you may be lucky enough to find sea glass.

I have fond memories of beach combing as a child, seeking out interesting shells and pebbles. The real jewel in the crown was finding pieces of sea glass and to this day I am still compelled to look whenever I am at the beach.

Wherever I am near the coast I am always drawn to the beach to look for sea glass. I wouldn't exactly call it a hobby as such, just when I am in a potential sea glass collecting area, I just can't resist looking. It must be one of the most relaxing ways to spend time and hours can go by in a dream like state, and it is hard to walk away once started. My house has many a vase and container full to the brim, some would say I'm a bit obsessed as my glass collection is colour co-ordinated and sorted into different receptacles.

Sea glass happens when broken glass is tumbled around in the sea until all the edges are worn down and smoothed. The surface loses its shine and becomes opaque with a frosted appearance. The process takes 20 - 40 years and a myriad of colours can be found. Some beaches have no glass, others are a treasure trove so it's worth doing some homework before you set off to look. I am fortunate to live in Cornwall and have found several beaches around the Helford estuary to be bountiful. There is a knack, start at the waters edge and look amongst the smallish pebbles along the tide line. It's rare to find glass on sandy beaches. Un-focus your eyes and concentrate on seeing brighter colours. As you spend more time looking, you will find pieces easier to spot. Green is one of the most common colours and comes from bottles such as beer and ink, whereas white (also common) is mainly from plates and glasses. Less common colours are blue which come from poison bottles and even more rare red and purple. I've only found a few blue pieces over the years and have never come across red or purple

The best place to search for sea glass in the UK is a small town called Seaham on the North Sea coast. I've never been but it is definitely somewhere to head for. One place I have been to many times is The Isle of Wight and this is another good place to search, particularly around the easterly edge of Sandown and Lake. Wait for low tide as the beach all but disappears when the tide is in. Try near the pier where you are more than likely to join other glass seekers. Bembridge has a fabulous five mile stretch of flat beach and if you look hard enough it is possible to find some pieces there too.

Sea glass looks beautiful displayed in clear glass receptacles, the pieces can then be admired from every angle. Placing them on a windowsill gives extra depth to the colours but wherever you display your collection, it is bound to bring back happy memories of time spent on your favourite beach.

We have some fabulous places to stay near to beaches where you can wander and search for beach treasure to your hearts content. Take a look at our portfolio of properties here on the Island and start planning your next adventure.

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Collecting Sea Glass | Isle of Wight holidays | Wight Locations.

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Collecting Sea Glass on the Isle of Wight

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At the bottom of Union Street - this is a real Italian treat.

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Open from 10am to 10pm
Coffees, Pastries and light snacks from 10am to 5pm
Lunch served from 12am to 3pm
Dinner served from 5pm to 10pm

Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays until further notice

DELI MENU IS SERVED EVERY DAY LUNCH TIME FROM 12 TO 3PM.
DINNER MENU IS SERVED FROM 5pm TO 10pm
ON SUNDAY LUNCH WE OPERATE BOTH MENU

TAKE AWAY SERVICE:
by booking your slot in advance by phone T. 01983-811966
or online according to availability

Named after one of the greatest painters of the Italian Renaissance

The Restaurant, established in 2000, offers authentic Italian food prepared by genuine Italian Chefs, presenting a menu with specialities such as pasta, pizza, veal, pork, duck, chicken, fish, seafood, as well as vegetarian dishes and homemade desserts.

The restaurateurs come from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, well known for its culinary art that has been passed down through the generations, making it that strong to stand the test of the time. In 2011 the restaurant extended with a new area called "Michelangelo Deli-Cafe" which is open for breakfast, lunch and coffees throughout the day, and which becomes, in the evening, an attractive additional dining room taking the number of covers up to 70, while 12 extra seats are available outside in the summer for eating al fresco. The deli-cafe works also as a shop where the customers can buy typical , proper Italian products.

As well as a high standard proper Italian Menu, the restaurant has an excellent wine list featuring a wide range of Italian wines, including a special vintage selection for a celebration or for that special occasion. Intimately candlelit at night the restaurant has an attractive rustic decor that provides a homely relaxed atmosphere which, together with an efficient and friendly service, allows you to enjoy the glorious seaview over the Solent channel. Located at the west end of Ryde Seafront it is within walking distance from ferry, hovercraft terminals, bus stations and shops. The restaurant also caters for parties and crews providing a choice of different set menus to be agreed in advance.

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Ristorante Michelangelo - Ryde - Isle of Wight

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Open from 10am to 10pm Coffees, Pastries and light snacks from 10am to 5pm Lunch served from 12am to 3pm Dinner served from 5pm to 10pm Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays until further notice DELI MENU IS SERVED EVERY DAY LUNCH TIME FROM 12 TO 3PM.

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A few minutes away

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88 acres of natural parkland with stunning woodland, open rolling countryside and curated water gardens for endless exploration.

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Priory Bay is on the eastern coast of the Isle of Wight just east of Nettlestone. It takes its name from a small priory that was once connected to St Helen's Old Church nearby.

The bay runs from Horestone Point to Nodes Point and is edged by 7.5 acres of National Trust woodland known as Priory Woods. The only access is by walking from either of these points along the coastal footpath.

Stretching 1/2 mile in length, the bay looks across the Solent to Selsey Bill on the mainland. The beach is sandy with some pebbles and is bordered by rocks and the remains of coastal defences. These were intended to protect the cliffs from the constant erosion by the sea.

The shallow bay slopes gently towards the Gull Bank, a sandbar that creates a lagoon of water at low tide. It's too shallow for swimming but ideal for paddling.

It's a popular bay for visiting boats to drop anchor adding to the picturesque setting.

Type of beach

Sandy

Lifeguard service

No

Dogs friendly beach?

We do not have information on this beach but restrictions may apply (usually from Easter until the end of Summer)
Isle of Wight dog friendly beaches "

Nearest town
Ryde
OS grid ref.

SZ 6346 9044

Submit a correction

What did we get wrong?

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Priory Beach | Isle of Wight | UK Beach Guide

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Priory Bay is on the eastern coast of the Isle of Wight just east of Nettlestone. It takes its name from a small priory that was once connected to St Helen's Old Church nearby. The bay runs from Horestone Point to Nodes Point and is edged by 7.5 acres of National Trust woodland known as Priory Woods.

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Located in Quarr Abbey’s serene and beautiful surroundings of the walled gardens, you will discover the popular licensed teashop.

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We've partnered with Island based Atlas Ferries to secure you their best car ferry discounts on Wightlink. So click on the link, enter your travel details, state where you’re staying & standby to receive their best available crossing, best price & flexible, refundable tickets.

Cosy Rooms next to Steam Railway Havenstreet

Snug Accommodation Next to a Steam Railway Havenstreet

Cosy Rooms in Quaint Cottage Ryde

Do check out Atlas on TrustPilot who are always happy to help by phone if needed on +44 7979091442. www.atlasferries.co.uk/ferry-enquiry1

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Complete this form to receive a managed discounted ferry

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Sometimes the great British weather doesn't play ball, even on the sunny Isle of Wight. If you're looking for something to do, here's a selection of great things the Isle of Wight has to offer to get you started.

Museums

Get an overview of Island life at the Museum of Island History. Dinosaur enthusiasts will love Dinosaur Isle and the Dinosaur Expeditions, Conservation & Palaeoart Centre.

Moving ahead in time from the dinosaurs, visit the Brading Roman Villa for an insight into Roman life on 'Vectis'.

Dimbola Museum in Freshwater charts the life of Julia Margeret Cameron, a pioneer of photography, and hosts contemporary photographic exhibitions. Isle of Wight Museum of Glass at Arreton Barns has over 1200 peices of art glass from Isle of Wight studios and other British makers. Quay Arts Centre in Newport has seasonal exhibitions and you can get hands-on with a workshop or enjoy live performances.

Local museums abound, many of which are real gems. Try Ventnor Heritage Museum, the National Trust's Brighstone Village Museum, Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum in the old bus depot in Ryde, The Wight Military & Heritage Museum near Cowes, Shipwreck Centre and Maritime Museum at Arreton Barns and the Classic Boat Museums in East and West Cowes.

Immerse yourself in times gone by at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway and enjoy views of Island countryside from a classic train carrage.

Historic buildings

If castles are your thing, head to the Elizabethan fortress at Carisbrooke Castle or climb the battlements and enjoy the views of the Solent at Yarmouth Castle, both English Heritage.

You can even explore Victorian coastal defences and secret rocket testing site at The National Trust's Needles Old Battery & New Battery, perched high above the Needles Rocks. A short drive away is Fort Victoria which has a café and the Fort Victoria Model Railway, Island Plantarium and the Isle of Wight Reptilarium.

Tranquil Quarr Abbey at Fishbourne is home to Benedictine monks who welcome visitors to their extensive grounds, farm shop, tearoom and art gallery.

Newtown Old Town Hall and Bembridge Windmill are both National Trust properties. Calbourne Water Mill offers a range of things to do outdoors and a selection of mini museums.

On a much larger scale, visit Queen Victoria's stunning home Osborne House and if it stops raining, enjoy the formal gardens and landscaped grounds.

