Top Isle of Wight hotels
Alot of people just use freshwater as a stepping stone to Alum Bay where they play with coloured sand, but never actually stop in Feshwater. This is a shame as Freshwater has it's fair share of attractions. It has beaches, a green, Margaret Cameron museum, the monument to the poet Tennyson, one of the only thatched churches in England, the pillbox and much more. You couldn't fill a day there, but why not stop seeing as all bar the museum is free of charge.
Just up the road from where the Pillbox lies, is Freshwater's All Saint's Church. It is not necessarily the church that is the attraction is the grounds that surround it. If you wander through the vast graveyard there is alot hidden away which you don't see in the guide books. The yard is filled with varieties of poppy and daisy, all which are wild. But more of an interest are the grave stones. If you walk on the far edge of the yard, a family grave is seen, but the stone which marks them in it's self is remarkable. An 7ft angel sits atop their grave, one hand raised up the air the other clutching a real bunch of roses. It brought a tightness to my chest to see how lovely and beautiful it is to mark a grave with such an icon. Further round the yard is the grave of the poet Tennyson and his family. Everything in the yard is so touching and so beautiful, if you prefer to have a quiter...
If you follow the footpath from St Helen's down to the Duver then cut through the hedges by the National Trust car park, you will find your self on a beach over looking Bembridge. If you turn right from there past the Baywatch cafe you will find yourself, at what used to be a church. Originally built in the 11th century, it was attached to a Cluniac priory. In 1414 the property passed to Eton College, but still continued to serve as a parish church, though later on dispute arose as to who was responsible for the churches upkeep and maintenance. Circa 1550 the north wall of the church was taken down, as it was thought dangerous and a 1559 survey described the crumbling church as "almost utterly decayed, so that oon may loke in at oon ende and owt at the other". Today all that is left was the only part of the church spared from the sea, stone robbers and delapidation. It has no use...
During the Second World War the British government were always worried about the risk of invasion, and no-where else in Britain was more of a target to the Nazi's than the Isle of Wight. If invaded it could provide as a great stepping stone from France to Great Britain, and the government seriously realised this. A number of defences were put in around the Island, lumps of concrete were strategically placed along beaches to prevent tanks from landing there, a section of Ventnor Pier was removed and Pillboxes were also placed where vital. One Pillbox was placed on the outskirts of Freshwater to protect any boats or landing craft coming down the River Yar and to protect the causeway. It is still there to this day, but I wouldn't advise going in it. Some do but the interior is dirty and smelly.
Just off Brighstone main road is a collection of three buildings all recently restored. Two of which join. The first one of the latter two you come to is the National Trust shop, which sells books, toys, cards, china, bathroom products and CD's. A door then joins this shop with the furthest building, which is a museum. It is only small but is a portrait of what life was like in rural Brighstone a few hundred years ago. Though only one room it displays the house as it would have been then. These two destinations are well worth a visit,the National Trust shop is good for buying presents or gifts for people back home (where ever you live) , and the Museum is free, so why not?
Despite it's roadside position, the Church at Brighstone is set in a peaceful location, overlooking most of the village. Originally built in the Norman period, it boasts many stained glass windows (some from the surrounding villages), old relics and has a peaceful churchyard. The Chruch yard is home to many old grave stones, some more special than others (see below). Don't feel that it is not your place to enter, and even if your not religious the visitors book can sometimes be a laugh.
At the bottom of the graveyard between two nearly illegible gravestones is a small wooden sign which reads:"Behind the grave of Lifeboatman Moses Munt, who was drowned along with Thomas Cotton during the rescue of the Sirenia in 1888, lies that of the Salter family.On April 5th 1913, the three children, Ethel, Albert and Vera, drowned whilst collecting winkles on the beach off Chilton Chine"It is a nice little thing to see, especially in Spring when both stones are surrounded with daffodils (as shown in picture)
Brighstone is a little secluded village in the South of the Isle of Wight, filled with thatch cottages and home to St.Marys Church and Brighstone tea rooms, this traditional English village reflects its history in the name itself which was first recorded in 1212. It is in a less travelled area of the Island but is a great place. There are a number of footpaths which lead away from the village and travel up into the forest, Brighstone boast a number of thatches, a village shop, post office, tearooms, village hall, church and National trust shop.
My paternal grandfather was a railwayman, and I suspect that it was this that gave me my deep love of trains, especially steam trains. It was inevitable, therefore, that on a visit to the Isle of Wight, I would go for a ride on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. I certainly wasn't to be disappointed as it was one of the highlights of my trip.Opened in it's present form in 1971 and run largely by volunteers, the railway runs the five miles between Smallbrook Junction and Wootton via Ashey and Havenstreet, and truly is a trip back in time. If you start your journey at Smallbrook Junction, as I did, you will have to reach it by Island Line train, as there is no other access to the platforms (see seperate tip for Island Line information). As I had bought a combined Island Line / steam Railway ticket (£10 per day), I didn't need to purchase one from the very smartly turned out ticket collector...
The Ventnor Botanical GardensA lovely place, entry's free but if you want to park that costs.22 acres of garden. There's a lovely fish pond, an Australian section, one for New Zealand, the Americas, the Med, Japan, a green house with tropical plants (entry £1) you can also buy plans here, they had a buy two get one free offer on when I was there. There's a lizard wall where if you're lucky enough you might see a few. You can go along some of the coastal path here too and get good cliff views. The cafe is lovely, we had jacket potatoes for only £3 something and you get to choose your own salad from a big selection, they were properly cooked too not like some microwaved rubbish you sometimes get.
The Channel View Hotel Shanklin
1 Review and 68 Opinions We have just returned from a most excellent stay in this hotel, excellent in ALL respects. The...
Channel View Hotel Sandown
1 Review and 67 Opinions Unfortunately I received a very nasty bout of food poisoning whilst staying at this hotel. I missed...
Lakeside Park Hotel Ryde
135 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Isle of Wight attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Isle of Wight sightseeing.
Q: Hi All Has anyone ever cycled round the Isle of Wight? I've found a few routes and wondered if anyone had any suggestions. We...
A: IOW is a brilliant place to explore and especially out of school holiday season. I don't think it matters which way round you go as it is a circle and sooner or later you...
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