Pocket Rough Guide British Breaks Isle of Wight (Travel Guide with Free eBook)

By Rough Guides

This expert-curated guide book to Isle of Wight shines a spotlight on a more unusual British break, with a wealth of practical information on what to see and do. Each area or neighbourhood featured in this Isle of Wight travel guide is explored in-depth with detailed coverage of the points of interest, shops, restaurants, cafes and bars on offer. Excursions to surrounding areas give plenty of options for those looking to enjoy a longer stay. This Isle of Wight guide book has been fully updated post-COVID-19.

The Pocket Rough Guide to Isle of Wight covers: Cowes and around, Newport and around, Ryde and around, The east coast, The south coast, Ventnor to Blackgang, Brighstone to Alum Bay, Yarmouth and around.

Inside this travel guide to Isle of Wight you will find:

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRAVELLER
Experiences selected for every kind of trip to Isle of Wight, from off-the-beaten-track adventures in Cowes to family activities in child-friendly places, like Ventnor or chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas, like Yarmouth.

INCISIVE AREA-BY-AREA OVERVIEWS
Covering Ryde, Cowes, Shanklin, Yarmouth, Ventnor and more, the practical 'Places' section of this Isle of Wight travel guide provides all you need to know about must-see sights and the best places to eat, drink, sleep and shop.

TIME-SAVING ITINERARIES
The routes suggested by Rough Guides' expert writers cover top attractions like The Needles and Tennyson Down and hidden gems like Robin Hill Country Park and Brading Roman Villa.

DAY-TRIPS
Venture further afield to  Freshwater Bay or Bonchurch. This travel guide to Isle of Wight tells you why to go, how to get there, and what to see when you arrive.

HONEST INDEPENDENT REVIEWS
Written with Rough Guides' trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, our expert writers will help you make the most of your trip to Isle of Wight.

COMPACT FORMAT
Packed with pertinent practical information, this Isle of Wight guide book is a convenient companion when you're out and about exploring Shanklin Old Village.

ATTRACTIVE USER-FRIENDLY DESIGN
Fresh magazine-style layout, inspirational colour photography and colour-coded maps throughout this Isle of Wight travel guide.

PRACTICAL TRAVEL INFORMATION
Includes invaluable background information on how to get to Isle of Wight, getting around, tourist information, festivals and events, plus an A-Z directory.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Insight Guides
• Release date: Sep 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9781839059476

Rough Guides

Rough Guides are written by expert authors who are passionate about both writing and travel. They have detailed knowledge of the areas they write about--having either traveled extensively or lived there--and their expertise shines through on every page. It's priceless information, delivered with wit and insight, providing the down-to-earth, honest read that is the hallmark of Rough Guides.

Book preview

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CONTENTS

Introduction

When to visit

What’s new

Where to

Isle of Wight at a glance

Things not to miss

Itineraries

Places

Cowes and around

Newport and around

Ryde and around

The east coast

The south coast

Ventnor to Blackgang

Brighstone to Alum Bay

Yarmouth and around

Further afield

Accommodation

Essentials

Arrival

Getting around

Directory A–Z

Festivals and events

Chronology

Small print

ISLE OF WIGHT

The Isle of Wight lies a short distance from the south coast of England, and spans just 23 miles at its widest point. This charming spot is often seen as being anchored in the past; you only have to visit the likes of Shanklin’s thatched cottages or Godshill’s quaint tearooms to experience this for yourself. Yet there’s a liveliness that roars through the wind and over the headland with its bracing clifftop trails, exhilarating sailing scene and well-signposted cycling routes. Needless to say it’s an idyllic spot for scenic strolls and harder hikes, with an absence of motorways on the island. Throw in a clutch of independent shops, stellar dining and almost always a room with a view, and you can see why so many want to make the most of this diamond-shaped island.

Stone houses on Winkle Street, Calbourne

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The island has always been a popular holiday spot: Queen Victoria made Osborne House her permanent residence after her beloved consort Albert died, the Romantic poet Lord Tennyson enjoyed strolling across the downs near Freshwater, Charles Dickens also visited, and that’s only rounding off the nineteenth century; in more recent years, Benedict Cumberbatch married in Mottistone and Kate Moss celebrated her hen-do in St Lawrence. The Isle of Wight is an inviting destination for ‘mainlanders’ (those visiting from mainland England) and further afield, drawn in by the island’s beaches, which range from popular Ryde on the north coast to Compton Bay on the south coast, and plenty more sprinkled in between. Freshwater and Alum Bay on the west coast is home to the Needles, whose stunning landscape makes it a must-see on anyone’s itinerary.

That said, the Isle of Wight is more than simply a bucket-and-spade destination. There’s an abundance of history to take in, and in some parts it feels like not much has changed at all. You can appreciate this at numerous heritage centres across the island or see it first-hand for yourself at the likes of Yarmouth Castle, Old St Boniface Church and Bembridge Windmill. Chatting with the islanders (or ‘nammets’ as they call themselves, an old slang word used to describe a snack to eat when working in the fields) is another way to learn about the island’s fascinating history on a local level, from tiger cub walks along Sandown beach to that Isle of Wight Festival and countless childhood stories retold at local museums.

