The Isle of Wight has 60 miles of stunning coastline including award-winning beaches spectacular cliffs, creeks and marshland as well as the famous Needles - three towers of rock jutting out from the sea at the western extremity of the island. Inland there are picturesque villages, downland, farmland, river valleys, and a rich diversity of wildlife, flora and fauna.
The Isle of Wight became popular in the Victorian era, when Queen Victoria made much-loved Osborne House her home. It is now open to the public and thoroughly recommended for the insight it gives into royal life.
The Victorians laid out Sandown’s broad seafront promenades and beautiful parks and gardens. The magnificent sandy beach slopes gently and there are all kinds water sports on offer. The cliff-top path offers a wonderful walk, with panoramic views of the bay and continues all the way to Shanklin where you can visit the famous Chine, a dramatic fissure in the rock where a 45 foot waterfall cascades through boulders and ferns to the shore.
Ventnor is a Victorian town with a Mediterranean feel, and one of the sunniest spots on the island. Built on a series of terraces beneath St. Boniface Down, the town's roads zigzag down to the seafront past the beautifully planted Cascades - sub-tropical gardens overlooking the sea. Ventnor grew up as a health resort in the Victorian era. The famous Ventnor Botanic Gardens occupies the site of the former Royal National Hospital with Mediterranean, Alpine and medicinal herb plantings, herbaceous borders, shrubs and trees.
The West Wight has many areas of outstanding natural beauty - rolling countryside, peaceful forests, picturesque villages and breathtaking coastal scenery. However it is the wide choice of excellent beaches within easy reach that attract visitors. Families will enjoy the delightful small beach at Totland. Nearby is Alum Bay, renowned for its coloured sandstone cliffs with a chairlift to the beach below, from where, weather permitting, you can take a boat trip to view the Needles rocks and lighthouse. Colwell Bay is a family beach with golden sands and good for swimming whilst the wilder beach of Compton Bay is very popular with surfers.
Car ferries to the Isle of Wight depart from Portsmouth to Fishbourne, Yarmouth to Lymington and Southampton to East Cowes.
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