Things To Do on The Isle of Wight
* Country and coastal walks and cycle trails- * Wide variety of wildlife and habitats
- * Sandy beaches- bucket and spade
- * Paragliding, surfing and windsurfing
- * Country Parks and riding schools
- * Foodie restaurants, pubs, local produce
- * Farm shops and organic growers
- * Quaint thatch roofed villages
- * Historic National Trust houses
- * Ancient archaeological sites
- * Locally brewed beers and fine vineyards
- * Award winning rock music festivals
Walks
Niton is the most southerly village on the Isle of Wight and is surrounded by fantastic walks. There is a book of walks at Rock Cottage describing our favourite local walks and there are walking guide books for those who want to go further afield.
There is a walking festival every year in May on the Island.The medieval lighthouse St Catherine's Oratory. Known locally as The Pepperpot.
Beaches
The local beach is Reeth Bay, accessed by a 5 minute walk down the footpath or 10 minutes if you don't have a robust enough car to tackle Castlehaven Lane. The beach is often sandy although to access it (low tide only) involves crossing slippery rocks. Don't let the kids climb on the big granite revetment rocks introduced a few years backs as part of a coastal protection scheme - there are dangerous gaps and the tides are strong. The west end of Castlehaven is also a popular destination for serious surfers and windsurfers who seem oblivious to the sharp rocks under their boards. For the less adventurous there is a bench on the tiny parish green by the fishing boats and a beach café selling tea and coffee, ice cream and other lovely things. Please respect the wild beauty of this place by taking your plastic bottles and litter back home for the waste and re-cycling bins. There are also numerous other beaches within an easy drive to suit all tastes.
Ventnor - 10 minutes by car. A popular Victorian holiday destination at the end of competing railway lines, now somewhat faded but still like the best of the Med on the right kind of summer's day or evening. Sand and shingle beach with pretty sea front pubs, shops and restaurants. It has a sadly unambitious basic marina (not for your super yacht) with attendant splendid fish haven where they clean and sell the locally caught fish, crab and lobster.
Lake - 20 minutes by car - windsurfing, sea kayaking and sailing; Lake is in between Shanklin and Sandown. Park by the YMCA and take a stroll down the beach to enjoy the superb beach huts with droll kiss me quick names! Jabba the Hut, etc.
Shanklin and Sandown beaches - 20 and 25 minutes by car - long accessible safe sandy beaches, ideal for small children.
Compton Bay: just west of Brook, towards Freshwater in West Wight - easy surfing beach and paragliding centre of the Island.
Totland Bay - for the slightly more adventurous, enjoy some of the best swimming on the Island and admire the visiting yachts - but the double tide of the Solent means the best time to access the sand is during the afternoon during a full moon only!
Historic Houses