Isle of Wight

[Tinkerisdead]

We're visiting IOW for the 7th time soon and I wondered whether anyone could give me some unknown gems to visit.

In five years we've done all the major things like black gang, robin hill, Osborne, Seaview, amazon place etc.

There was a thread on here last year where appley beach/paddling pool at Ryde was recommended and puckpool park. I much preferred that kind of thing, we've never been to cowes as yet or done the steam railway(live near one so not a novelty) are there any other hidden gems that people can recommend?

Brading roman villa? (Nice cafe for lunch too)

The garlic farm - great cakes for afternoon tea (bit of a theme developing her

The waterworks show up near Ryde (haven't done this, no idea if it's any good)

Presumably done the model village at Godshill? (Nice cafe just on the corner - Chocolate Island)

Bembridge lifeboat station, 7pm Tuesdays - they launch he lifeboat, drive it around a bit and stick it backup the ramp.

Quarr abbey tearooms - lovely, lovely cream tea.

The view from the old radar station on ventnor down? There's a plaque about a plane crash, if you like reading about things like that.

The model railway at Fort Victoria. But not the planetarium because it's a bit shit, and not in a good way like the Waltzing Waters.

Calbourne Mill is also a bit weird and wonderful. If you like old tractors and washing machines, nice tearooms where you get stalked by peacocks and paddleboats, that is.

ghost evening at appuldurcome (sp) house

Ooooh thankyou some promising tips!

I've done waltzing waters...twice!!! TWICE. once for each child so never again. Done the model village, shanklin chine, visited the pier at yarmouth and been to ventnor.

We've not done, steam railway, not really explored tennyson down(? Is that right) never been to cowes, done osbourne many times but not the "new" beach thats opened. We've not been to the botanical gardens but frequent the park at ventnor. We absolutely dream of living there so we try to do more and more exploring rather than the big ticket touristy places now. Dd1 is almost 6 and would probably love to look for fossils, wheres best for that?

Compton bay for fossils. There's also another Dinosaur Isle thing on the Military road that runs tours.

Have you done Steeple Cove? Rock pools at Bonchurch beach?

The cabin in Ventnor if you get an hour to yourself for a massage or facial! It's gorgeous we spent the afternoon there a few weeks ago getting spoilt. non kiddie I know but just as important :)

We stay near steephill cove so check, done that; and blimey its steep with a buggy!!!

Great suggestions, our favourite places came from recommendations i saw on a thread last year and all of these are new ones again so i'm really hopeful of a memorable trip again.

Is quarr abbey the place opposite carisbrooke castle cos i remember saying to dh i dont want to be in here with donkeys i want to be in that stunning place there!!! National trust bod told me it was an abbey but closed?

We love the donkey sanctuary at Godshill. Kids used to enjoy the island shaped paddling pool at Ventnor...is that still there?

Yes that's still there :-)

Dinosaur isle is good (but big-ticket touristy). There was a new dinosaur trail thingy this year - with new-fangled technology. You need an app, then you scan the marker at each point along the walk and apparently you then see a projection of dinosaurs or something. We didn't do t (can you tell? ) as we need the big-ticket attractions (dd1 has severe ASD so needs entertainment to be obvious!). Or food. Talking of which - lovely Italian restaurant in Ryde, opposite te pier.

Walk round niton, take in the wonder that is Norris' Stores (brilliant for provisions) then walk down to st Catherine's. If you google it there's a PDF of the walk. Have a pint of cider at the buddle inn. Shanklin chine is nice, but not too accessible with a buggy? Walk along the front at bembridge and look at the boats. The beach at Compton bay is brilliant.

My aunt and uncle live on the island and we had a holiday every year there. It's been well over 15 years since I have been so everything has probably changed, but I do remember lots of lovely days down at Puckpool. I think there were some lovely walks around Bembridge (little airport there for watching light aircraft). I need to I back and take DDs. I was saying to my husband about Carisbrooke Castle the other day - although I only really remember the donkey powered wheel thing as the donkey did a wee on it (obviously hilarious when you are small).
Probably not much help there, but definitely interested in some other ideas too.

Is waltzing waters really shit, then? We haven't been (yet - I have a feeling dd1 would enjoy it) - should I keep finding other stuff to do?

My best tip is where to stay, but you're probably sorted for that already having been loads of times.

Another vote for Calbourne Mill.
Also have you been to Arreton Barns? Lots of quirky little shops, nice restaurant and a shipwreck musuem.

Done arreton barns, got some lovely glass robins as xmas decorations. Did dinosaur isle but dd1 shat her pants at a robotic dinosaur(she hates robots) and isnt in a hurty to go back inside but shes just done dinosaurs at school so i think a trail might be perfectly timed. Def going to look into that app thanks!

Accomodation yes im sorted but i wont divulge it as i'll never get in again as you'll all book it

The garlic farm was mentioned above but its prob the one thing that ive always gone "garlic farm?" And steered clear is it worth a visit?

And waltzing waters...well its erm great for toddlers. You go into a theatre circa 1976 and then you watch coloured water leaping to old songs like a michael jackson medley. Old people merrily tap along and your toddler will look enchanted.

Middle aged people seem to get up and leave midway through the performance.

You then come out saying "well that was the weirdest place ever!"

I've only been to the garlic farm for the free tasting The restaurant was jammed though.

Quarr is on the road from Fishbourne to Ryde.

We did 2-3 of the dinosaur apps last year. Mildly amusing for me taking the photos - the kids had no idea what was going on though. And some of them were hard to find.

Niton Post Office also has a normal for the Island slightly weird cafe in the back. It's a huge garden - I can't think what we ate but remember thinking it was surfing the line between marvellous and plain odd.

The robotic dinosaurs weren't as loud and didn't move as much this year compared with when we last went (maybe 4 years ago?)

The garlic farm is always packed for lunches. Food is pretty good, but service variable. There is a general info trail around the farm I think, and a tractor ride or similar.

We go to stock up on chutneys and condiments, and have lunch/afternoon tea as we are there.

Waltzing waters sounds about how I imagined it to be. Dd1 would be enthral led, I should think. Hmm, will consider it.

Oh you have to go to waltzing waters its like a rite of passage.

I also love The Orrery cafe in ryde I try to block put the children and just look around at the brilliant surroundings. I'm going to research all these suggestions now whilst the rest of the country watch football

I threw up in the toilets at Waltzing Waters as a child

Quarr Abbey!! See the pigs, they have a one eyed cat called Cruickshank (been there for years and way before HP). Amazing cafe and the toilets are spotless.

Horseshoe Bay by the botanical gardens in Ventnor is a little hidden gem.

FFF x

The Roman Villa at Brading was great. The staff were very happy to talk, there were lots of children's activities and the cafe is lovely.

The Needles Breezer Open top bus route is an excellent way to spend a sunny day islandbreezers.islandbuses.info/ hopping on and off or just enjoying the wind in your hair.

Mottistone (lovely walk without going in as well as the gardens/farm shop).
Fossil walk at Brook Beach, we did it last year and it was really good. Lovely long beach too.