Isle of Wight
Made fashionable in the 19th century by Queen Victoria, this friendly island offers plenty of holiday activities and is somewhere to relax, enjoy good food, walk, cycle or sail.
in fact, it is the ideal getaway
photo Osborne House © Gilly Pickup
England in Miniature
The Isle of Wight has long been popular with families and groups who seek a value for money, bucket and spade seaside holiday. However, there is a lot more to this small island of thatched-roof villages and winding country lanes than Victoriana and Enid Blyton beaches. Besides a wealth of around 60 attractions for visitors to get stuck into, there are acres of medieval castles, roman villas, nature trails and historic houses waiting to be discovered.
Getting round the island is easy whether you drive, cycle, walk, go on horseback or chug along in a train. The Isle of Wight Steam Railway has convenient connections to the Island Line which transports passengers between Ryde and Shanklin in 1930's carriages originally used on the London Underground. Bus services are good too including the exhilarating open top Breezer hop on, hop off service which follows a circular route including a cliff hugging climb up to the Old Battery where exhibitions and displays detail its use from Victorian times and through both world wars.
Of course no-one should visit the Isle of Wight without going to see world famous landmark, The Needles. Get whisked down on the chairlift to the intriguing multi coloured sands of Alum Bay beach, departure point for twenty minute boat trips round the towering chalk stacks.
Read more about the island's food (including all things garlic!) here
Interested in the island's royal connection? Read here
More on the island here www.visitisleofwight.co.uk
Go back to features index here
England in Miniature
The Isle of Wight has long been popular with families and groups who seek a value for money, bucket and spade seaside holiday. However, there is a lot more to this small island of thatched-roof villages and winding country lanes than Victoriana and Enid Blyton beaches. Besides a wealth of around 60 attractions for visitors to get stuck into, there are acres of medieval castles, roman villas, nature trails and historic houses waiting to be discovered.
Getting round the island is easy whether you drive, cycle, walk, go on horseback or chug along in a train. The Isle of Wight Steam Railway has convenient connections to the Island Line which transports passengers between Ryde and Shanklin in 1930's carriages originally used on the London Underground. Bus services are good too including the exhilarating open top Breezer hop on, hop off service which follows a circular route including a cliff hugging climb up to the Old Battery where exhibitions and displays detail its use from Victorian times and through both world wars.
Of course no-one should visit the Isle of Wight without going to see world famous landmark, The Needles. Get whisked down on the chairlift to the intriguing multi coloured sands of Alum Bay beach, departure point for twenty minute boat trips round the towering chalk stacks.
Read more about the island's food (including all things garlic!) here
Interested in the island's royal connection? Read here
More on the island here www.visitisleofwight.co.uk
Go back to features index here