Category Archives: isle of wight

Land, Water and Air activities on the Isle of Wight

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Horse Riding on the Isle Of Wight

Set against some of Britain’s most stunning landscapes, the Isle of Wight really is a diamond in the ‘rough’ sea! Once you’ve booked your Bed and Breakfast Isle of Wight and arrived, you’ll get to experience a magnitude of activities from Llama trekking to Tree climbing (you’d be surprised just how much you can do on Isle of Wight breaks) so lets take you through a few ideas:

On Land:

Walking, of course.

The Isle of Wight is a walkers dream with over 500 miles of well-kept footpaths; you’ll get to meander through fields, forests and spectacular coastlines.

Cycling and Mountain Biking:

The Island offers a diverse terrain for you to choose from single track paths to speedy downhill Trails. Test your skills with undulating countryside and steep downhill sections. Or just have a leisurely ride around the town. No pressure!

Horse Riding:

Great hacks across country, with picnic in tow. Who could argue with that?

Golf

If you like. I’m not so sure you’ll have time on your Isle of Wight short break but some may disagree.

On Water:

Sailing – Cowes – The birthplace of yacht racing. You can’t go to the island and not try a spot of sailing.

Kite Surfing:

Fast, skilful and furious for the adrenalin junkies out there. Any takers?

On Air:

Gliding: 2, 000 feet up experience the thrill of silent flying and all the magnificent views you’ll take in of the island, cliffs and beaches.

Paragliding:

Choose from 12 flying sites on the island that cater for all wind directions and offer a good terrain.

Flying:

Choose either a pleasure flight or take the controls, how brave do you feel? Whether you like microlights, fixed wing aircraft or high tech helicopters there’s a choice for you.

On Second Thoughts:

If you don’t mind, I’ll give the whole activity thing a miss and meet you in the pub, there are plenty of decent ones to try on the island to keep me busy everyday!

Cheers!

Six of the best Isle of Wight Beaches

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Isle of Wight Beach

Measuring just 12 miles from North to South and 23 miles from East to West you’d be forgiven for thinking the Isle of Wight has little to offer but far could be from the truth. I couldn’t possibly list ALL the things to do on the island in one post so I am going to concentrate on the beaches; after all, it is surrounded by coastline! So, for all those who enjoy a good walk or sit or swim or relax or run or cuddle on a beautiful beach, here are six of the best to do it on:

  1. Sandown Beach: Only metres away from the town’s shops, cafes and pubs, Sandown’s huge gold, sandy beach offers fabulous water sports and is as popular now as it was back in the Victorian era.
  2. Ryde Beach: The coastline offers a funfair, trampolines, amusements and even an ice rink, making it one of the most popular beaches for tourists. Head south to Appley and you’ll experience a quieter atmosphere and a lovely canoe lake.
  3. Steephill Cove: With a few cottages, lobster pots and an old donkey this is probably one of the islands best kept secrets, so don’t tell everyone! The Cove is like stepping back in time and has managed to keep its wonderful traditional feel.
  4. Ventor Beach: This beautiful beach is sheltered by high cliffs and acts as a welcoming sun trap (or wind shield). A backdrop of cafes and restaurants awaits you for the most civilised day out.
  5. Compton Bay: Between Freshwater Bay and Brook this sandy beach is a definite favourite for surfers, wind surfers and kite surfers alike. Make a visit at low tide and you’ll get to see dinosaur footprints in the rocks.
  6. Colwell Bay: Offering stunning views of the solvent this wide sweeping bay has lots of sandcastle building opportunities. Clean waters, calm seas and a gentle slope make this a particularly family friendly beach.

This time of year, you can also take advantage of some fabulous deals for holiday accommodation in Shanklin, one of the most desirable places to stay on the island. So, book a Shanklin Hotel while you can and make sure you visit the six must see beaches on the Isle of Wight.

Paradise Park

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So you’re visiting Cornwall on your next St Ives Cottage break? Then there is something you don’t want to miss. Of course Cornish ice creams, Cornish pasties and Cider are a great way to get a good feel for the local area, but what other experiences are there I hear you say?

Well, try this for a treat. The Paradise Park is fun for any animal lover. Established in 1973 originally as a tropical bird centre, popularity of the park has gone from strength to strength and seen many new additions come to the park such as the otters, red pandas, red squirrels and the rare Cornish Chough.

The award winning park has proven to be a big hit will all ages of visitors with a ‘Fun Farm’ for the kids and daily events will allow you to get closer to the wildlife than you ever expected. Inside the park you will also find a great range of tropical plants that thrive well in the Cornish climate.  2005 saw the opening of the greatly anticipated Jungle Barn indoor play centre providing a vast amount of entertainment for children no matter what the weather has in store.

For all of you that take a particular shine to the animals there is a opportunity that allows you to adopt an animal for a year. Prices vary depending on the size of the bird but complimentary tickets come as part of the package.