Get active indoors

Book a riding lesson or join and hack at the Island Riding Centre - their indoor arena means all weather equine fun. Get properly wet at The Heights, Medina Leisure Centre, Waterside Pool or West Wight Sports Centre with a relaxing dip or fun splash session.

Set a new lap record at the Island's all weather karting track at Wight Karting and feel like a true F1 pro. Have a game or two of tenpin bowling or laserquest at Ryde Superbowl. Kids can run around at JR Zone's soft play centre and laser combat arena. There's loads for kids of all ages to swing, bounce, run and jump around indoors and out at Tapnell Farm Park.

Animal attractions

The Island features a large and brilliant selection of animal attractions, wildlife parks and zoos. Take a trip to Amazon World, the Island's largest exotic animal attraction, or see the big cats at the Isle of Wight Zoo in Sandown. Get up close with something cute and fluffy at Tapnell Farm Park, or step into a world of beautiful butterflies at Butterfly World.

Or open your eyes and ears as you travel around the Island - you may see red squirrels or even England's biggest birds, the white tailed eagles.

Retail therapy

High Street shopping with a good range of independents is alive and well on the Island. We don't have any shopping malls, but we do have lots of eclectic choice! Union Street in Ryde, Cowes, Yarmouth, Bembridge and Ventnor all offer a mix to browse and buy.

For different gifts and treats, try Oasis near Brading, which sells homewares from Bali, or learn all about garlic and how to grow your own at The Garlic Farm. Take a drive along the Military Road and pop in to Isle of Wight Pearl for jewellery. Island Originals on the outskirts of Sandown, has been reinvented from an agricultural polytunnel. Inside, you'll find an exciting range of local craftspeople, small gift shops and artisans.

Garden centres are a great place for garden bits and a bite of cake - visit Busy Bee Garden Centre, Honnor & Jeffery, Medina Garden Centre and Thompsons.

Rainy day walks

Grab your coat and pull on your wellies and head out into the great outdoors anyway. There are plenty of walks that offer a bit of protection from the elements and are on hard paths. How about walking alongside the River Yar between Yarmouth and Freshwater (there's plenty of pubs at both ends), or alongside the River Medina on the Cowes to Newport cycle way.

If its not too wet, the Sandown to Shanklin reventment alongside the beach is a lovely option, and there are plenty of cafes and pubs to pop into along the route. Other seaside walks include Cowes to Gurnard and Ryde to Appley. Or head into the woods and shelter under the trees in Parkhurst Forest or Firestone Copse, both of which have gravel tracks.

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Sometimes when we go on holiday the weather isn't on our side. You have to forgo the beautiful beaches, stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures in favour of something a little drier. If you're looking for something to do, here's a selection of great things the Isle of Wight has to offer to get you started.

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Seagrove Beach | Isle of Wight | UK Beach Guide

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Located near Bembridge, Seagrove Bay is on the northeast coast of the Isle of Wight. Facing eastwards into the English Channel it is fairly sheltered…

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Spacious setting - decent food and drink - in Union Street Ryde

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FUMO 33 offers a great ‘classic meets contemporary’ style including the dishes that offers pizza, pasta,grills, a unique Sunday Lunch concept, smoked speciality dishes all cooked in the woodfired oven. All created by our talented chefs with the added dash of theatre from the open kitchen. Produced u…

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Or try this link for an up to 25% Ferry Discount:

http://www.wightlink.co.uk/iowabnbc?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR24DRZr6_ikfSNiZ2Y9A4_VhHdITUA-TW2ag9_1cCcJBoZyR-q5S3GjE4s_aem__kOJqy7WlyR1Pu5TcBh7gg

NOTE: This is totally separate from Airbnb, is not guaranteed to work, but is one of the best we've found. Be aware that you'll need to cancel your ferry booking if you cancel your Island visit.

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Book Journey – Wightlink Standard Web EN

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While working underground to fix a water main, Brooklyn plumbers-and brothers-Mario and Luigi are transported down a mysterious pipe and wander into a magical new world. But when the brothers are separated, Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi.

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While working underground to fix a water main, Brooklyn plumbers-and brothers-Mario and Luigi are transported down a mysterious pipe and wander into a magical new world. But when the brothers are separated, Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi.

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Located between Sandown and the cliffs of Culver Down, Yaverland is thought by many to be one of the best beaches on the Isle of Wight. The trick is to get here at low tide - at high tide there is only a relatively small section of sandy beach backed by sea-defences and an esplanade.
When the tide is out an enormous stretch of flat sand is exposed, leading to a section backed by sandy-hued cliffs. The beach has spectacular views across to the white chalk cliffs of Culver Down, jutting out into the English Channel.

Thrill-seekers are well catered for here. The Yaverland Sailing and Yacht Club has its home here, and the beach is used for jet-skiing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and other watersports. The beach is also popular with families, being quieter than most of the beaches between Sandown and Shanklin. The swimming areas of the beach are sectioned off from the watersport areas, although there is no lifeguard.

The cliffs along this stretch of the coast contain numerous fossils and there is a dinosaur museum - "Dino Isle". Not far from the beach they run regular organised fossil-hunting trips. Visitors walking near the cliffs need to exercise caution because of the risks posed by falling rocks, and the possibility of incoming tides. (Take note of the safety signage)

The car park adjacent to the beach has parking spaces for 121 cars as well as having 6 disabled parking spaces. The toilet block here is eco-friendly, being powered by solar panels and wind turbines. There is also a beach shop and café here with outdoor seating.

Access to the beach is via a slipway next to the sailing club.

During the summer season, litter is collected daily from this beach. At some times of year a large amount of seaweed washes up here, although this is removed and used by local farmers as a fertiliser.

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Yaverland Beach (Sandown) Reviews
Add review / rate beach

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Yaverland Beach (Sandown) | Isle of Wight | UK Beach Guide

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Yaverland Sandown is a Sandy beach located near Sandown in Isle of Wight.Dogs are allowed on the beach between the sailing club and Culver Down head. On the rest of the beach dogs are not permitted from 1 May to 30 September. This does not include registered assistance dogs.

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Eat in - Takeaway - Delivered - Delicious whichever way you have it!

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Pinto Thai is a friendly Thai restaurant serving authentic, healthy Thai food in the heart of Ryde’s Union Street, just moments from the beach.

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This site uses cookies - see our privacy policy. Ads & links in bold may give us a small payment from the seller, at no cost to the buyer. However, this never affects our views - if we like it, we recommend it.

Which ferry?

There are six main crossings to and from the Island:

But which is the cheapest ferry to Isle of Wight? The answer largely depends on when you are travelling and which offers are running but here are my favourite ways to save - if you've got any others, please comment at the bottom of the page.

2. Check the official offers pages from Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel

All three Isle of Wight ferry companies have 'official' offers and discounts pages on their websites. Most of the deals are mentioned elsewhere on this page, but here are the links if you know which company you want to travel with and want to check if there's anything new:

3. Use a discount code for Wightlink or Red Funnel or Hovertravel

Here's our compilation of all the discount codes and short term offers we can find from Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel. We've also included some temporary deals which don't require a promo code:

Red Funnel - 1-4 night breaks from £72-£81 or 5+ day returns from £112-£121 if you book via Breakfree Holidays. In some cases it is about half the price of the standard fare whilst at other times it is less significant so you'd be better to use our ongoing 10% deal at the top of this page. Only valid for sailings from Southampton to the Isle of Wight. More details of terms and conditions are on the link below.

Red Funnel - 25% off for electric vehicles until 31/12/23. Valid for 'fully electric cars and small vans'. It appears to be valid on journeys starting from Southampton or from East Cowes.

Red Funnel - 15% off for Isle of Wight residents until 31/10/23. I don't think you have to prove residency by explaining what 'nipper' 'gert' and 'nammet' means but it's only valid on the car ferry, starting from East Cowes.

Wightlink - 15% off car ferry travel for members of 'Silver Surfers'. This is a free website aimed at the over 50s which has discounts for various websites. You just need to register an email address and click through on the link below. Valid for travel booked and taken before 31 March 2023. More Terms and Conditions: "Vehicles include cars up to 15.0m long and vans up to 5.0m long with a driver and up to 6 (six) passengers. Vehicles also include motorcycles, trikes and quad bikes with a rider and up to 1 (one) passenger."

Wightlink - 10% off vehicle day return ferry travel with Hampshire Attractions until 31/12/23. You need to register with Hampshire Attractions before you can access the voucher. It's free but you'll be added to their mailing list. They also do a 10% off deal for Red Funnel, but that's the same as you get with the booking widget at the top of the page so don't get too excited.

Hovertravel - we've got a 20% off deal with Hovertravel, but you need to book via the widget which is on this blog post. There are some terms and conditions, which can be found on the blog page.

If you know of any others, please contact us or leave a comment at the bottom of the page. As much as you may hate getting junk mail, it is worth signing up for mailing lists for Redfunnel and Wightlink as they often send decent vouchers. Wightlink has an online signup at the bottom of their homepage.

Red Funnel regularly send islanders vouchers for 20% and 15% off which can be used by mainlanders for the Isle of Wight ferry as long as they have the physical voucher (usually called the Big Book of Savings). Some discounts also arrive by email and others are printed in the paper version of the Isle of Wight County Press.

