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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

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Original poster

Isle of Wight in June - any recommendations?

17 replies

lynniep · 01/05/2011 08:17

I'm starting to worry I'll never find a holiday. I'm now looking at the isle of wight after discounting europe for various reasons. I really want to cross some sea though!!

Centerparcs is where we usually go (earlier in the year i.e. cheaper) but if we want to go for one week in June its at least 800 quid and to me thats not worth it. I want somewhere different.

We can really spend up to a grand and there are four of us (me, DH, DS 4 and DS 18 mo) I want to take the car so we can take bikes as I'd like to do some cycling (DS not so good on his bike yet, still wobbly even with stabilisers so need somewhere 'safe') and I'd like them to have a go horse-riding. We need soft play and swimming pools and play parks. Just loads of 'stuff' to keep them occupied as they don't sit still!

We have two weeks to play with from 11th June, so I'd like to go for more than 7 days, even if it means swapping 'venues' at some point. Holiday parks seems to be the way to go, but I'd rather stay in a lodge/villa type thing than a caravan (although I will do caravan if needs be) - its just has to be self-catering.
I can see from trawling the web theres lots, but a heads up would be great!!

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mumwhereareyou · 01/05/2011 08:25

Hi don't know about the Isle of Wight but have you looked at landal Grennparks in Europe, someone on here recommended it and we have a got 4 days for 180 euros, it has all of the requests that you asked for and is very similiar to centre parcs.

Hope somebody comes and tells you about the Isle of Wight though.

Original poster

lynniep · 01/05/2011 08:33

yep. and discounted. but thanks!

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GollyHolightly · 01/05/2011 08:44

I went to the IoW last year and we found that booking in a caravan park was going to be more expensive than booking a house/apartment from these people

We stayed in Seaview which was lovely, but the Island is small enough that you could visit any part of it on a day trip no matter where you stay.

It can be quite hilly, just to warn you for using your bikes

queenrollo · 01/05/2011 09:13

www.wight-holidays.com/ we stayed here last time we went. Hired a Bell Tent, but the second night it was horrendous winds and at 8am the next morning they came round and helped us pack and move into a chalet. The customer service was excellent. There is a secluded beach (very steep path down to it), on site indoor and outdoor pools, but only a very small soft play. Club house too if that's your thing (not for us). It worked for us as just used it as a base/somewhere to sleep/eat. We have family and friends on the Island so weren't at the site all that much.

Can i just say if you do go to the IOW check out the family weekly ticket for Black Gang Chine/Robin Hill Park. It looks quite expensive but you get entry to both for the whole week with the ticket. There is so much for kids on the Island. Two fantastic zoos, though we were disappointed with the Dinosaur Isle museum, my then 4 year old loves dinos but it was aimed really at a slightly older age group (and so was expensive for what it was)

Collegemum38 · 01/05/2011 09:23

I can highly recommend Ninham www.ninham-holidays.co.uk/
We camp there but they also have a few rental cottages as well as caravans.

Its set in a country park setting with fishing lakes and loads of space. We dont fish but its just a lovely setting.

We have been in June and its very peaceful and quiet. They do have an outdoor pool and when we went in June we were the only people using it.

Its based on the outskirts if Shankin but yoiu would never know it once in the grounds. It is possible to walk and cycle into Shanklin if you wanted.

Morrissons is a few minutes away so its handy.

Lovely prom from Sandown to Shanklin. When our DD was little she would ride her bike/scooter along there.

I can highly recommend www.robin-hill.com/index.php for a good day out and if your DC are still quite small theire sister park www.blackgangchine.com/index.php is a good day out as well. They used to do a joint ticket for both, but its been a while since we have been because the DC are older now.

There is loads to see and do on IOW, its been the place for some of our best and happiest holidays.

PositiveAttitude · 01/05/2011 09:32

I live here and think that Gurnard Pines is a really nice place to stay. Feels quite like CentreParcs to me. We do have a lot of cycle paths going all over the island, so well geared to safe cycling and although I agree with Golly it is hilly, the cycle paths use a lot of old railway lines, so flat as a pancake!

