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Original poster

Isle of wight

20 replies

LimeFizz · 17/04/2024 15:37

Can anyone help with what's the flattest part of the Isle of Wight please?

My parents want to go and I'm happy to take them but my dad is disabled and can only walk on quite flat ground!

I was looking at Shanklin or Sandown but not sure if they would be suitable. He won't want to walk far but along the seafront would be nice for him.

Thanks very much.

OP posts:
usernamedifferent · 17/04/2024 15:46

Ryde has a nice flat sea front, you could walk quite far along there and it’s flat. Shanklin is hilly

Original poster
LimeFizz · 17/04/2024 16:20

Thank you, I'll look at Ryde. I'm happy to take them anywhere as long as he can have a little walk.

OP posts:
Hoglet70 · 17/04/2024 17:42

There's a cliff lift at Shanklin so you can avoid having to walk up the hills. It's a nice flat walk along the seafront from Shanklin to Sandown.

Original poster
LimeFizz · 17/04/2024 17:55

Hoglet70 · 17/04/2024 17:42

There's a cliff lift at Shanklin so you can avoid having to walk up the hills. It's a nice flat walk along the seafront from Shanklin to Sandown.

Thanks, I'm looking at hotels and there's a lot to choose from. I've not been there since I was about ten and all I can remember is giant cartoon like statues at Blackgang chine.

OP posts:
BlackCatsAreBrilliant · 17/04/2024 18:03

Blackgang is definitely not flat.

Shanklin front is flat, but it's steep once you get away from it. Similarly Ryde. Sandown is probably the most flat once away from the front. But any of the three would be fine to walk along the front by the sea.

TeaandHobnobs · 17/04/2024 18:12

There's a flat circular route you can do from Yarmouth - at least part of it is based on the old railway line, and there is a nice cafe for before / after... or plenty of places in Yarmouth itself
River Yar Circular Walk — OFF THE RAILS (offtherailsyarmouth.co.uk)

River Yar Circular Walk — OFF THE RAILS

https://www.offtherailsyarmouth.co.uk/river-yar-circular-walk

EventuallyDecluttered · 17/04/2024 18:18

Sandown has a long flat seafront with a sandy beach and calm seas. Avoid Ventnor and Shanklin and the whole South coast. Ryde seafront is flat, again a nice sandy beach but the town streets are up a hill. I also like St Helens beach which is pretty accessible but not a town as such, village with beach and cafe.

Hoglet70 · 17/04/2024 18:27

LimeFizz · 17/04/2024 17:55

Thanks, I'm looking at hotels and there's a lot to choose from. I've not been there since I was about ten and all I can remember is giant cartoon like statues at Blackgang chine.

Show quote history

The big smuggler statue is still there at the entrance. You'll get a shock at how much of the park is now in the sea.

IvorTheEngineDriver · 17/04/2024 18:43

Ryde seafront is flat but the town and shops are on a steep hill. Ventnor is all hills.

Original poster
LimeFizz · 17/04/2024 19:59

Thanks very much. Off to look up the ferry costs now. I'm quite excited at being able to treat them for a change.

OP posts:
DownWhichOfLate · 17/04/2024 20:42

There’s a Premier Inn at Sandown right next to the beach. That might fit your criteria.

MagnoliatheMagnificent · 18/04/2024 07:10

We've stayed in Ryde a few times. Seafront is long, there's a harbour with interesting boats, hovercrafts to watch, cafés at either end and along the way by the children's funfair, a boating lake, They often have events over the summer on the green by the rides. I'm a fan, can you tell?!

MagnoliatheMagnificent · 18/04/2024 07:10

Have a look on Google earth maybe.

StarlightLady · 18/04/2024 07:20

I would go for Shanklin, in my view much nicer than Sandown or Ryde and as others have said there is a lift to the town (cash only). If you are taking the car over, there is also a large car park at sea level. Some accommodation is on the front. I know the island well, if you would like to, please PM me after you have done some digging.

The whole island is something of a time warp.

There are other nice options too. Be aware though that there have been a few local landslips closing some roads of late.

AGodawfulsmallaffair · 18/04/2024 07:49

Good luck with the ferries, they cost an absolute bomb. A lot of hotels / places to stay / do a combined deal with the car ferry though. The Royal Esplanade and Castle Hotel are both on Ryde seafront and might be worth checking if they are in cahoots with the ferry companies. The Castle is nice and has a car park, haven’t been in the Esplanade.

EventuallyDecluttered · 18/04/2024 10:35

Yes, a lot of accommodation providers can book the ferry for you cheaper than you can get it yourself.

Original poster
LimeFizz · 18/04/2024 11:30

The ferry is £££. I'll see if any of the hotels have offers on. Thanks for the tip.

OP posts:
OutingPosts · 18/04/2024 11:53

Haven't been for a couple of years, but the buses are great for sightseeing.

StarlightLady · 18/04/2024 12:21

OP, if things still seem too costly. Another option might be to stay in Southsea and take the hovercraft to Ryde for a day trip, or stay in Leamington and take the ferry to Yarmouth as a foot passenger for the day.

ALongHardWinter · 18/04/2024 14:43

I would strongly advise against Sandown or Shanklin! I went to the IoW 18 months ago,and stayed in Sandown. I have quite bad mobility issues and unfortunately did not realise beforehand quite how hilly it is there. The seafront is quite flat,but the rest of the town has a lot of extremely steep hills. Likewise Shanklin,which I visited for an afternoon. I also visited Ryde,which by comparison,was nowhere near as hilly.

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