The Isle of Wight loves walkers. A favourite is to start at the Botanic Gardens to the west of Ventnor and walk along the coastal path and the undercliff towards Nitin, turning into St Lawrence - where the church is open and welcomes walkers with squash and biscuits. Then head north to reach the Stenbury Trail up on to the downs - where at Week Down the sea can be seen in all directions and you can imagine this is where Tennyson stood on his frequent walks there - then follow the paths back down to Ventnor. Reward yourself with an excellent meal in the art deco Rex Piano Bar in Ventnor with a view out along the coastal path you started on.

www.islandbreaks.co.uk/things-to-do/sports-and-outdoor-activities/walking/walking-routes
www.rexpianobar.com/about.htm
Google map: bit.ly/Ijg7xx

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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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The Dinosaur Farm Museum near Brighstone on the Isle of Wight makes a welcome stop for all. Housed in a former cattle shed, it has a huge selection of bones and fossils, including some that were first discovered in that area. Children can spend hours digging in sand to find and identify dinosaur parts and guided tours are led by locals who really know their stuff. A great place to visit that costs less than a tenner for a family pass.

Military Road, Brighstone, Isle of Wight
dinosaur-farm.co.uk

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This beautiful cottage is in lovely rural spot with it's own little lake and surrounded by walks and open countryside.

www.islandcottageholidays.com/cottages/greateaststanden.html

Google map: tinyurl.com/ydnflw5

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If the weather's good there is plenty to do and it's beautiful. Might want to avoid festival periods as they can make some places very crowded.

Great holiday providing it's sunny. Nice hotels, B&Bs and cottages to stay at.

www.stmaur.co.uk
www.gurnardpines.co.uk
www.gardenislehotels.co.uk
www.isleofwight.com

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My favourite ferry journey in Europe has to be the car ferry to the Isle of Wight.

I have spent many happy holidays on the Isle of Wight and think that it has to be one of the most under-rated places around. There is lots to do and see. From the Zoo to the Needles, the model village or just sitting having a quiet drink in one of the many pubs and watching all the yachts go sailing by. The ferry journey is only a relatively short trip, but it gets the holiday off to a relaxing start.

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A large family cottage near Ventnor on the Isle of Wight. The cottage enjoys wonderful sea views and is only a short way from the sandy beach at Ventnor.

www.islandcottageholidays.com/cottages/rhadagunds.html

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Beautiful rural holiday cottage located within a short drive of the sandy beach at Shanklin.

www.islandcottageholidays.com/cottages/dairymaid.html

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An unbelievably beautiful cottage with luxurious furnishing and large garden overlooking the sea at Ventnor.

www.islandcottageholidays.com/cottages/oldcottage.html

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Fantastic choice of rural and seaside holiday cottages across the Isle of Wight.

www.islandcottageholidays.com
01929 481555

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Although the mud was bad last year, the line up is always great. Get the train to Portsmouth, then the car ferry and then a cab to the festival. Sounds mad, but it takes out all the waiting for buses.

www.bestival.net/

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Anybody considering taking young children to a festival this year may want to consider buying a plain children’s tee-shirt and writing on it in permanent marker – “If I’m lost please call my folks on...” followed by your mobile number. A friend of ours dresses her little ones in them at every festival she attends, and while she has always managed to keep them together, they do have, as she tells me, “a habit of wondering away to look at all the glittery things like little magpies.”

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Bring a wheelbarrow for carting all your stuff from your car to the tent. No more annoying trips back and forth to the car to keep stocking up!

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Heavy security searches and few gates can lead to queues to get into the music area - especially for the non-camping locals, so plan ahead if there is a band you really really want to see.

Also, they ran out of beer the year we went and we were left with drink tokens that we had bought but could not exchange!!! Which was not a nice end to the festival....

Newport Isle of Wight

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A blow-up baby bath is great for the baby and anyone else for soaking your feet in the heat.

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A great festival, full of whimsy and silliness. I think everyone should go at least once.

www.bestival.net/

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A friendly, family-run, small hotel. Proprietors Rod and Wendy make all their guests very welcome. The hotel is well situated in Shanklin, handy for the beach, shops, a wide choice of restaurants and public transport. Accomodation is spotless and represents excellent value for money. A very good website will do more justice to the place than I can.

www.theappley.com

Address -
13, Queens Road
Shanklin
PO37 6AW

Telephone - 01983 862666

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