4. Ask your accommodation provider to book the Isle of Wight ferry for you

Lots of guest houses, hotels and B&Bs on the Isle of Wight have special deals with Red Funnel and Wightlink so they can offer discounted Isle of Wight ferry travel to people staying with them.

For example: It's not just the big companies either - lots of small B&Bs and guest houses get a good price. Just phone them up and ask, they're ever so friendly.

5. Get 15% off Red Funnel and Wightlink with English Heritage

6. Buy a book of Multilink tickets (for those with an Island Residence)

Wightlink offer a fixed price for taking a car on the ferry for those with an Isle of Wight residence through its Multilinkscheme, which means the ferry costs less than £60 return at pretty much any time of year.

Multilink is a little complicated at first, but if you are doing 5 return journeys in one year then you will pay £304, or £60.80 per return.

The price drops if you travel less often, so people travelling each week will pay about £48 return.

There are some extra bits of small print which make it excellent value.

Firstly, you can have two names on the pass, and you don't have to travel together (you just need to live together).

Secondly, you can claim back 75% of your remaining credit if you don't use it.

The car deals are available to second home owners (as well as residents). The Isle of Wight doesn't need to be your main residence.

They are valid for 12 months from the date of top up, so don't buy too many and remember to top up just before it expires!
If you are on the mainland and travel across regularly you can still travel as a foot passenger and get a good deal - from about £10 per return journey.

It works differently to Red Funnel's Travel Card which fluctuates with demand (sometimes it works out cheaper, sometimes it is more expensive).

Red Funnel also do a 'saver' deal for regular foot passengers that aren't season ticket holders. If you were to travel once a week on the car ferry (as a foot passenger) it would cost about £10 per return.

(Prices correct 2022). Read our full guide to Multilink or a slightly ranty blog about semi-regular travel costs.

7. Use a blue badge

8. Use Tesco Clubcard points on Wightlink

9. Become a camper or a gardener

Meanwhile, subscribers to Gardens Illustrated get a discount with Wightlink.

When I checked, you received 15% off car ferry travel and 20% off foot passenger travel. The higher discount was only on certain weekdays.

Subscriptions are from about £20, but if the ferry was £200 then you could potentially save £30-£40.

​More details are on the Gardens Illustrated website. Let's hope the ferry staff don't quiz you about your favourite variety of clematis when you arrive.

Red Funnel have an ongoing deal which offers excellent value for camping holidays, motorhomes and caravans.

It involves buying a bundle of ferry travel and accommodation at one of four campsites/touring sites. Your options include Appuldurcombe Gardens in the South Wight, Orchards Holiday Park in West Wight, Waverley Park in East Cowes and Whitefield Forest near Ryde. They are all popular sites, which feature in our guide to touring sites and campsites on the Isle of Wight. Orchards has an indoor swimming pool, whilst Waverley Park and Appuldurcombe Gardens have outdoor pools.

You then choose from three nights, five nights or 10 nights and choose from a fixed list of dates.

If you can make your plans fit around the smallprint, you can get a billy bargain.

For example, I found a five night holiday at Orchards Holiday Park for a family of four for £205 in late July 2023 (during the school holidays). It was the same price whether I brought a car and tent or a motorhome. That prices includes return ferry travel.

If I booked the accommodation and ferry separately, the price was £305 for the pitch and another £224 for the ferry. That's a total of £529, which is £324 more than buying the bundle!

As I said, it's a good deal!

10. Travel late in the day

Significant discounts are available if you are flexible enough to travel late at night. I did a price comparison for a week's holiday during August 2023 and found that a car ferry return with Wightlink ranged from a bargain-priced £87 if you travelled at midnight or 3am to a nosebleed inducing £291 if you travelled at noon. Similar journeys with Red Funnel ranged from £169 to £229 depending on the time of day (all prices excluded any discount codes or offers from Wightlink or Red Funnel).

​It's not practical for everyone but the price difference is often huge so if you are heading from the Isle of Wight, it may even be worth getting a late ferry and then staying in a cheap hotel on the mainland for a night.

Along similar lines, Wightlink has an ongoing discount for motorhomes if you travel off peak. It doesn't require a discount code, but you have to book through this link for motorhomes.

11. Find a friend and have a lie in (Foot Passengers Only)

Red Funnel do a bargain day return fare which a lot of people don't know about. You can't book it online, so you need to turn up and ask for it at the ticket office in Cowes or Southampton.

It's called the Super Off-Peak Day Return and it costs less than half of the standard day return fare (about £11 instead of £29).

To qualify you have to a) travel with someone else and b) travel after 10.55am. You could theoretically buddy up with a stranger in the queue, but you need to travel back at the same time as them. I'm currently working on a screenplay where two strangers meet in the queue for the Red Jet and fall in love after a day sightseeing on the Isle of Wight. Any takers?

Thanks for Martin for emailing to highlight that this deal is only available at ticket offices.

Foot passengers on Wightlink get a reduced rate if you leave after noon but it's a much smaller discount. At the time of writing (2022) an Afternoon Flyer costs about £15-£18 compared to about £20 for an adult day return. It can be in either direction. It's cheaper if you travel on the car ferry as a foot passenger rather than on the foot passenger ferry.

12. Book a passenger ferry as a train (foot passengers only)

If you are travelling to the Isle of Wight as a foot passenger then it's possible to book ferry tickets via National Rail and sites such as use a railcard for the whole journey.
Chiltern Railways
Your journey also needs to include a train ride, but it only needs to be one stop, so search on which don't charge a booking fee for:

Lymington (Town) to Yarmouth

Southampton Parkway to Cowes East

Southampton Parkway to Cowes West

Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Esplanade

​For example, a day return from Portsmouth Harbour railway station to Ryde Esplanade railway station with a young person's railcard was £16 when I checked. The ferry crossing alone was about £20 if you booked via Wightlink.
Thanks to Tom and Victoria who both got in touch about this deal.
Looking for Isle of Wight hotels? Try Expedia
A bundled deal of a coach journey, ferry ticket and hotel can work out as a cheap way of getting a ferry to Isle of Wight, even if you don't spend any time at the hotel. Off-peak deals are particularly good.

One comparison I looked at found that a three night coach trip to Sandown with half board in December cost almost exactly the same as getting to the Isle of Wight on your own. So the hotel and meals were effectively free for the weekend.

Of course, it won't always be so cheap and you may not fancy a UK beach holiday in December...but you get my point.
See our comparison of coach trips to the Isle of Wight.
14. Join MyLink (Isle of Wight residents)

Wightlink's loyalty scheme ​is just for Isle of Wight residents and unlike the Red Funnel scheme (see #31) the deals change from time to time. However, to give you an idea, at the time of writing the deals were 15% off drinks and about 10% off foot passenger journeys from the Isle of Wight. It's free to join, so probably worth a punt in case they send through some decent deals.

As I've said before, most Isle of Wight residents who want to use Wightlink are best using the Multilink deals. However, very occasional travellers who rarely leave the Island and say things like "I'm not going to that there mainland" might prefer this option.

AA Members get 15% off with Wightlink which will probably save you somewhere between £10 and £20 for each journey. You don't seem to be able to combine it with a discount code though. Also, Alistair got in touch to say that it doesn't always work out cheaper than going direct, so it's worth getting a couple of quotes.

That reminds me, I saw an AA recovery driver crying at the side of the road the other day. "He's heading for a breakdown" I quipped to my wife. Ha! Geddit?

16. Avoid travelling on a summer Saturday...if possible

Obviously, you may be tied by when your accommodation is available if you are visiting the Island but if you have the luxury of flexibility then it's best to avoid Saturdays during high season. This only applies to the Isle of Wight car ferry because foot passenger fares don't fluctuate as much.

In a price comparison that I did, a Saturday to Saturday lunchtime return in August 2023 with Red Funnel was £229, compared to £183 for a Sunday to Sunday booking (excluding the 10% off that you can get with the booking widget at the top of this page). That's a saving of £46.

​A similar journey with Wightlink was £291 for Saturday to Saturday or £223 for Sunday to Sunday. That's a saving of £68.

It's also worth avoiding major events and festivals (unless you're attending of course...), such as the Monday after the Isle of Wight Festival in June as prices tend to go up a fair bit.

17. Take the car ferry..even if you don't have a car (foot passengers only)

Generally speaking, it is cheaper for a foot passenger to take the Isle of Wight car ferry - although be aware that the crossings end up in different parts of the Island!

On Wightlink, a peak day return is about £25 for a foot passenger on the fast boat to Ryde Pierhead, or about £21 on the slower boat to Fishbourne (prices for 2023).

On Red Funnel, a peak day return for a foot passenger on the car ferry is £20 compared to £29 on the Red Jet foot passenger ferry.

​Admittedly the Isle of Wight car ferry takes longer than the foot passenger ferry...but just think of it as a luxury cruise. Try not to blow your savings on a jumbo sausage roll onboard.

18. Book an attraction at the same time

Red Funnel do bundle deals of ferry travel + attraction tickets which can occasionally be cheaper than just booking a ferry.

