Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To bloody love the Isle of Wight?

107 replies

BarbaraVineFan · 16/07/2025 23:09

I’m here now with my 86 year old dad and 5 year old DD. We come every year and rent a cottage, and always have the best time! There’s so much to do in all weathers, the scenery is gorgeous and everyone we meet is friendly. But I don’t know, people sometimes seem a bit sniffy about it as a holiday destination, as though it’s old fashioned or unfashionable or something. AIBU to love it and not to understand why it isn’t seen as a ‘naice’ holiday destination like Cornwall or the Lake District?

OP posts:
JaneAustensCatDotty · 18/07/2025 11:13

Nitgel · 18/07/2025 11:10

Also Quarr Abbey (where Scott Walker stayed for a while) and Firestone copse are worth visiting. I really miss the waxworks

Someone who remembers the waxworks! Such a freaky place but it was our favourite place to visit as kids. Weird! The monk playing the organ... 😨

Nitgel · 18/07/2025 11:10

Also Quarr Abbey (where Scott Walker stayed for a while) and Firestone copse are worth visiting. I really miss the waxworks

Nitgel · 18/07/2025 11:06

Going again in August. Am hoping the ryde bookshop is still open! It's the best bookshop ever.

Countrylife2002 · 18/07/2025 11:05

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 17/07/2025 18:31

Just don't get ill / need hospital treatment if you do!

Show quote history

Also don’t breakdown. My views may be coloured by the fact I broke down on a cliff in driving rain and the AA didn’t arrive for 10 hours!

HelpMeRonda · 18/07/2025 09:03

I would like to go but I remember checking and the ferry seemed quite expensive.

Squidgemoon · 17/07/2025 22:42

I have been to the IoW probably over 100 times - grandparents lived there and then parents. I love it so much, I want to retire there myself. My parents moved back to the mainland at the start of this year and I’m absolutely gutted we no longer have it as a free holiday destination!

Dearover · 17/07/2025 22:17

AutoCorrupt · 17/07/2025 17:37

I went recently just for the day and didn’t think much of it but appreciate I hardly saw any of the island as I was limited to the bus. i went mainly for Osbourne House which was nice. I was kind of expecting Cowes to be nicer, I was expecting sort of independent gift shops and there wasn’t really. Maybe I missed them.

i’d like to go back and see the Needles but guess I’d need to take the car or at least a bike. Car is expensive to take over. It was expensive enough as a foot passenger for the day.

Edited

It sounds as though you went to East Cowes (functional & industrial) where the car ferry goes and you can walk to Osborne, not West Cowes (grotty yachties, coffee shops & gift shops)

Thoroughly recommend the IoW Steam Railway for small people. Briddlesford Farm nearby is nice too.

We go each fortnight to care for parents, but the boat fares are eye watering in the summer. The downside of the Island is that it's incredibly insular.

Sidebeforeself · 17/07/2025 22:10

@Ted27 Thankyou!

Putthekettleon73 · 17/07/2025 20:20

We loved it there. Such beautiful beaches, and friendly people. Lots to do. It's quaint and old fashioned and we have really fond memories from the 3 holidays we've had there! But it does seem run down in places.. shanklin had lots of shops closed, and many charity shops. And ventnor seemed faded too. But it obviously is a special place for lots of people.

Thunderdcc · 17/07/2025 20:15

Worst holiday we have ever had, sorry. Costs a fortune and feels cheap. However Robin Hill is an absolutely cracking day out.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 17/07/2025 20:14

JemimaPiddlepot · 17/07/2025 18:53

I think because it was a late Easter this year, a lot of places in Shanklin that close for the winter had opened early (although there were some exceptions). Maybe Ventnor is more strictly seasonal.

Show quote history

Ventnor has struggled of late due to the landslip and long diversions meaning a lot of people haven't been going there as much. Many shops probably not opening as much for that reason.

Ted27 · 17/07/2025 19:45

@Sidebeforeself
Osbourne House
Carisbrooke Castle
Garlic Farm
Quarr Abbey
Lots of nice restaurants and cafes
Ventnor Botanic Gardens
Steam railway
Wildlife Sanctuary, Monkey Haven
Boat trips at Ventnor and out to the Needles
Shanklin Chine in the evening
Model Village
Brading Roman Villa

marveldinos · 17/07/2025 19:35

Oh I'm so glad to read the positivity. We are for our summer holiday this year and I've never been.

