Leaving for the Isle of Wight in the morning for a week - top things to see?

[AngryFeet]

We are staying in a place called Niton near Ventnor. DCs are 7 and 5 and this is their first non camping holiday and they are very excited :) I have been before but last time was 1999 I think so no idea where the best places to visit are.

Any tips on places to visit and eat eagerly accepted!

Thanks :)

Black gang chine theme park
Carrisbrook castle
There is a glass making factory iirc.
Corrisbrook castle
The beach at ventor is nice.

God i love.it there!

can't remember where anything is (sorry!) but when we went we visited:

dinosaur isle
the garlic farm

and a fab model village type place, but can't remember what it wascalled.

the dinosur place was brilliant, and the garlic farm bonkers (with lots of yummy produce)

Oh angryfeet, we are going to ventnor too (on Saturday).

We are actually staying in Steephill Cove and looking forward to having the crab pasties again!!!

Oh fab, I love crab! I saw that they have a Garlic Festival on this weekend. Costs £24 to get a family in but can't imagine what a garlic festival would comprise of ?

My parents live there! Great place.. Yaverland next to sandown has a great sandy beach, and the sea does not usually get too rough or go too far out! Also a toilet and little cafe there.

Puckpool park near Ryde is also a lovely beach, with a park and lots of fab picnic spots, although get there early as parking fills up quick.

The island is busy at the moment, it is Cowes week, with the end of regatta fireworks Friday night, if you can get to Cowes it is a must see, although quite late at 9.30pm.

I second the castle, and blackgang chine, both great days out.

Ask if you want to know anymore

The needles - lots to do there, glass making, sweet making, a few rides and shops.

Black gan chine- its a bit of a odd place, we went a couple years ago, the dd's enjoyed it but it was a bit run down and lots of steep hills to walk up.

Ooh I didn't know about that nolonger. Is it a nightmare to get there/park/find somewhere to watch?

simpson we visited Steephill Cove last week and it is just beautiful. Which house are you renting?

Have fun dragging your luggage down the steps

Yep, you're arriving on the last day of cowes week so if you're travelling via sothampton allow plenty of time. If you get here early enough come down to Cowes seafront tmrw afternoon to see the boats and buskers in town, if you fancy a late one then fireworks but it does go a bit bonkers! There's still a fair bit if racing on saturday too to see.
Otherwise all good suggestions above, plus owl and monkey sanctuary which I really enjoyed . Garlic festival is huge county show type affair with food stalls, falconry, dog agility, wierd tractors and things. Very random but fun if sunny, on sat and Sunday I think.
Model village is in godshill which is cute but gets busy.
Can you all shut up about steephill cove, it used to be a secret!

We are coming from Portsmouth into Ryde so hopefully will not be too manic. Ferry arrives at 3.30 and we need to get to the house early so will miss the races. Fireworks sound fun but might be too stressful with 2 DC after a long day of travelling.

Yep, they might be a bit young for manic Friday! Go along on Saturday afternoon around 2-3ish and you should see the boats all streaming back into Cowes, and if you drive down to Gurnard along the seafront there's a lovely cafe, green and small playpark, hugely popular with families.
Enjoy!

We're staying in Ventnor at the mo.

Been to Osborne house today and had a great family day. Also, spent a day at Calborne water mill.

Drove through Niton the other day and the white horse (or similar name, I may have remembered it wrongly) pub looked great with beer garden with play equipment.

I second steep hill cove, it's a lovely walk from Ventnor (hard to park near steep hill). Also the spyglass is a good pub for food, esp something from the specials board.

In a bit of a rush just now, but have a great hols

We just got back last week. Osbourne house was amazing. Blackgang chine was ok, but a bit bizzare, lots of very odd exhibits and the food is shocking, take your own! The needles is good, few rides etc. we ate at a lovely place in cowes called The Red Duster, it's tiny, but the girls serving, and the food was lovely :-)

Oh and we went to Amazon World zoo park NOT the Isle of Wight Zoo. It was great, you can go in the enclosure with the lemurs and they jump all over you! Lots of birds etc just flying round your head in the enclosed bits, the kids loved it!

The garlic farm festival has tribute bands all day. really good for families trying out how to do a festival. The beach at osbourne palace has just opened up and is idyllic. Check out walks to do which obv dont cost anything. Steephill to Ventnor or visa versa. Tennyson trail from freshwater to alum bay. walk the medina river from Newport to cowes

Betty - we are in the boat house, this is the third year we have been there.

Thanks for reminding me about all those steps!!!

The botanical gardens are worth a visit too.

Hoping to get a BBQ on the beach this year

Is it Godshill where the model village is??

And there are loads of lovely tea shops too, that is worth a visit.

Just got back from a houseswap on the I of W - mummeeee I think you mean the Horse and Groom at Niton - really great food for a family pub and kid heaven with crazy golf, bouncy castle and football outside. I second Blackgang Chine - pay once and you can return all week - we went back for the Wednesday night fireworks they have on all summer. My DS (5) also loved the fossil hunt we did at Brook Chine - Lovely place to holiday, nice slow pace and everywhere close by. Hope that helps

Also loved Watersedge cafe in Gurnard near Cowes - next to a lovely play area and delicious food.