For example, I was quoted £51 for a day return with one ticket to Dinosaur Isle, or £55 for a day return without a ticket to Dinosaur Isle.

This is because the ferry ticket comes with 15% off and the Dinosaur Isle ticket comes with 25% off when you book them together.

There will often be a better Red Funnel discount available, but it can be a simple way to save a few pounds.

19. Get a discount for hospital visits (for Islanders only)

20. Buy a Red Funnel Travel Card (for regular travellers)

This one requires significant investment but is worthwhile for some.

If you pay £1000 into a Red Funnel Travel Card 'Account' then you are entitled to up to 20% off ferry bookings until the money runs out. It's best not to top up until you've spent all the money, or you get a smaller discount.

The discount can't be used alongside another voucher unfortunately, but you can also book ferries for family through this scheme.

21. Size matters if you have a van

WightlinkFerries and Red Funnel Ferries have different policies on vehicle size. Wightlink's standard fare applies to any vehicle under 5 metres, even if it's a van. Red Funnel has a different policy where you pay depending on the type of vehicle - which can usually be up to 5.5 metres long.

It's all rather complicated but it seems to me that if you own a van which is under 5 metres then you are likely to get a good price from Wightlink. If it is just over 5 metres, then you might be better with Red Funnel.

Very few cars driven in the UK are over 5 metres long so the different policies are unlikely to affect car drivers. If you have a Rolls Royce Ghost (5.4 metres long) then you can probably afford the ferry, or you may have a yacht.

22. Get a family foot passenger ticket

Many years ago I wrote a (hilarious) letter to the Isle of Wight County Press complaining that it was sometimes cheaper for a car and four people to travel across to the mainland than it was for four foot passengers. I asked Wightlink if we would be able to book as a car despite not having a vehicle if we agreed to sit in neat rows and squat as we boarded the ferry. The answer was no but I was the talk of the village for my witty letter. Well, the vicar's wife said she'd read it.

I like to think such campaigning led to the ferry companies introducing deals for small groups and families, although it's possible that it was unrelated.

Hovertravel do family tickets for up to 5 people if you travel off peak and book a couple of days in advance. When I checked it was £40 for a day return and £60 for a period return, with various restrictions which are too boring to go into.
​
Wightlink offer family return tickets for up to 5 foot passengers. The price varies depending how long you are staying for and what time of day you are travelling. When I checked, a family day return was £41-43.​

Red Funnel offer various options most of which are for 4+ people with discounts of about 25%. For example, they do a family day return ticket for up to 4 people for about £39.

23. Stay for four nights rather than five

For some reason, Red Funnel and Wightlink both charge more for the Isle of Wight car ferry if you are away for five nights rather than four nights.

​For example, when I looked at prices for mid September 2022, a four-night return with Wightlink was £169 whilst five nights was £199. With Red Funnel, it was £122 for a shorter break or £174 for a longer break. Once you get past five nights the prices level off.
​

​
I admit that's not a great help if you have accommodation booked for a week, but it helps Islanders who want to persuade an unwelcome guest to shorten their holiday.

​24. Claim back your fare if the ferry is late

Many people don't realise that you are entitled to compensation if your journey is significantly delayed. The rules say that you can get 25% back if your ferry arrives more than an hour late, or 50% if it is two hours late.

However, there is small print to read that says you won't get a penny back if the delay was caused by 'weather conditions endangering the safe operation of the ship' or 'extraordinary circumstances' affecting a passenger ferry.

Read our full guide to claiming compensation if your ferry is late. ​

25. Charities and other organisations

26. Book online and in advance for car ferry journeys

Most Red Funnel car ferry journeys incur an extra charge of £5 if booked on the phone or in person. Red Funnel also say that on the day bookings cost more. Wightlink charge £10 for in person bookings, and £5 for telephone bookings. Foot passengers can just turn up and pay the same price (although there are other discounts to be had for advance purchase, such as the Railcard discount mentioned higher up the page in this guide).

I have found both companies to be very accommodating if you either miss your ferry by an hour, or turn up early - although there's never any guarantee that they'll put you on the next crossing of course, particularly during high season.

It's also worth realising that Red Funnel and Wightlink uses a similar pricing structure to some airlines, where the first few tickets are the cheapest and then the price gradually goes up as the ferry fills up. We wrote a blog testing out whether it was best to buy in advance and found that prices do increase over time, but that sometimes you are better to wait for a discount code to appear.

Red Funnel do a 'payment plan' where you can book early and just pay the first £25, so that you get the cheap ferry but don't hand over your money until nearer the time.

As mentioned earlier, there's not much benefit to booking the foot passenger ferry online in advance. In fact, Red Funnel's Super Off Peak Day Return isn't available online and it's one of their
best deals (see #11).

27. Get a blue card for Hovertravel (Island Residents)

Isle of Wight Residents can get 'over 30%' off the Hovercraft by applying for a Blue Card. It's free, which is my favourite price.

28. Buy a season ticket (commuters)

Obviously, this only applies to very regular travellers (probably commuters) but I thought it was worth a bit of number crunching for those deciding if it is worth getting a season ticket. If Rachel Riley happens to be reading and wants to correct my maths, then please get in touch.

For Red Funnel travellers in 2023, an adult season ticket for the Red Jet (foot passenger ferry) costs £2954. Alternatively, a book of 100 single tickets (50 returns) will cost £1079 or £21.58 per return. By my calculations, if you are travelling more than 136 times in a year, it is better value to buy a season ticket than to buy books of 100 tickets. So, if you are managing three returns in a week (and plan to do so for a year) then I would go for it.

For Wightlink travellers in 2023, an adult season ticket for the Catamaran (foot passenger ferry) costs £1900. Alternatively, a book of 60 single tickets (30 returns) will cost £342 or £11.40 per return. By my calculations, if you are travelling more than 166 times in a year then a season ticket is better value than books of tickets. That would mean that you need to be travelling across four days a week to make a season ticket your best bet.

For Hovertravel travellers in 2023, an adult season ticket on the Hovercraft cost £1950. Alternatively, 250 single tickets (125 returns with a 1 year validity) costs £1250 or £10 per return. By my calculations, it is worth getting a season ticket if you manage about 195 or more journeys in a year, so pretty much 5 days a week once you factor in holidays etc. The Hovertravel season tickets and bundles of 250 tickets come with some free 'appreciation vouchers' which gives you some extra free journeys. We haven't included those in the calculation as it made my head hurt.

If you take quite a long time to pay up, but they're a great way to make money back on all kinds of things online. You don't pay any extra for your ferry booking, you just book it as normal and then eventually (usually after a couple of months) they'll pay 4% back into your bank account. Quidco Premium costs you £5 per year, but they take it out of your earnings on the site, so you're never out of pocket.book Wightlink via cashback site Quidco, you'll get 4% of the fare back. Cashback sites

Similarly, if you sign up for cashback site Topcashback you'll get 5% of the fare back into your account. It won't cost you any more than the standard price, although it does take a few weeks for the money to clear.

You sometimes don't get the cashback if you also use a discount code.

30. Fill up your car with passengers

Wightlink and Red Funnel charge the same to transport a car full of people as they do for a car with just a driver. I've never tried it, but you might consider joining a liftshare scheme and sharing the cost, particularly if you are travelling to a big event like Cowes Week. ​

Red Funnel launched a loyalty scheme in 2015. Our team of 12 highly paid lawyers checked the smallprint to see if it is any good. It is free to join, and you then receive 4 points for every £1 you spend if you are a mainland resident or 5 points for every £1 if you are an Isle of Wight resident. Each point is worth 1p.

You can spend your points on your next booking or you can blow it all at the onboard café.

So in summary, it is worth 4% to mainlanders or 5% to Islanders. If you spend £100, you'll get either £4 or £5 to spend on future Red Funnel costs.

Read more about the Red Funnel loyalty scheme in our blog.

If you own a National Express Coachcard, you can get a through ticket which includes the ferry to the Isle of Wight (search for Ryde or Cowes). It sometimes works out as cheaper than buying individual journeys as the third off seems to be applied to the whole journey, although it's worth trying tickets with or without the ferry. Thanks to The Deal Hunter for telling us about this one.

33. Join the Royal Solent Yacht Club or the Royal Yachting Association

If you are a member of the Royal Solent Yacht Club you can get a discount off the East Cowes to Southampton Red Funnel car ferry and they also do special rates for Wightlink.

Equally, members of the Royal Yachting Association get a discount, which at the time of writing is 10% with Red Funnel or up to 20% with Wightlink.

Although, if you are in a yacht club couldn't you just sail your yacht across?

I would advise against joining the military just for the ferry discount, but if you have military ID anyway then you can get 15% off from the mainland or 20% off from the Isle of Wight with Red Funnel.

Similarly, if you work for the NHS and have access to the Health Service Discounts website or have a Blue Light Card then you can get 15% off Wightlink's car ferry or 20% off foot passenger fares. Thanks to Michael for getting in touch and letting us know about that discount.

If you're a civil servant or retired civil servant you can get the same 15/20% Wightlink discount if you're a member of CSMA. When I checked, it was £29 to join. Thanks to Andy for telling us about this one.