Ted27 · 17/07/2025 19:11

@JemimaPiddlepot

I think a lot of small independent shops just don't open on Mondays, I live in a city and several shops on my local high street are closed on Mondays.

JemimaPiddlepot · 17/07/2025 18:53

Ted27 · 17/07/2025 18:49

@JemimaPiddlepot
Easter this year was still a bit early in the season I think. But I did go to Ventnor last year in August on a Monday and most of the shops were shut, as they were in Shanklin.
We were in Ventnor on Maunday Thursday this year and it was fairly busy. Lovely day and the beach cafes etc were buzzing

I think because it was a late Easter this year, a lot of places in Shanklin that close for the winter had opened early (although there were some exceptions). Maybe Ventnor is more strictly seasonal.

TwoFeralKids · 17/07/2025 18:51

Ted27 · 17/07/2025 18:49

@JemimaPiddlepot
Easter this year was still a bit early in the season I think. But I did go to Ventnor last year in August on a Monday and most of the shops were shut, as they were in Shanklin.
We were in Ventnor on Maunday Thursday this year and it was fairly busy. Lovely day and the beach cafes etc were buzzing

Might have been a bank holiday?

Ted27 · 17/07/2025 18:49

@JemimaPiddlepot
Easter this year was still a bit early in the season I think. But I did go to Ventnor last year in August on a Monday and most of the shops were shut, as they were in Shanklin.
We were in Ventnor on Maunday Thursday this year and it was fairly busy. Lovely day and the beach cafes etc were buzzing

Ted27 · 17/07/2025 18:45

@DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen

I'm white but my son is black. I can't say that we've ever had and problems and I"m usually very alert to these things.
I haven't seen many black people there to be honest but the last two years I've noticed a big increase in Asian families

Barrenfieldoffucks · 17/07/2025 18:42

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 17/07/2025 18:32

The racism is quite astounding,isn't it? I really noticed it visiting as an adult .

ETA I lived in Cowes for a couple of years too 😊

Edited
Show quote history

I must admit I've never noticed any racism. But it depends on your bubble I guess, mine is all fairly liberal in the main.

People here are people just like anywhere else.

TwoFeralKids · 17/07/2025 18:35

Trovindia · 17/07/2025 17:18

We did a few holidays there a few years ago, it is old fashioned but that's the charm. However the weather is not reliable and after a few years you've done everything. I reached a point where I didn't want to sit on a beach in cold drizzle any more, and the kids felt the same, so we went abroad.

Pretty good weather in August. Best weather in the UK. Maybe avoid October though. We went last during that bad storm and rained every day.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 17/07/2025 18:32

rosemarycait96 · 17/07/2025 18:27

I was born there and left when I was 18. We were poor so I barely ever left (maybe twice a year at most?) and I despised the place growing up, I found it boring and socially backwards in terms of racism etc.

However I LOVE bring my kids back there for holidays. It feels like I'm finally getting the chance to enjoy it! It's a wonderful place for a visit, especially my hometown Cowes. It's so peaceful.

The racism is quite astounding,isn't it? I really noticed it visiting as an adult .

ETA I lived in Cowes for a couple of years too 😊

babasaclover · 17/07/2025 18:31

@BarbaraVineFani love it too it has such a nice calm feel to it. However I would love some bad weather activities suggestions please?

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 17/07/2025 18:31

TheNinthLock · 17/07/2025 18:19

We envy you having moved there!
It is a serious consideration for us....

Show quote history

Just don't get ill / need hospital treatment if you do!

rosemarycait96 · 17/07/2025 18:27

I was born there and left when I was 18. We were poor so I barely ever left (maybe twice a year at most?) and I despised the place growing up, I found it boring and socially backwards in terms of racism etc.

However I LOVE bring my kids back there for holidays. It feels like I'm finally getting the chance to enjoy it! It's a wonderful place for a visit, especially my hometown Cowes. It's so peaceful.

JemimaPiddlepot · 17/07/2025 18:24

I went at Easter for the first time since my teens. We stayed in Shanklin, which I really liked, and seemed to be a lively place with plenty of facilities. However, we took a trip to Ventnor on Easter Monday and it looked like it closed down in 1978 😳 Like a parody or a dying seaside town. Maybe it picks up in high season?

What @Ted27 said about the public transport was bang on. You’d think it was a three buses a day and none on a Sunday type place, but it was really easy to get around.