Things to do on the isle of wight

[cambridgekate]

We have just booked a holiday cottage on the isle of wight in June for myself, dh, dd (3.5) ds (2) and mil and fil. We have never been there before and was wondering what you would recommend we do whilst there?

My kids love dinosaur isle at Sandown, and the beach and pier there. Shanklin Chine is nice but a steep walk. Blackgang Chine for the kids, there's a zoo at Seaview which is good.

It rained while we were there and we had a very nice afternoon at a pottery cafe, first lunch then painting. They posted out things home for us. I'll try and find the name of it.

Wouldn't bother with Newport.

Chesselll pottery!

carisbrooke castle, osbourne house, robin hill country park, blackgang chine, zoo there are literally tons of things to do!

DD loves just poking about in the sand and rock pools at St Helens Duver. We walk down from Ryde town centre to The dell cafe for a drink etc and then get the dotto train back. Walk on the board walk at Newtown harbour on a nice day and see the Grey mullet swimming in the inlets. Walking in Firestone Copse to see the Red squirrels. Going to Briddlesford Farm having a drink in the cafe, seeing the calves and then buying some lovely local food in the farm shop.
Get a bus pass and ride the Island Breezer open top buses round the Island.
Where abouts are you staying and when as we are regulars over there? And I can make more suggestions knowing where you will be. We visit around 5 -6 times a year and so far have never visited any of the places requiring payment.

I love the isle of Wight. I took dd when she was nearly 1. Lots of zoo type places, osbourne house has a little house and garden etc which was made specifically for QueenVictorias children. That was quite sweet.

We wanted to see the needles but we couldn't get down the Coastal path with a buggy and didn't fancy holding baby on the chair lift.

The beaches etc are all just beautiful.

wow thank you so much for all these wonderful recommendations - it looks like we are going to have a fantastic week! we are actually staying in a victorian town house in cowes the third week in June.
Can I just ask one more question - what is the best way to get to the island - are there options with the ferry companies and which route would be best for cowes? i told the children we would need to go on a boat to get there and they are very excited indeed! i am v relieved as we have been umming and ahhing since xmas as to where to go!

Kate, which week are you staying in Cowes? And how are you getting here?

Am sure you've checked these things but thought I'd pass on some local knowledge!
June 10-12 is the Isle of Wight festival weekend so allow SHED LOADS of time for the ferry if you're arriving then. Especially if using Red Funnel passenger ferry (massive queues usually). If you're on the car ferry expect some entertaining characters too, but it's all very good humoured.

Alternatively, if you're here on June 25th (not sure how you count the 3rd week!) then it's Round the Island Race, which is something like the 3rd biggest participation sporting event after the London marathon - it's massive! Again, allow INSANE amounts of time for the passenger ferry if you're leaving that Sat afternoon, but it's less of an issue for car ferry. If you're here that Saturday and it's nice weather it's worth getting up really early to watch the start. The sea wall in Cowes has a great view and there are literally thousands of boats (the first boats start about 6am, and they usually keep starts rolling until about 1000am).

Ah, just seen the second half of your message (sorry, on phone!

Several options, depending where you're coming from and whether you drive or not. Best plan for Cowes with car is Red Funnel Southampton-East Cowes, book online well in advance (now-ish!) and look out for special offers to bring the price down. Then you get a 'floating bridge' over to West Cowes, which is where I presume you're staying.

Alternatives are Portsmouth-Ryde/Fishbourne on the east, or Lymington-Yarmouth on the west if you're coming from either of those directions, both with Wightlink.

we went to blackgang chine, robin hill and i would give needles park thing a miss as was a big rip off, we always go via lymington as we like to come through new forest on way and stop at the little town on the way i think its brockenhurst but i might have made that up. I want to go next yr again , use tesco clubcard for ferry if you shop there. Who did you book cottage through?

is thefloating bridge free? as we saw a cottage for rent which was right next to it.

The bridge is currently free for pedestrians & bikes itsnot, although there are rumoured plans to charge so might change by summer. It's a pound something for cars each way, although again I think there are rumours to put that up.

If the cottages are the ones I think they are it is RIGHT by the bridge, so you'll probably hear the chains clanking first thing in the morning and last thing at night - depends if you're a light sleeper or not! Waking up with a view of the sea might compensate tho ;-)

yes looks like a converted chapel i think. is there a side east or west best to be on?

for cowes that is, we generally stay near yarmouth/ shalfleet.

ah, might not be the ones I'm think of then.

West is definitely the smarter town with more touristy things, nice shops and plenty of places to eat, although East is fine if you're thinking of exploring lots - nowhere's exactly far away on the island!

these ones yeah they on tuther side so might give a miss , wasnt keen as no garden which makes me now think it would be a busy road.

we are coming 18th - 25th so will definitely get up tp watch the round the island racing on 25th! dh and fil will be in their element.

i will look into this floating bridge!...sounds intriguing!...although had already been tipped off about the test clubcard points and converted some this pm into ferry vouchers..we are big tesco shoppers! as are il's so i guess they will do the same.

we booked with cottages4you.

i work for the nhs so i get a discount with them.

Watch out with your clubcard vouchers you have to pay the full fare for example I tried to book in september, without Club card vouchers it was going to be a £59 fare, with clubcard vouchers they wanted to charge me £140 as you can not use them on supersaver or saver fares on Wight link.

You will also be on the Island for the Island Games an international event with people coming from many Island nations to compete. Again you will need to book now for that time.
I think which crossing you use really depends on where you are travelling from as to wether it is easiest to get to lymington, Southampton or Portsmouth. Personally I can get to both Southampton and Portsmouth, but find that the extra 20 minutes on Red Funnel is very tiring with DD, so we always go Wight Link Portsmouth to Southampton. Just research how to switch of your car alarm for the crossing so you are not one of the people having to have your car jump started on the ferry.