Tapping me on the shoulder as he set off along the boardwalk, Ro called, “Race you to the end!” and was very soon several paces ahead of me. There’s something about a seaside pier that brings out the inner child in us all and I couldn’t help but chase after him, laughing breathlessly as I failed to catch up before he reached the end of the pier – and the Channel.
At 870ft, Sandown’s pier might not be the longest in the world, but it’s quite long enough for an out-of-shape runner like me – I bet the Victorian ladies who came here to promenade and enjoy the sea air were far more decorous!
Pier pressure
They started arriving as soon as the pier opened, in 1879, enjoying its pavilion, and paddleboat trips taken from the landing stage. The island soon became so popular that no fewer than four European monarchs stayed here.
In 2021, we found ourselves following in their footsteps and enjoying some good old-fashioned English seaside entertainment.
Sandown is on the southern coast of the Isle of Wight, with long stretches of beach (winning
