ISLE OF WIGHT, any recommendations?

[jenk1]

wanting to go first weekend in august, cowes week.

was thinking of maybe a cottage or a caravan park.

TIA

We stayed in a place called nettlecombe farm which is near ventnor (south of the island) and that was lovely, it was a nice cottage with loads of grounds to play in a little tiny 'petting zoo' for the kids in a barn. No pool though!

I'd recommend the Ventor Botanic Gardens, lovely for adults (lovely cafe) and leads down via a very steep path to the aptly named Steephill Cove, which is a gorgeous child-beach-holiday place, with loads of rockpools and a sandy beach.

Also lovely on that side of the island (my favourite!) is Compton Bay, (huge sandy beach) and Freshwater Bay.

There's a huge IOW Pearl place (also gold and silver jewellery) which is worth googling, very nice for a teeny holiday treat for you

Alum Bay/Blackgang Chine for a day out

Shanklin/Ventnor lovely beaches and gift shops, cafes etc

My parents live in Ventnor and we love the beach there

We went and it peed with rain every day bar one. On that day we did the steam railway. The other days we did the Butterfly and Fountain place (all indoors), and went to Chesil Pottery for a bit of painting and lunch. We had the Good Beer Guide and had some very long lunches (not getting drunk, just that the dcs take ages!)

We stay in St Helens, very quiet.

we love IOW!
Have taken DS who is now almost 6 last 2 Summers.
in 2006 we stayed in B&B in Sandown and visited the Needles (tesco vouchers), Dinosaur Isle (tesco vouchers) Blackgang Chine and the beach every day

In 2007 we had 4 kids with us and booked a Readytent at the Nodes Point holiday park which is near Ryde. That was a really good week and whilst there we visited Blackgang Chine (again!) Amazon World (used Tesco vouchers), Bowling in Ryde, Ryde carnival and the beach again.

Would go back again as there is still so much to see and do.