Isle of Wight - places to eat and go

[MaggieW]

We're off this weekend for six days so would love some recommendations for lovely cafes, pubs etc to eat at, as well as the top ten must do things please. We're staying in a chalet near Freshwater but happy to explore the whole island. TIA.

Freshwater is nice and quiet not much to do, but a nice beach.

If you have DC Blackgang Chine is a must, it's a theme park type thing, but not really a theme park.

Robin Hill is also good for the DC, owned by the same people, if you go to Blackgang you get free entry to Robin Hill if you go within a week.

Shanklin has nice beaches and lovely walks, lots of tea rooms and pubs right on the beach.

Ventnor again nice beaches.

The Needles has a small fairground and a chairlift down the cliff to the beach. Children will probably enjoy it.

Newport is the best place to do some shopping, but it's not big.

When you get on the ferry, look out for a visitors guide, it tells you the good pubs and restaurants.

Have fun. Weather has been nice down here for the past couple of days and is supposed to stay good for a while.

The donkey sanctuary is nice. My DC love it. You couldn't spend much more than an hour there but you can take a picnic.

The Wight Mouse at Chale is a nice pub for a meal/drink and caters for children too with indoor and outdoor play areas.

If you can get to the farmers market at Newport, The Isle of Wight bacon is fabulous.

top six for us has been:

• carisbrooke castle
• Guided fossil hunting walk (contact Dinosaur Isle at Sandown for info)
• Stepping on dinosaur's fossilised footprints on Brook Bay
• Roman villa at Brading
• sandy beaches at Sandown
• cycling down the Yar estuary from Yarmouth to the other side of the island

Depends what you like, really.

I would second going to Blackgang Chine and Robin Hill - it is now free return within a week but you do have to pay separtately for each site. There is a pub at Rookley called the Chequers Inn - great outdoors area for children of all ages. Hire a beach hut for the day on Shanklin beach ( Hope Beach is the best).

A great day out and walk is to go to Steephill Cove near Ventnor - fantastic little beach - don't go at high tide as no beach left - little cafe down there as well for drinks/icecreams. If you ar NT members go up to the old battery at the needles.
A great bike ride is along the cycle track from Newport towards Sandown. We have also enjoyed Flamingo Park near Seaview and also going to the cafe/restaurant on the seafront between Bembridge and Seaview( great shells to pick up) - I think the cafe is called Bay on the beach or something like that.