Members of CSSC can get a discount with Red Funnel. I'm not exactly sure how much you get off, but it's up to 20%. Membership is open to 'the entire public sector' and costs about £50 a year (although there are lots of other discounts alongside the Red Funnel one).

35. Book through a third party

I've put this one low down as I've not generally found this to be any cheaper than going direct.

However, there are several ferry booking websites such aswhich include Wightlink crossings. These third party ferries do offers and giveso you might find that it works out slightly cheaper.

36. Book your ferry via a self catering cottage company

Some of the big name self-catering cottage companies can wangle you a discount on the Isle of Wight ferry.

For example, and Classic Cottages HolidayCottages.co.uk will both book the ferry for you and it will nearly always be cheaper than going direct.

Red Funnel, Wightlink and Hover Travel aren't the only options for Islanders. Solent and Wightline Cruises offer a 6-hour shopping day out from Cowes to Portsmouth on Saturdays and some other days for £8-£10. It takes an hour (so quite slow) and always leaves the Island at 9.30am, whether you like it or not.

38. Ferry discounts for Isle of Wight residents on low incomes

Back in 2018, the ferry operators and the Isle of Wight council created a discount scheme for Isle of Wight residents who either received local council tax support or housing benefit. According to one report, there are about 14,000 people who qualify.

You need to apply for it in advance.

The savings can be pretty considerable, especially if you are travelling at peak time. As of 2022, it costs a maximum of £52 for a return car journey with Red Funnel or £10.80 for a foot passenger. They call it the Assisted Fares Scheme.

Wightlink offer a similar scheme and call it the Discounted Fares Scheme. I couldn't see prices on the website.

Hovertravel call it the IOW Council Affordable Fares scheme and offer foot passenger prices which are roughly half price (£12.80 at the time of writing).

39. Hire a car

It is occasionally cheaper to travel as a foot passenger and then hire a car on the Isle of Wight.

Here's my example.

Option 1:

I searched for the cost of a single person travelling with Wightlink from Portsmouth to Fishbourne in August 2022. The economy fare was £249.50. This isn't a typical fare, but it was a week's visit on consecutive Saturday lunchtimes.

Total cost: £249.50
​

Option 2:

Travelling as a foot passenger on the same ferry was £26 return.

Hiring a car for 7 days from Enterprise in Newport was £120, when I searched. Well, that was actually a small van but this is a budget guide after all. You might look like Postman Pat but you'll be saving some money. The cheapest car was about £15 extra.

You'll need to get the bus to Newport to pick it up. It will cost you about £6 return. There are other hire car companies on ​our public transport page.

You'll need to park in Portsmouth for a week, unless you are getting the train. I looked on Just Park and found a parking space for £35 for 7 days which was 10 minutes' walk from the ferry.

Total cost: £187

So, in this scenario you'd save £62.50 by hiring a car and travelling as a foot passenger. A couple would make a modest saving of about £30 as they'd pay about £32 extra for the ferry and bus. The saving would be more significant if you got the train to Portsmouth Harbour.
*A WORD ON THE COST OF ISLE OF WIGHT FERRIES

It is worth noting that the old story that the Solent is the 'most expensive crossing in the world' is not true. However, it is more expensive than some comparable crossings. See our blog about it.

Got any tips for cheap Isle of WIght Ferry Travel?

Related guides from the Isle of Wight Guru:

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Isle of Wight Ferry Discounts - Save Money On Red Funnel and Wightlink Ferries 2023

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This site uses cookies - see our privacy policy. Ads & links in bold may give us a small payment from the seller, at no cost to the buyer. However, this never affects our views - if we like it, we recommend it.

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Fabulous little Cafe - book a table and get a great lunch or brekka.

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No64 Ryde is now offering table service inside the cafe, following the latest government guidelines. We'll be serving hot food, cake and drinks to have inside or to go every Tuesday to Saturday. Take a look today!

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No64 Ryde | Breakfast, Lunch & Coffee | Ryde's Favourite Coffee Shop

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No64 Ryde is now offering table service inside the cafe, following the latest government guidelines. We'll be serving hot food, cake and drinks to have inside or to go every Tuesday to Saturday. Take a look today!

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Local shops

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Please note that no buses serve Havenstreet before 28th September 2026 So until then the best option is by car or Taxi (see below).

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Cinema Listings For Newport - Isle of Wight

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15min drive.

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How to get to Newport - Isle of Wight

Public transport

By train
No train service to the cinema.

By bus
Take bus to Newport Town Centre and walk towards Morrisons.

By car

By car
Follow signs to Newport and take the exit sign posted Town Centre off the Coppins Bridge roundabout.

Parking
The car park to the rear of the building is free only after 18:00. Cineworld does not own or operate the car park and conditions of use are subject to change.

Disabled access

Disabled Access

Disabled Parking
5 designated spaces for disabled parking are available in main the car park.

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Cinema Listings For Newport - Isle of Wight

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Public transport By train No train service to the cinema. By bus Take bus to Newport Town Centre and walk towards Morrisons. By car By car Follow signs to Newport and take the exit sign posted Town Centre off the Coppins Bridge roundabout.

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Buckets & Spades

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© peter robinson and licensed for reuse under this Licence

On the Northeastern coast of the Isle of Wight lie the beaches of Ryde, offering miles of golden sand and every amenity a beach goer could wish for.

The beach's wide expanse of sand is so massive that at low tide it can take several minutes to get from a sunbathing spot to the water. Ryde's harbour is only accessible at high tide, and boats stuck on the sandbanks are not an uncommon sight.

Ryde's pier splits the beach in two, with a wide variety of activities and entertainments occupying both the pier itself and the beaches beside it. The pier is the second longest seaside pier in the country, but even that isn't enough to keep the sand from almost reaching the pier's edge at low tide. The nearly half mile long pier was originally constructed in 1814 and today is a lovely place to step out over the sea and feel as though you're truly walking on water. From the pier, visitors are treated to stunning views of Portsmouth and its famous Spinnaker Tower. Facing the pier, an amusement arcade is filled with multiple restaurants, pubs and shops. An ice rink, a bowling alley and a pirate themed play area, Peter Pan's Playground, are all close by.

To the East of the Pier, visitors will find several amusements as well as the most popular beaches of the area. Waterside, an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, is one of the first attractions guests will come across on this side of the pier. There is also a small boating lake where visitors can rent swan-shaped pedalos. The beaches are easily accessed via the promenade that runs East of the pier. Deckchairs, sunloungers and more can all be hired along the promenade and on the beach itself, as well as equipment for windsurfing, which is popular in the area.

To the West of the Pier, the beaches are much smaller and quieter, often favored more by locals than tourists.

Submit a correction

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Ryde Beach | Isle of Wight | UK Beach Guide

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Ryde or (Ryde East) is a Sandy beach located near Ryde in Isle of Wight.Dogs are not permitted on these beaches between 1 May and 30 September. This does not include registered assistance dogs. There is a dog exercise area.

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Bembridge crab is famous - and delicious! Go here now, enjoy the harbour view and smash the crab!

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Archie Henley MBE, retired RNLI cox (nearly 40 years service) originally built the fishing boat 'My Way'. Archie fished the waters around Bembridge for 55 years followed by his son Graham, who now along with his fiancée Emma are the current owner of the Best Dressed Crab.

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Ryde - Gateway to the Island by local artist Nick Martin

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Local Shops
https://tinyurl.com/bdab26p4

Artist: Nick Martin

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Airbnb: Holiday Rentals, Cabins, Beach Houses, Unique Homes & Experiences

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Isle of Wight Steam Railway - The 10 Mile Museum

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Begin your Steam Railway journey and book tickets online now, to benefit from the lowest prices.

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Priory Bay is on the eastern coast of the Isle of Wight just east of Nettlestone. It takes its name from a small priory that was once connected to St Helen's Old Church nearby.

The bay runs from Horestone Point to Nodes Point and is edged by 7.5 acres of National Trust woodland known as Priory Woods. The only access is by walking from either of these points along the coastal footpath.

Stretching 1/2 mile in length, the bay looks across the Solent to Selsey Bill on the mainland. The beach is sandy with some pebbles and is bordered by rocks and the remains of coastal defences. These were intended to protect the cliffs from the constant erosion by the sea.

The shallow bay slopes gently towards the Gull Bank, a sandbar that creates a lagoon of water at low tide. It's too shallow for swimming but ideal for paddling.

It's a popular bay for visiting boats to drop anchor adding to the picturesque setting.

Type of beach

Sandy

Lifeguard service

No

Dogs friendly beach?

We do not have information on this beach but restrictions may apply (usually from Easter until the end of Summer)
Isle of Wight dog friendly beaches "

Nearest town
Ryde
OS grid ref.

SZ 6346 9044

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Priory Beach | Isle of Wight | UK Beach Guide

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Priory Bay is on the eastern coast of the Isle of Wight just east of Nettlestone. It takes its name from a small priory that was once connected to St Helen's Old Church nearby. The bay runs from Horestone Point to Nodes Point and is edged by 7.5 acres of National Trust woodland known as Priory Woods.

