Isle of Wight
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South coast Island with beautiful scenery, loads of history and lots to do
South East England
iyle of wyt
Isle of Wight
The island has 60 miles of spectacular coastline, with picturesque coves and beautiful bays of golden sand. Inland the countryside is just as stunning, with gentle rolling hills and little lanes to explore. With over 60 miles of cycle ways, the island is a dream for cyclists too. Apart from being one of the prime places for sailing in the UK, the island offers a plethora of sporting activities from fishing and golf to windsurfing and para-gliding.
History lovers will enjoy Carisbrooke Castle, and most will marvel at the extravagance of Osborne House, built for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. English Heritage
The island is a short 10 minute journey by hovercraft or catamaran from Portsmouth, while ferries from Southampton and the New Forest take around 30 minutes. A train operates down the east side of the island enabling you to explore the beach resorts of Sandown and Shanklin, while a round the island bus service gets you further afield including the gorgeous bay at Ventnor, or to the western side of the island to Alum Bay and the Needles.
Activities
In August Cowes is home to Cowes Week, the longest running sailing event in the world, started back in 1826. Near Cowes, the extravagantly decorated Osborne house was built for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1845, as a summer home and rural retreat. Prince Albert designed the house himself. English Heritage
The well preserved Carisbrooke Castle near Newport is best known for being where Charles I was imprisoned. English Heritage
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The Needles are three chalk monolith rocks that are located at the most Westerly tip of The Island. Cruises can be taken to see the Needles up close and personal from Alum Bay, which itself is famous for its many coloured sands.
Sandown beach, situated in the South East of the Island is popular with families and water sport fanatics. Its large pier has many small attractions including amusements, crazy golf, children’s rides, 10 pin bowling to name a few.
Shanklin - Old Village has a small road winding its way through it passing more smaller gift shops, tea rooms, restaurants and pubs some of them thatched. The main town of Shanklin has a great long beach ideal for families.
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Godshill is a beautiful old village with plenty of thatched houses and gift shops, tea rooms and two pubs with a church up on the hill.
Beautiful Ventnor situated on the south-east of the island was established as a seaside resort in the Victorian era, and its winding streets contain an array of quirky boutiques.
Blackgang Chine is an eccentric mix of exciting rides, goblins and fairies, dinosaurs, nursery rhyme characters, cowboys and Indians all set within rambling Victorian gardens overlooking a spectacular coastline.
The Isle of Wight ferry!
