Isle of Wight - Robin Hill or Blackgang Chine?

[BlowDryRat]

We're off camping over half term with DC aged 11 and 8. We're not there for long so I'm hoping to keep things simple and cheap but do a 'treat' day at either Robin Hill or Blackgang Chine. Which of those would you pick?

Blackgang - the drive along Military Road to get there is lovely. Both parks are fine for your DC's ages but Blackgang is a bit more interesting.

We've been to both many times, but if I had to pick one it would be Blackgang Chine for me.

The water slide is great, there is a small rollercoaster, perfect for your kids ages. My son used to love Cowboy Town, all the kids running around pretending to be cowboys. He loved the dinosaurs and Rumpus Mansion.

Robin Hill is pretty good too, but you have to pay extra for the Toboggan run, £1.50 each, so a few rides works out pretty expensive.

Depends what your 11 year old is like, if they like Alton Towers they may find either BGC or RH a bit boring. If they are still happy to run around playing with their younger sibling then you would enjoy either park.

Thanks both. They love rollercoasters but are more into running around so won't be too bothered by it.

Black Gang. I don’t really get the appeal of Robin Hill expensive park not much else there and you pay extra for the toboggan which is the only decent bit really. Black gang is fantastic in comparison.

My 9yo prefers Robin hill- says it’s more fun. She likes the roller coaster and water slide at blackgang and has spent many happy hours up in cowboy town but prefers the space Robin Hill offers - and spends hours on the bouncy nets.

Oh black gang 100%

My kid always preferred Blackgang.

The rides are pretty rubbish but we used to buy them cap guns and they’d spend hours playing in cowboy town, hours playing on the slides.

I had such memories of going to both as a child; when I returned with my own kids, Blackgang Chine was just as I remembered it and Robin Hill was very underwhelming.

Oh, Blackgang Chine is so lovely! Even for those kids who might think they're past it - the cowboy bit and cap guns are irresistible! (Guns are ££s though, you might be able to get away with just buying a box of snaps.) We liked the dinosaurs which are relatively new (whereas I remember the cowboy town from the early 80's). Blackgang is just nice to walk around too, and in the unlikely scenario that it isn't foggy, you'll get nice sea views.

You can also go back again within the same week for free.

I’m really surprised. Ours always preferred Robin Hill and found black gang quite tacky once they were older than about six.

Robin Hill was always better for children who enjoy running around and have a curiosity about the world. There used to be a simulator, a pirate ship and aeroplanes if you want funfair rides. There was also a sit on sledge run that was great fun, huge carp on dodgy bridges where you get wet feet and squeal. They loved it.

When we went a couple years ago, we went to blackgang chine. I remember going there when I was little My eldest loved the dinosaurs and naming the nursery rhymes and even went on so of the rides as well. Never went to Robin Hill as we were only there for a week