The Isle of Wight Region

Located off the Southern English Coast, this Isle of Wight is a stunning and diverse destination. With 350 ferry crossings a day and routes that link directly with rail, coach and road it couldn’t be easier to get to, take your own car across to the Island or catch the swift passenger ferry and make use of the Isle of Wight’s excellent transport system that has been specifically designed with the holidaymaker in mind.

Known for its breathtaking scenery (half of the Island has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Beauty), the Isle of Wight first became a popular holiday destination in Victorian times and remains so to this day. It is easy to see why this Island is popular, with its stunning coast line, golden sandy beaches and pretty villages, the Island can either be the perfect retreat to get away from it all or you can enjoy an altogether more energetic experience.

The island has over 500 miles of carefully maintained footpaths which makes it ideal for walkers or cyclists. There is an excellent and diverse range of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants located across the Island and you can even hire bikes and follow a designated pub walk.

St Helen’s Duver (a sandy dune area of coastline) and the shoreline around the area are noted for their extraordinary variety of maritime plants and wildlife, and much of the coastline in the immediate vicinity is under the care of the national Trust. Nevertheless there are many child-friendly sandy beaches which are relatively quiet all the year round. The larger resorts of Ryde, Shanklin and Sandown are only a short drive or bus trip away.

The historic village green, one of the largest in existence, is bordered by picturesque cottages, and all village amenities including two restaurants, a selection of shops, a bus stop, children’s play area and the village pub.

A greater variety of shops and facilities are to be found in the nearby village of Bembridge. Bembridge is known for its harbour, said to be a haunt for pirates in bygone days, and is now an attractive venue for the sailing community.

Both villages are situated between the Downs and the sea so that the tourist can alternate between forays into the countryside and the coast.