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About

The Hungry Bear is a family run restaurant based in Brading High Street. Stuart Downes Aka "The Bear" is at the helm, providing clear direction to his team of chefs, while his partner Dayna aka "Mumma Bear" Rallies the Front of House Team.

The couple value delivering mega tasty food and attentive service. Food that is wholesome yet exciting, simple meals that are executed to extremely high standard. Old favourites reinvigorated with a modern twist. Expect dishes that are of a healthily portion size (no one ever leaves Hungry!)

Sundays and Wednesday Evening are all about the Hungry Bear Roast, there isn't much doubt that the Bears Roast is one of the BEST on the Island.

This is because of the wonderful flavour of the food particularly the meats and the hearty portion size.

​Hungry Bear caters for Gluten Free, Cubs and Veggie Bears.

Hungry Bear offers his signature sharing roast platters for you and all the family to enjoy as well as our individually plated roasts.

The Hungry Bear menu also includes a selection of Nanna Bears homemade Puddings.

On Sundays Roasts are currently served on Sittings at 12.00pm, 2.15pm, 4.15pm

​The Hungry Bear is Dog Friendly

​There is public parking less than a 2 minute walk away.

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The Hungry Bear is a family run restaurant based in Brading High Street. Stuart Downes Aka "The Bear" is at the helm, providing clear direction to his team of chefs, while his partner Dayna aka "Mumma Bear" Rallies the Front of House Team. The couple value delivering mega tasty food and attentive service.

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5 minute drive

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Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

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Colwell Bay | Isle of Wight | UK Beach Guide

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Colwell Bay is a sand and shingle beach on the western shore of the Isle of Wight. It is a relatively quiet beach, and is reputed to be one of the cleanest…

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https://www.dominos.co.uk/store/28623/ryde/menu

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20 minute drive

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Station House & The Station Snug are right next to the Steam Railway

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Explore the castle at the heart of the Isle of Wight, steeped in history from the Norman Conquest to Charles I. Home to the famous Carisbrooke donkeys.

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Surf with the Dinosaurs!

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An unspoilt, two mile stretch of sandy beach on the coast road between Freshwater Bay and Brook. Popular with surfers, windsurfers and kite surfers.

No facilities apart from toilets and a refreshment van in summer.

At low tide it is possible to see dinosaur footprints printed into the rocks.

Type of beach

Sandy

Lifeguard service

No

Dogs friendly beach?

but dogs are banned from 1st June to 30th September.
Isle of Wight dog friendly beaches "
Activities

Kayaking/canoeing

Swimming/bathing

Surfing

Facilities

Nearest town
Lymington
Postcode

PO30 4HB

OS grid ref.

SZ 3765 8419

Parking

The car parks are pay and display during the summer.

Water quality

Awards

Submit a correction

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Compton Bay | Isle of Wight | UK Beach Guide

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An unspoilt, two mile stretch of sandy beach on the coast road between Freshwater Bay and Brook. Popular with surfers, windsurfers and kite surfers. No facilities apart from toilets and a refreshment van in summer. At low tide it is possible to see dinosaur footprints printed into the rocks.

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A brilliant zoomable map showing Rights of Way across Island.

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Information on footpaths, bridleways and other rights of ways on the Isle of Wight

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Map showing Rights of Way (footpaths, bridleways and byways) on the Isle of Wight. Includes the local Rights of way Reference number.

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Visit Ventor and die happy eating 'Crave' home made Ice-Cream

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CRAVE ICE CREAM, Ventnor - Updated 2023 Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone Number - Tripadvisor

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Crave Ice Cream, Ventnor: See 483 unbiased reviews of Crave Ice Cream, rated 5 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #2 of 51 restaurants in Ventnor.

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Find out when to get help from NHS 111, including how to use 111 and what problems 111 can help with.

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10 minute drive

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Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

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... & bits & bobs

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You can either park right next to Station House (next to the Snug) or just 20yrds away in the Station Car Park.

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Sanctuary for Rescued Animals - Together We Road | Isle of Wight

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Meet the Animals

From pocket sized primates to powerful predators we have an incredible variety of animals at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary here in Sandown on the Isle of Wight. These include tigers, lions, lynx, lemurs, monkeys, meerkats, reptiles and many more species. We are a special home that allows rescued animals to flourish in a caring environment. We hope to inspire people to take positive action to protect our planet and the animals we share it with.

Our animal carers have their own specific sections which allows them to get to know the personalities of the animals in their care exceptionally well. Explore this section to learn more about our animals and discover their unique stories and characters.

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Sanctuary for Rescued Animals - Together We Road | Isle of Wight

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From pocket sized primates to powerful predators we have an incredible variety of animals at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary here in Sandown on the Isle of Wight. These include tigers, lions, lynx, lemurs, monkeys, meerkats, reptiles and many more species. We are a special home that allows rescued animals to flourish in a caring environment.

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Gurnard Beach is located on the North of the Isle of Wight, within an easy and scenic 15 minute walk from the seaport town of Cowes. The pebble and shingle beach offers visitors lovely views across the Solent as well as stunning sunsets.

Although Gurnard is a relatively small beach, it still offers plenty of amenities and activities for visitors of all ages. When the big ships and cruise liners enter Southampton Water, the large waves the ships cause are a delight to play in, although parents should be mindful of children during these times.

Behind the charmingly painted beach huts that border the beach there is a sloping green and children's play area, perfect for a picnic or a break from the shore. Nearby, on the Eastern end of the seafront, a popular restaurant and cafe feeds hungry beachgoers and the cafe's ice cream window is a perfect way to get a cooling treat without having to even leave the shoreline.

Toilets, disabled facilities, a promenade, a shop and a slipway are also all available to visitors.

The popular Gurnard Sailing Club is also nearby. Summer memberships are available, making sailing and watersports extremely popular pastimes at Gurnard beach. Jetskiing, surfing and windsurfing are all available here.

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Gurnard Beach Reviews
Add review / rate beach

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Gurnard Beach | Isle of Wight | UK Beach Guide

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Gurnard Beach is located on the North of the Isle of Wight, within an easy and scenic 15 minute walk from the seaport town of Cowes. The pebble and shingle beach offers visitors lovely views across the Solent as well as stunning sunsets.

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Search Everything Everywhere All At Once

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Search Everything Everywhere All At Once

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A comprehensive one-stop website for your Island Visit

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To our valued visitors, we hope that you're happy, healthy and staying positive at this time. As an Island we ask that you adhere to all Government guidelines to help protect you and those around you.

We ask that you postpone your trip to the Isle of Wight until the time is right to visit. Together we can help in the fight against Coronavirus by staying home with our loved ones and avoiding all non-essential travel. The Island will wait.

Please read the Government Guidelines at this time for more information.

Situated just off the south coast of England - we're just over 2 hours from London via ferry or hovercraft - the Isle of Wight is simple to get to and a wonderful holiday destination all year round to explore.

If you're looking for things to do, accommodation, food and drink places or how to get to and travel around the Island, you're in the right place.

Pocket sized yet perfect, the Isle of Wight is a hub of activity all year round with plenty of offers. Our up to date What's On guide is your essential guide to Isle of Wight events. If you're searching for something a little different it's worth checking out our blog.

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Visit Isle of Wight - Official Tourism Site

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We ask that you postpone your trip to the Isle of Wight until the time is right to visit. Together we can help in the fight against Coronavirus by staying home with our loved ones and avoiding all non-essential travel. The Island will wait. Please read the Government Guidelines at this time for more information.

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The Hideaway above Shanklin is Informal with great atmosphere, food and drink - take a GPS!

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The Hideaway Restaurant and Bar is a one-of-a-kind quirky, family run establishment. Perched atop the cliff at Shanklin, The Hideaway's nautical interior and large garden boasts some of the best sea views of any restaurant on the Island.

We have developed a unique dining experience for all of our guests using fresh and sustainable ingredients. The Hideaway Restaurant and Bar takes you on a culinary journey: each dish reflecting our passion for the highest quality food presented in a simple yet pleasing manner.

Dive right in, and take a bite! Join us at The Hideaway Bar and Restaurant.

Eat, drink, relax!

The Hideaway Restaurant and Bar is the place where great cooking and a fantastic vibe meet. Our food is delicious and various options are available (vegetarian, gluten free) and kids catered for.

Our Bar serves a selection of local ale on draft or bottled and a range of Mermaid spirits all brewed on the Island.

We welcome diners of all ages and, of course, our 4-legged friends! We would recommend booking as we get very busy (especially during the holiday season) and we hate to disappoint.

The Hideaway Gang look forward to meeting you!

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The Hideaway Restaurant and Bar is a one-of-a-kind quirky, family run establishment. Perched atop the cliff at Shanklin, The Hideaway's nautical interior and large garden boasts some of the best sea views of any restaurant on the Island. We have developed a unique dining experience for all of our guests using fresh and sustainable ingredients.

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St. Mary's Hospital, Newport.

