What are the nicest bits of the Isle of Wight?

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Booking up a holiday for next summer, never been to the Isle of Wight before so no idea which bits to avoid.

The attached map shows 5 general clusters of properties that meet our needs in terms of rooms, budget etc. Can anyone who knows the island advise which of these areas would be best to zoom in to for choosing a specific property?

We want to have easy access to nice walking routes, and have a one or two "days out" to more touristy attractions but don't want to be anywhere crowded. Ideally a small village rather than a town.

Oops forgot the image

The ferry back to Portsmouth

it is such a small island
you can drive, if you are driving, so quickly
we were near shanklin and another time in Cowes
sandown is lovely

We usually stay on the west side. Yarmouth, Freshwater, Brighstone (village) are nice (or were - it's a few years since I was there last).

@MrsLargeEmbodied

it is such a small island you can drive, if you are driving, so quickly we were near shanklin and another time in Cowes sandown is lovely

This...or Lymington

We went to IOW this summer and my main complaint is it felt like a cheap holiday but it absolutely was not. It cost loads. So I wouldn't really recommend it. I'd go to Cornwall instead.

Ventnor is nice enough. The best day out we did was Robins Hill.

I’m from the island.

Touristy parts are sandown, shanklin, ventor and it some of ryde, yaverland etc.

West wight is quieter but there aren’t many roads that go to newport or east wight (military road and forest road) so if they get congested your stuffed.

Check nothing is happening where you’re staying unless you want it to effect you - cowes week, garlic festival, old Gaffers, iow festival etc.

Bembridge is nice and quiet. Wootton is nice. Seaview is pretentious. Ventnor, niton and chale are hilly. Brightstone is nice and small.

Around Ventnor. Less busy and touristy than Cowes / Ryde.

Lovely town in itself, walk to Steephill Cove, lovely SW coast including the iguanodon footprints (I think).

Nowhere is too far to drive to ‘attractions’.

Ventnor and St Lawrence. We spent a lot of time on Shanklin beach.

Yes, I liked Ventnor as well. Not stayed there though.

Bembridge & st Helen’s is lovely

Oh and Seaview wonderful beaches

Only been once but we stayed near Bembridge (nodes point holiday park, St Helens) and didn't find that too busy - St Helens and Bembridge both villages with beach at St Helens and harbour in between them. We were with young kids so didn't do loads of walking but could have I think. Plenty of places to visit within half hour or so drive. I believe the west side is more rural though if that's what you are after.

We were there over August Bank hol a few years ago and to be honest were surprised nowhere we went on the island felt very busy compared to what we'd expect for most British sea side resorts at that time of year.

We really enjoyed our holiday there and I think getting the ferry made it more exciting for the kids but it depends what you are looking for I suppose.

Is the blue arrow thing on the left Calbourne ish area? If so, I’d pick somewhere like that.

No where is far - depends what sort of touristy type attractions you like (kids? Ages? Etc)

I went to IoW this year for the first time on holiday, we had done a couple of day trips before. I had my 16 year old with me. We stayed in Shanklin right on the Esplanade.
We had a fantastic time, got around on the buses, had a couple of days out, rest of the time just chilled out, had cream tea and played crazy golf in Shanklin, went bowling on Sandown pier. My son had a surfing lesson one morning while I sat in a very nice beach cafe drinking tea and pretending to read. I didnt think it was anymore expensive than anywhere else in the UK. I don't think we spent much at all really. I've spent far more on city breaks.

We are going back again next year to the same flat as there as so much we didnt get to go

I've been there 3 times in the summer, including this summer holidays. Personally I like the west coast the best as it's quieter and more scenic. There is a good coastal path on that side, although you don't seem to have any options on that part of the island. I don't know the East coast much although I have heard Bembridge is very nice. I probably wouldn't stay in Cowes or Ryde myself as they are "bigger" towns and I prefer quieter. I used to like Ventnor but this year it seemed a bit shabby and run-down compared to previous years. There are some nice places around Ventnor though. It is close to Blackgang Chine if you have kids.

Most of the tourist attractions are spread around and relatively easy to drive to from anywhere. This summer everywhere seemed busy, much busier than when I have visited previously. Much like all other UK holiday destinations I suppose.

Just to add,even though it was busy,the only time we encountered any traffic was when travelling through Newport,where all the roads that cross the island seem to converge, and when we drove into Shanklin. None of the roads on the West or South coast were busy.

Ventnor or Bembridge.

I grew up there but left for University. Don’t go to Ryde my sister doesn’t like overners :)

In all seriousness visit Godshill, St Catherine’s Lighthouse and Priory Bay in Seaview. Bembridge has lots of Rockpools. Carisbrooke castle is good. If you have dc then Blackgang Chine though it’s not changed much since the 1970’s it’s fun in a massively peculiar way. If you do visit Ryde go to Appley woods and Puckpool park, there is a nice cafe and crazy golf there. Osborne house is beautiful but less fun if you have free range toddlers.

Tennyson downs where the great man himself roamed is a fabulous walk. The Military Road is supposed to be one of the best drives in England.

My last memories were getting drunk at The Balcony nightclub and going skinny dipping afterwards in the sea. I don’t recommend that but it was fun when I was a teenager.

Lymington is lovely and is one of the ferry ports but is not on the IOW...

We stayed near Appuldurcombe House which has the squirrel trail, good for walking and cycling. I also liked Freshwater. But you can drive anywhere wherever you stay.

Shanklin or Ventnor is my choice, Sandown is run down, Ryde is nice enough for a visit. We found loads of places on the island don't take cards, so make sure you have cash on you. Enjoy x

oh we saw a red squirrel at Quarr Abbey

also loved Osborne House
and the drive along the coast road from Shanklin to the Needles was picturesque