Freshwater Bay

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Of course, seafood features on many a menu, with offerings of fresh Bembridge crab scrawled across blackboards outside cafés and various fish caught locally and freshly cooked. You can eat out well on the Isle of Wight, with the majority of places very reasonably priced. Equally, if you want to splash the cash, there’s no shortage of slick restaurants with menus as exclusive as the views.

Yarmouth marina

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The island is also one of the best places in Europe for dinosaur discoveries; in June 2022, the remains of Europe’s largest ever land-based predator dinosaur were discovered here. Fossils date as far back as 136 million years ago – head to Compton Bay and at low tide you can spot dinosaur footprints. There are many informative tours and walks led by experts, so you can suss out your flint from your fossils.

Even if the weather isn’t on your side, there are plenty of non-weather-reliant things to do: there’s a zoo, numerous museums, a dinosaur theme park and a steam railway to name a few. National Trust and English Heritage sites are well represented across the island – from Osborne House to Newtown Old Town Hall – and you should also make time to visit the chocolate-box towns of Brighstone, Yarmouth and Godshill. Many people visit the Isle of Wight as a day-trip from the mainland, but to really do it justice, give yourself at least a weekend (or ideally a week) to make the most of this underrated island. We promise you won’t regret it.

When to visit

The Isle of Wight, along with the rest of the south of England, generally sees more hours of sunshine than the rest of the country. The island enjoys a relatively mild climate all year round but the summer period (May to September) is generally regarded as the best time to visit. This high season is when the island is at its liveliest, with the majority of the island’s big-hitter festivals and events taking place. The cooler autumn months are a better bet for longer walks, cycles or hikes. A number of attractions close for the winter season but don’t be put off, as there are fewer tourists, more accommodation options (usually at lower rates) and plenty of cosy pubs for you to warm up in. Spring is a great time to visit, with nature and wildlife at its best. Note that school holidays are popular times for escapes to the island – as well as the most expensive.

What’s new

Although Blackgang Chine’s much-loved Cliffhanger rollercoaster took its final spin in October 2022, the UK’s oldest theme park welcomed a brand-new ride, Extinction, in March 2023. The pendulum swing reaches hair-rising heights of 18m and completes full 360-degree spins – sending riders upside down – and is the largest of the park’s rides. From the top, you’ll be able to glimpse the lovely seaview, but you won’t be hanging around for long before swooping back towards ground level…

Where to…

Shop

The majority of the island’s shops are independent or family-based. There are weekly markets and delicatessens, small boutiques and a few high-street friendlies. Cowes caters to a large sailing crowd, so you’ll find specialist stockists such as Musto, Henri Lloyd and Regatta, while Newport offers more mainstream shops. Ventnor is undergoing something of a quirky revolution with its vinyl record shops, vintage clothing boutiques and retro-culture stores, and some shops sell purely island-made products, which is a great way to showcase how much the island has to offer. Wine, gin, cheese, mustard, passata, garlic… the list goes on.

OUR FAVOURITES: Reggie’s Retro, The Velvet Pig, Medina Books

Eat

It goes without saying that the island’s main cuisine is fish and seafood. From seabass and sole to monkfish and mullet, many restaurants pride themselves on sourcing the local catch and cooking it fresh. It’s well worth feasting on much of the island’s own produce, which can be enjoyed as part of a picnic or an item to take away. Expect a smattering of international cuisine – Thai, French, Italian – and an increasing range of veggie- and vegan dishes. Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with the pub classics, from beer-battered cod to island-steak pies.

OUR FAVOURITES: Ristorante Michelangelo, True Food Kitchen, The Smoking Lobster

Drink

There are lots of pubs dotted around the island; cosy fisherman-types that make for perfect stops at the end of a long, windy walk or to take in the breathtaking coast and Solent views. Plus, be sure to visit Island Roasted Coffee, Goddard’s Brewery and the Isle of Wight Distillery, where some of the best island produce is made. You can visit the majority of these as part of a tour with tastings, or simply purchase their products from various shops or order from coffee shops, pubs and restaurants alike.

OUR FAVOURITES: Isle of Wight Distillery, Caffè Isola, The Garlic Farm

Go out

Nightlife will never be what the island is famed for: bars and nightclubs are few, but what the Isle of Wight lacks here, it makes up for in abundance with its pubs. This is arguably the best way to get under the surface of Isle of Wight culture, with the island well-renowned for its variety of fantastic live music. This may be where you’ll find many of the locals; in fact, some evenings you could stroll along a silent high street until you pass a small cove of a pub where all the noise – and people – are contained.

OUR FAVOURITES: The Anchor, The Sun Inn, The Spyglass Inn

15 Things not to miss

It’s not possible to see everything the Isle of Wight has to offer in one trip – and we don’t suggest you try. What follows is a selective taste of the island’s highlights, from quaint pubs and intriguing, historic architecture to family-fun activities and bracing, windswept walks.

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The Garlic Farm

Spend a morning learning all about garlic (yes, really)