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St Mary's Hospital, Parkhurst Rd, Newport PO30 5TG

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Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

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10 minute drive

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Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

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The Island is served well by Southern Vectis Island Buses and from September 28th 2026 the No.33 bus will be stopping at Havenstreet. Download the Southern Vectis Bus App for live information, route planning and timetables: https://www.islandbuses.info/app

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Ryde Taxis: 01983 811111

Vectis Taxis: 01983 777007

Ashey Taxis: 07506 779944

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About
The full house and Swiss Cottage are now open. You don't need to book your visit online in advance, but you will always get the best price and guaranteed entry by booking online ahead of your visit.
Osborne House, Queen Victoria's family home, is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the Isle of Wight. After first visiting Osborne, Queen Victoria wrote: 'It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot'.

Highlights include:

* Victorian opulence and extravagant interiors

* Stunning Indian décor of the Durbar Room

* Private apartments including the Queen's bedroom, nursery rooms and royal bathrooms

* The Swiss Cottage - chalet built for the royal children

* Extensive grounds - stunning views across the Solent

* A Victorian Walled Garden

* Hothouses containing exotic plants

* A delightful restaurant and café

Don't forget to check out our extensive events at www.english-heritage.org.uk/events or call 0870 3331181 for more information.

Prices may vary at special events.

Address: York Avenue, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, Hants PO32 6JX.

Tel: 01983 200022

1 mile south east of East Cowes.
YOUR WEDDING OR CORPORATE EVENT VENUE
When it comes to homes on the Isle of Wight, you won't find one more famous than Osborne House, owned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The island palace has seen royal weddings, romances and parties grace its rooms and gardens over the last 160 years and now you can write the next chapter in the story of this unique home, and begin your new life together where one of greatest love stories played out.

Complemented by stunning gardens and grounds, this magnificent Italianate 'royal palace by the sea' has nine unique locations throughout the estate for your wedding ceremony and reception. Choose from the Indian inspired state banqueting hall the Durbar Room, the Duchess of Kent Suite, with wonderful views over the terraces, or the Victoria Hall, Queen Victoria's private chapel with its beautiful stained glass windows. Alternatively, take full advantage of the stunning views across the Solent with an outdoor ceremony at Osborne. The lavishly restored Belvedere and Lower terrace frame your ceremony beautifully with the resplendent house on one side and clear views to the sea on the other. The Walled Garden, however, will ensure you ceremony is filled with floral fragrances from Prince Albert's 18th-century gardens. Our final ceremony locations are perhaps the most unique of all, as you can have your ceremony in Queen Victoria's Alcove or on the Veranda at the café on the private beach at Osborne.

After saying 'I do', celebrate with a drinks reception in any of our ceremony locations before the celebrations truly begin with your reception. Emulate Queen Victoria with a marquee on the beach or the lawn as you dine and dance under the stars. For more intimate receptions, any of our indoor ceremony locations make the ideal backdrop with decadent rooms filled with gifts of love exchanged between the royal couple.

Osborne is also the perfect venue for your meetings or Corporate Event, surrounded by history and beauty. For more information please view the Corporate Hire Brochure within the 'Downloads' section of this web page.

For further queries regarding weddings or events visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/osborneweddings or email osbornehospitality@english-heritage.org.uk. Alternatively you can speak directly with a member of staff - call (01983) 203055 - we look forward to hearing from you, and help you plan your perfect event.
EDUCATIONAL GROUPS
As Osborne offers a real insight into the private lives of Queen Victoria and her family it enables educational groups to cover many aspects of the curriculum in a fun and engaging way. There are various options available for visits. For more information please visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/education or call 0370 333 0606 or email bookeducation@english-heritage.org.uk
DRIVE LESS SEE MORE EXPERIENCES
If you are on your bike take the way marked Taste Round the Island Cycle Route from Wootton or East Cowes and diverts off at Beatrice Avenue to Osborne house the home of Queen Victoria. A day ride to this English Heritage site.

* Taste Round the Island Cycle Route page and map: http://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/bicycle-island/taste-round-the-island-route

* Bus Route - 4 or 5. More info - http://www.islandbuses.info/

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The full house and Swiss Cottage are now open. You don't need to book your visit online in advance, but you will always get the best price and guaranteed entry by booking online ahead of your visit. Osborne House, Queen Victoria's family home, is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the Isle of Wight.

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The coastal popular resort of Shanklin is located in the south-east corner of the island, at the southernmost tip of Sandown Bay. Golden sands are protected by a high sea wall with a traditional paved promenade creating the vision of a traditional English seaside. The pier was lost in a storm in 1987 and the location is now marked with a park area with benches.

The beach itself is safe and sandy, with clear water and plenty of parking nearby. Protection from the prevailing winds is provided by the headland of Dunnose Point.

There's a slipway down to the beach and a garden with food kiosk. You can also reach the beach on foot by walking down the traffic-free road (The Chine) from Shanklin Old Village, but it's quite steep.

Lining the beach is an Esplanade with cafés, beach shops and traditional beach huts. Activities include crazy golf, go-carts, bowling and an amusement arcade providing something for all seasons. The south end of the beach is overlooked by small hotels, pubs and restaurants.

Heading further south towards Shanklin Chine the cliffs rise up over the beach. At low tide, you can walk from here around the headland to Luccombe Beach.

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Shanklin Beach Reviews

Nice clean and sandy beach

Add review / rate beach

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Shanklin Beach | Isle of Wight | UK Beach Guide

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The coastal popular resort of Shanklin is located in the south-east corner of the island, at the southernmost tip of Sandown Bay. Golden sands are protected by a high sea wall with a traditional paved promenade creating the vision of a traditional English seaside.

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The Isle of Wight Guru is full of local ideas for you

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This site uses cookies - see our privacy policy. Ads & links in bold may give us a small payment from the seller, at no cost to the buyer. However, this never affects our views - if we like it, we recommend it.

Is the Isle of Wight really "the best holiday spot in the UK"*?

Or are there better options for an English break such as Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, The Lake District, Yorkshire or Slough?

We could settle it with a fight, but alternatively you could look at my analysis of how the Isle of Wight compares to other UK family holiday destinations. I've looked at nine areas including beaches, attractions, location and weather.

Of course, I think the Isle of Wight is the best place to visit in England. However, I'm not so blinkered that I can't give you a fair comparison...honest guv.

1. Isle of Wight Beaches

Beaches are the Isle of Wight's trump card in my view, because of its remarkably varied 65 mile coastline. They are my number one argument for calling the Isle of Wight the best place to visit in England for a beach holiday (yes, the Isle of Wight is part of England...).

There are multiple currents and even climates, so you can plump for whatever you feel like when you wake up. (Unless you follow the system where each member of the family chooses a day's activities, so you end up wasting the sunniest day of the week in a ball pit).

Perhaps you fancy a wide open sandy beach, like England's North East coast? The Isle of Wight's got Appley in Ryde which is a massive playground for beach games.
​
How about a Cornish-style surfing or bodyboarding beach? Try Compton Bay on the West coast. There are two brilliant rockpooling beaches (Bembridge and Freshwater Bay's second beach), a couple of mini-Blackpool style beaches with kiss-me-quick hats and chips on a bench ( Sandown and Shanklin), secluded coves (Steephill Cove or Reeth Bay near Ventnor are nice) and a busy shipping lane ( Cowes).

There are beaches for dog walking (Chilton Chine, Brook Chine and others), paddleboarding (Colwell and Totland) and kitesurfing (Brook Chine). There are beaches which hardly anyone ever visits and a beach which everyone visits (Alum Bay). And there's even an unofficial beach for people who like to, ahem, let it all hang out on holiday (Blackgang Beach).

As a general rule, the Isle of Wight does things a bit smaller than other places. Dedicated surfers will tell you that the waves are usually not as big as they are in parts of Cornwall. I expect the souvenirs are ever so slightly tackier in Blackpool. But if you want a varied holiday, rather than just one stretch of coast then consider the Isle of Wight.

The Isle of Wight is also a good option if you want a cheap UK holiday on the beach. The beaches are so varied that you won't get bored by day three and spend the rest of the week in the cinema.

See our guide to the Isle of Wight's best beaches for more information.

2. Isle of Wight Attractions

The Isle of Wight's attractions are on the small and medium scale, rather than massive great theme parks with vomit-inducing rides. If you're expecting Alton Towers, London Zoo or the British Museum you'll be disappointed. However, if you're expecting something a bit more modest and less corporate then you'll be impressed.

If you're trying to entertain teenagers, I suggest you start looking at watersports, adventure activities and other similar ideas. We've also got guides for primary and junior school aged children and a guide for toddlers.

Expect to pay about £5 - £15 to get into most attractions on the Isle of Wight, rather than £20 - £30 which you'll pay for bigger attractions in the rest of England nowadays ( Blackgang Chine and Robin Hill are the two main exceptions, but they're both good fun and fill a whole day).

3. Getting around on the Isle of Wight

Another plus point for the Isle of Wight is that you won't spend the whole week in the car. From Newport in the centre of the Isle of Wight you can't really drive for more than about 25 - 30 minutes without ending up in the sea. You shouldn't have massive great journeys every morning unless you get stuck behind a tractor.

We've had trips to Yorkshire and Cornwall where everything seemed to be an hour away. Similarly, the Lake District made the Isle of Wight's narrow roads feel like the Autobahn. We spent half a day trying to get from one side of a mountain to another.

