There are over 500 miles of excellent walking and cycle tracks throughout the Island (we recommend Ordinance Survey Map OL29), including the Coastal Path and a wonderful variety of terrain – the low-lying, gentle charm of the Yar and Newtown estuaries, with their exceptional birdlife; the rolling farmland in the central and west Wight; the chalk cliffs and big skies of Tennyson Down, Compton Bay, and St Catherine’s Down, the heather-covered hillsides above Mottistone Manor and at Ventnor the Botanical Gardens and the Undercliff – to name a few. For more detailed information try
www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk
www.ramblers.org.uk


Cycling: For cycle hire contact The Bike Shed, Perreton Farm, Budbridge Lane, Merston 01983 868786 www.thebike-shed.com . Book your bikes in advance. For more detailed information try www.sunseaandcycling.com (the Isle of Wight Cycling Directory)


Riding: Contact Allendale Equestrian Centre (5 minutes drive away) on 01983 840258 to book hacking or lessons.


Shooting: Island Clay Breaks offers tutored clay pigeon shooting: www.islandclaybreaks.co.uk. Advance booking advised.


Shopping: An excellent organic supermarket (www.godshillorganics.com) is 5 minutes drive away supplying local organic fruit and vegetables, organic meat, wine, dairy produce and a wide range of other organic goods. Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s are 10 minutes drive away in Newport. In Rookley village (5 minutes drive) there is a Co-Op supermarket and village post office.

Sandy Beaches: there is a wide choice – here are some suggestions…

For the best sea swimming, Totland Bay, or Steephill Cove near Ventnor, which also has deckchairs for hire, the delightful Boathouse Restaurant (fresh-caught lobster, crab and other seafood May to September – advance booking essential), and the Steephill Café for crab sandwiches, rock cakes and tea (photos and directions at www.isleofwightattractions.co.uk).

To combine bucket-and-spade, swimming and pottering about, Priory Bay (between Seaview and St Helen’s: a short walk from Seaview, or a stroll down the path after lunch at the Priory Bay Hotel) or Ryde


For walking, surf and lovely views to the west – Compton Bay and Freshwater Bay (combine with a visit to Julia Margaret Cameron’s home and exhibition of her photographs at Dimbola Lodge)


The popular Chequers Inn is at the top of the farm road leading to the house ( 10 minutes walk). The Chequers welcomes children and serves food; it has a large beer garden with a children\'s play area.


Entertainment: the Island has numerous attractions and places of interest, including Carisbrooke Castle, Osborne House, Brading Roman Villa, the Dinosaur Isle museum at Sandown, Alum Bay and the Needles, Cowes, the Newtown Estuary, Seaview, Bembridge, Yarmouth, and the Botanic Gardens at Ventnor, The county town of Newport has a multi-screen cinema. At Ryde there is ice-skating and ten-pin bowling; and at Shanklin, Sandown and Ryde, the pleasures of traditional English seaside resorts.