The Tennyson Mile stretches from the delightful unspoilt beach at Freshwater Bay to Farringford, the home of the Victorian poet laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
Fellow poets Robert Browning, Henry Taylor, Edward Lear and the American, Henry Longfellow stayed at the selection of holiday villas nestled beneath the downs. The lovely magnolia by the conservatory at Farringford was presented to Tennyson as a cutting by Longfellow in 1868. Other writers came too, including Darwin, Thackeray and Lewis Carroll.
All these famous people were photographed by the pioneer photographer, Julia Margaret Cameron. Dimbola Lodge, overlooking the bay, has excellent views across the Back of the Wight and is now a museum of photography. The tearoom serves delicious cream teas and excellent lunches that can be enjoyed on the terrace on a warm day.
This Victorian cultural circle was satirised by Virginia Woolf in her play Freshwater. Other 20th-century literary pilgrims include DH Lawrence, TS Eliot, John Betjeman, JB Priestley, WH Auden and Christopher Isherwood. Tennyson’s Gift, the novel by Lynne Truss, is set in Freshwater Bay.
The poets and pines walk (www.histreetrail.com) is a fascinating trail highlighting the trees that inspired Tennyson. It includes the Tennyson Mile but goes inland to Freshwater village passing the large property that the poet provided for his wife’s family. Hawkswood, now Freshwater Court, was built by Tennyson to complete his marriage vow. This stated that his in-laws could come and visit whenever they wished, for as long as they wished. But he did not want them under his feet at Farringford.

farringford.co.uk/
Bedbury Lane, Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight PO40 9PE
+44(0)1983 752 700
Google map: bit.ly/mTjB2I

No. 12 bus from Newport, Isle of Wight.

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Recently stayed at the Royal with my wife for our wedding anniversary. The room was very well appointed and spacious, but the main draw for us was the outstanding food! We ate in every night!

www.royalhoteliow.co.uk
Belgrave Road, Ventnor, Isle Of Wight PO38 1JJ
+44(0)1983 852 186
Google map: bit.ly/p6CJHt

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Beautiful retreat from the stress of modern life. The site is a area of outstanding natural beauty a stones thrown form the sea.

www.castlehaven.me.uk
www.isleofwightholidays.com
Castlehaven Caravan Site
Niton
Ventnor
Isle Of Wight
PO38 2ND
01983 730495

Google map: bit.ly/cD8NvH

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The Wightlink catamaran crossing to the Isle of Wight only takes 15mins, but stepping onto Ryde pier is like rewinding the clocks fifty years. The church spire piercing the sky, the streets stacked like books. Sweet shops, fish and chips, tea rooms.... Despite the Islands attempts to re-invent itself for the 21st Century with Dinosaur museums and two of the summer seasons best music venues ( Isle of Wight Festival and Bestival) it still retains its old fashioned charm. Days of digging sandcastles, the best sand at Sandown naturally, sipping tea, try the Cameron Tearooms in Freshwater, and for an ice cream to lick all others then Minghella’s is a must. Chase waves at Cowes week and Vampires at the Garlic Festival. Catch a steamtrain at Havenstreet and re-live that glorious bloomer waving scene from The Railway Children. Just don’t expect to get anywhere in a hurry, take your time round those looping lanes and seafront promenades.

The Island is bright and vibrant in the summer season but off season it becomes windswept and bleakly beautiful. Walking Tennyson Down, or down to Steephill Cove, for those who like their holidays wrapped in fleeces and hoofed with stout shoes. Enough bracing sea air to have a meal at The Spyglass Inn in Ventnor without needing to loosen your belt.

To quote Jane Austen, ‘She thinks of nothing but the Isle of Wight, and she calls it the Island, as if there were no other island in the world.’ Pay it a visit and judge for yourself.

Google map: tinyurl.com/35n2bmg

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