The roads are a bit wiggly, so you'll drive at 35 miles per hour for most of the week. Trains only cover one side of the Island but there are buses which are good value if you travel as a group. During the summer, there are open top buses which are much cheaper than the ones in London.

We mostly use the car, but you can still get around if you don't have that luxury (see our guide to public transport). If you want to do a quick driving tour, check out the Wighty 90 Driving Route - a 90km journey which covers most of the Isle of Wight's best scenery in two hours.

You can occupy children with our selection of Isle of Wight car games.

4. Isle of Wight caravan holiday parks and other accommodation

OK, so I admit the Isle of Wight is not unique in offering cheap accommodation. However, there is a big range of family caravan holiday parks all within a short distance of each other. There are: ​
If you've got your own caravan, there's a similar number of camping and touring sites.

Alternatively, there's a big choice of quirky places to stay, including glamping, houseboats, manor houses, treehouses, helicopters, railway stations and a castle. See our top 20 quirky places guide.

There are also lots of posh hotels for those looking to impress a loved one or need to make up for apparently doing something wrong because of an innocent misunderstanding over whose responsibility it was to take out the bins. Sorry, got a bit personal there.

5. Food and drink on the Isle of Wight

6. Getting to the Isle of Wight

For most people in the UK, travel time is comparable to some other big tourist counties, even when you include the time taken on the ferry. For example:

Bear in mind that during high season the ferry can add a fair bit to your holiday budget. It'll cost you anywhere from £60 up to £250 for a car full of people. However, there are lots of ways to keep the cost down, such as asking your accommodation provider to book for you (

From Birmingham you could be on the Island within 4 hours. It would take the same time to get to Truro in Cornwall, or 3 hours to get to the Lake District.

From Central London, you could be on the Island with a car in about 2 hours 40 minutes, compared to 5 hours to the Lake District or Cornwall.

From Manchester, the Isle of Wight is comparable to Truro (about 5 hours 30 including the ferry) whereas the Lakes are about 2 hours.

see our guide to the Isle of Wight ferry).

If you're travelling as a family, it will probably only work out as £20 - £50 extra per person. Try not to blow your budget on the ferry's cafe.
7. Isle of Wight festivals and events

Personally, I think the Isle of Wight punches above its weight for festivals nowadays. It used to be somewhat quieter when I was growing up.

​There are currently two BIG festivals each year on the Isle of Wight - Cowes Week and theIsle of Wight Festival. Besides that, there are several small and medium sized events like carnivals, food themed events, a classical music festival, and walking and cycling festivals ( see our festivals guide). Festival season starts in the Spring and continues through until mid-Autumn.

​My usual advice to people planning a visit to the Isle of Wight is to avoid Cowes Week (early August) and Isle of Wight Festival (early to mid-June) unless you plan to attend. They bump up prices and general busyness.

The smaller events don't affect prices as much and are a nice thing to incorporate into your visit.

If you can name another UK coastal county with as many carnivals and festivals within a very short distance of each other then I'll send you a postcard with a written apology. We wrote a piece for the Huffington Post on this topic.

You see...the Isle of Wight is the best place to visit for a beach holiday in the UK. ​Are you convinced yet?

8. Isle of Wight scenery and views

We've now been to most of England's touristy counties and my general conclusion is that the only place that beats the Isle of Wight for views and scenery is the Lake District. The Isle of Wight is hilly, but it doesn't have any mountains. The most spectacular bits (in my view) are the high cliffs around the west coast.

Having said that, the Lake District doesn't have the beaches of the Isle of Wight and it does rain...a lot. Plus, it takes an eternity to drive three miles, and there's no phone signal etc...

The Military Road in the West Wight provides some of the finest scenery but there are also terrific walks in the South Wight and parts of the East Wight. You can either attempt the Isle of Wight coastal path on foot or bicycle (about 70 miles) or just choose from our favourite circular walks (3-9 miles, which is much more civilised).

The lazy/wet weather option is to check out my favourite views from car parks on the Isle of Wight or the Wighty 90 Driving Route which shows off many beauty spots at 35 mph.

9. Isle of Wight weather

UK tourism bosses fall out over statistics about which has the best weather, because you can measure these things in different ways. One place claims to have the most hours of sunshine, another claims to have the most days with at least some sunshine. One claims to have the highest one-off temperature. Another claims to have the highest average temperature and so it goes on.

​For what it's worth, the Isle of Wight seems to be hovering around the top in most measures that I've looked at:
Based on the weather alone, I'm going to declare the Isle of Wight as the best place for a UK beach holiday. Oh come on, you know I'm right...

Conclusion

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Why You Should Visit The Isle Of Wight 2023

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This site uses cookies - see our privacy policy. Ads & links in bold may give us a small payment from the seller, at no cost to the buyer. However, this never affects our views - if we like it, we recommend it. Is the Isle of Wight really "the best holiday spot in the UK"*?

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The Spyglass Inn for Great atmosphere - good food, beer and stunning scenery

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10 minute drive

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There is not enough space in the snug for more than 2 guests - it's why it's called the Snug! and is why we don't have a travel cot. If it is just one adult and a baby then do ask us as we can make it work in exceptional circumstances.

The local Argos store (above) stocks and delivers travel cots so you can buy online and have it delivered in time for your stay!

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About this product

This Cuggl Travel Cot is a must have travel essential for your little one. Suitable from Birth to 36 months, it comes complete with a carry bag for storage and travelling and is quick and easy to assemble. The 2 lockable wheels make manoeuvring this travel cot super easy and the 4 mesh sides provide great ventilation and mean you can keep an eye on your baby from all angles. The travel cot and included removable mattress can be simply wiped clean.

Travel cot features:

Never clean with abrasive, ammonia based, bleach based or spirit based cleaners.

4 mesh side for ventilation.

Mattress included. For the safety of your child, do not add an additional travel cot mattress to this product.

Carry bag included for easy of transportation.

General information:

Size H74, L100, W74cm.

Folds for storage - folded size L75, W21, D21cm.

Weight 9kg.

Suitable from birth to 36 months.

Suitable for babies up to 15kg.

FSC certified meaning the materials used for this product are responsibly sourced.

Questions and answers

29 questions | 32 answers

The small print

*Prices correct as displayed but are subject to change.

The customer and brand answers you'll see above are submitted independently. As we don't review these answers, we can't take responsibility for anything they may say. The responses from Argos colleagues are accurate at the time of publishing. For the latest info, you should check the product page.

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Buy Cuggl Travel Cot - Grey | Travel cots | Argos

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Buy Cuggl Travel Cot - Grey at Argos. Thousands of products for same day delivery, or fast store collection.

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Self-drive car rental hire company | Isle of Wight | South Wight Rentals

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South Wight Car Hire
https://www.southwight-rentals.co.uk/

1st Call Car Hire
https://www.1stcallcarsales.com/carhire.html

Enterprise Car Hire
https://www.enterprise.co.uk/en/car-hire-locations/uk.html

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As an experienced vehicle hire company, South Wight Rentals provide a friendly self-drive service for all clients. With over 45 years of experience, our well established business can advise you on the perfect vehicle for your needs. With our vast experience, South Wight Rentals can talk you through the rental process and advise on the perfect vehicle for you. Dedicated to you, South Wight Rentals provide a completely cost-effective service.

Looking for a hire vehicle on the Isle of Wight? South Wight Rentals have a large fleet of vehicles, making it easy to find the perfect vehicle for you.

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Self-drive car rental hire company | Isle of Wight | South Wight Rentals

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Looking for a reliable self-drive car rental hire company on the Isle of Wight? Look no further than South Wight Rentals. Call today on 01983 864 263.

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Go-Karting

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Awesome go karting fun in all weathers on the Isle of Wight: motorsport for the young, old and everyone in-between (8yrs up).

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A great 20 minute walk from Ventnor

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This pretty little cove has no direct car access and remains an unspoilt idyll. A sandy beach backing onto an esplanade and collection of cottages.

The beach is served by a cafe and seafood restaurant and is around about a twenty minute walk from nearby Ventor.

Type of beach

Sand & rock

Lifeguard service

No

Dogs friendly beach?

We do not have information on this beach but restrictions may apply (usually from Easter until the end of Summer)
Isle of Wight dog friendly beaches "
Activities

Facilities

Nearest town
Ventnor
OS grid ref.

SZ 5506 7684

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Steephill Cove | Isle of Wight | UK Beach Guide

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This pretty little cove has no direct car access and remains an unspoilt idyll. A sandy beach backing onto an esplanade and collection of cottages. The beach is served by a cafe and seafood restaurant and is around about a twenty minute walk from nearby Ventor.

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Island Events Happening Now

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Local Events in Isle of Wight | Isle of Wight County Press

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Discover things to do and local events in Isle of Wight and the surrounding areas. Find live music, theatre, car boot sales and more.

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Wights fish & chip restaurant in Ryde is just one of the great local chippies.

Terry's at Wootton Bridge is another.

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Tower House Surgery

Rink Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight , PO33 1LP

Telephone
(01983) 817200

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Tower House Surgery, Tower House, Rink Rd, Ryde PO33 1LP

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Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

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10 minute drive

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Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.