Thorness Bay is another popular site, although more caravans than cabins. (DD2 is a lifeguard here! )

Happy to answer any questions

LittleWhiteWolf · 01/05/2011 09:34

I love the Isle of Wight. We went in March 2010 and had a brilliant time. That was 3 adults, DD (who was 7 months old) and 2 dogs in a cottage near Freshwater. It doesn't matter where you stay TBH as its such a good size that nowhere is too far to drive to. We stayed on the West coast, but travelled all over. Can't recommend it enough.

Original poster

lynniep · 01/05/2011 12:49

thanks so much everyone. I'll start investigating the places you've suggested.

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Lizcat · 01/05/2011 13:54

As a holiday landlord in the IOW there is still loads of avaliability in flats and cottages in June. My agents are www.wightlocations.co.uk and they have many properties in your budget for two weeks.
It is so easy to get around the Island that I don't think you really need to change locations. There are beautiful beaches all over the Island. We are in Ryde and it has a lovely pool a wide long sandy beach at low tide, multiple playgrounds along the front which is wide and easy to cycle. There is also a special cycle path from Newport to Cowes and places like Firestone Copse where it is safe for wobbly cyclists. Both are pretty flat.

hotandhappy · 03/05/2011 21:31

we stayed here last year the yellow house - it says 1000 but i cheekily suggested 850 and she agreed, lovely house. Iow is lovely - ive holidayed as a child here loads and have family on it and going back 20 yr later with my own children completely made my holiday as it was just as fab.

Original poster

lynniep · 03/05/2011 22:05

It looks lovely but its over our budget hotandhappy! Its 940 pw and even if I could knock that down a bit its still too much. I would rather go for longer somewhere cheaper. ie pay 500 pw and stay a fortnight or at least 11-12 days at a bit more. I'm still looking. Theres lots out there though and I definately want to go to IOW now.

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hotandhappy · 04/05/2011 08:14

no probs you will find something cheaper im sure - also use your tesco clubcard points if you have any for your ferry crossing.....

uggmum · 04/05/2011 08:58

I have stayed here, www.gurnardmarsh.co.uk, 3 times. It is lovely and facing the sea. Nearby (within walking distance) there is a good play area.

The owners are lovely and live in the same row.

It is only a small Island and there is loads to do. My dd has ridden across the beach at St Helens and we have been to a lovely soft play area in Newport.

The accommodation is good quality and very clean and not expensive. Good local amenities, Cowes has some lovely shops, even a new Waitrose.

If you are looking for more facilities then Gurnard Pines is a good holiday village.

My favourite beaches are Ventnor and Seagrove Bay.

hotandhappy · 04/05/2011 19:07

they look nice - i would have liked to see some internal shots though.... and a garden snap shot.

southeastastra · 04/05/2011 19:10

we stayed at rookey which had some really nice lodges (we stayed in not so cheapo but looked it caravan) the park was nice though, with two big lakes (for night fishing) and had a couple of small pools. central location though so lots of driving but was nice in the evenings.

Original poster

lynniep · 05/05/2011 22:22

thanks so much for all the input. Have been googling like mad for days and looked at all places mentioned above. Finally found what I was after:

Staying at Farmhouse Cottage here www.appuldurcombe.co.uk/ for 8 days - only £460 including linen and towels which I thought was a bargain (will confirm that after the stay lol). They have their own soft play barn which we can use as staying guests and then theres the owl and falconry centre. Should be a great base.

I've also allocated 4 days for a holiday park, Gurnard Pines, Rookey, Languard or Hyde. Not sure which one yet. Will be a chalet or bungalow though. Hmm....

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Original poster

lynniep · 09/05/2011 16:08

I still havent booked our final four days. I'm now mulling over here www.child-friendly-hotel.com/ as opposed to Gurnard Pines. We can just about afford it as they are doing 4 nights for price of 3 in June. It appears to be a marmite thing for Old Park Hotel and I'm not sure which way it will go for us and its an expensive mistake to make. But on the other hand, this is the last off-peak time we'll have for many years, so maybe we should take a risk and just fork out whilst we still can...

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