The expansion of the support for the parrots has seen the trust support groups in USA, Africa, Canada, Australia, Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, and Switzerland. The funds that have been raised have totaled over £1 million and helped 23 different species of parrot.

Red squirrels also reside at the park and are in captivity due to a breeding program that is aimed at increasing their numbers and then releasing them back into the wild.

You will also find a few otters living at the park, as the destruction of their natural habitat has seen numbers fall and the park have committed their work to stabilizing dropping figures and even getting them to incline again.

For a grand day out to see red squirrels, talking birds and a lot of otters, head over to Paradise Park and make your Cornish stay a memorable one.

Isle of Wight things to do: Butterfly World

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Welcome back to blog two about the wonderful attraction on the Isle of Wight that you might not have heard about. Our last travel blog was all about the Fired Art centre that allowed you to create and design your own works of art.

Now it’s time for a little treat for all of you insect fans reading this blog. The butterfly farm is a treat for anyone who loves these little winged creatures. Butterfly world is your chance to see hundreds of butterflies of all size and colour flying freely around a natural environment.

This is becoming a massively popular attraction and is a great source of information and a chance to see these stunning beauties first hand. This wonderful undercover attraction features some really exotic flying friends as well as a Chinese Painted Quail eating all the uninvited insects.

Information is at every step of the way, with regular talks and leaflets to quench your thirst for information and provide a great insight to the world of the butterfly.

You can also snap up some great gifts for your friends and family in the large gift shop that is on offer and as you can imagine there is a massive butterfly theme.

There is also a wonderful garden centre for all of you green fingered enthusiasts that like to dabble in nature.

For the little ones there is a delightfully themed small world to keep theme entertained and amused at the nicely themed and well presented. This is a well themed dark fairytale setting with complimentary mood lighting and a wonderful array of animals and characters and scenes featuring clowns and pirates.

For a great day out during one of your Isle of Wight breaks make sure you visit Butterfly World.

Isle of Wight things to do: Fired Art

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Welcome, to the first in a series of blogs about great things to do on the Isle of Wight. These blogs will highlight and inform you of some hidden gems that you might not find in local tourist attractions and your Isle of Wight Hotel might not be aware of.

The first on our list of things to do is the Fired Art Ceramic Café. This is a must see place if you are looking for something that is creative and fun for the family. This family run attraction runs workshops for all age groups making it a lot of fun. The workshops teach you all about the different aspects of ceramic art including slip moulds, thumb pots, plaques and jewellery. The workshops will also allow you to find out about he use of colour as well as the different types of glazes that can be used.

You also have the opportunity to purchase some of these wonderful one off pieces that have been created there.

The website features a section of How Fired Art Works of you want more information now. The café onsite is also a great destination for parties of all kinds and they even offer evening parties.

Lover of Jewellery? Then this is your chance to make your own. The Fired Art Ceramic Café offers a new and exciting Bead Bar for those looking fro something a little different. This is a great opportunity for those of you who like something original and would make a great Christmas present for friends and family.

If you are not of a creative disposition then why not opt for the Commission fired art? Get your designs produced to your exact requirements.

For more information about Fired Art Ceramic Café then email: firedart@btconnect.com now.

Isle of Wight Wax Works

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So much to do and so little time, so you will be forgiven for not having enough time to do everything that is on offer whilst enjoying your Holiday Accommodation Shanklin based break.

There is one thing that I would suggest that you do before you leave to make your trip that little bit special: ‘Brading the Experience’. This is a great chance for you to see first hand some of the most original wax works on the Isle of Wight. This delightful little attraction is run by an Islander who has developed the museum to be a wonderful tourist attraction. The attraction also now includes the World of Wheels, a stunningly themed café serving homemade delights and an outlet store and gift shop.

You will find a wonderful array of famous faces in the wax works that include such figures as Queen Victoria, Princess Diana and Sir Winston Churchill with his last car the 1964 Hilman Husky – a must for anyone keen on the Great British Empire.

The Chambers of Torture is a great place for those wanting something a little more gruesome. Featuring some of the most painful and violent deaths known to man. You will be able to see first hand, severed heads, burning to death. fingernail torture, rat torture, the death pit, and the whipping wheel to name a small fraction of what you can expect.

For all of you who love all things engine related, the museum offers the ‘World of Wheels’. A collection of steam tractors and vintage cars, there is bound to be something for everyone.

Head over to the Isle of Wight for your next holiday and see for yourselves what is on offer.

2 great ways to see the Isle of Wight

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walking and cycling on the Isle of WightThere are many great things about the Isle of Wight, the ongoing events that happen through out the year, the music festivals that have become legendary, the quaint little villages that populate the island and the areas of outstanding beauty that are well looked after and maintained.

With so many areas of outstanding beauty you will be forgiven if you don’t get to seee all of these areas in just one visit. It’s something worth doing and worth doing well so I recommend that you take your time to see what the island has to offer.

One great way to see the Isle of Wight is by cycle. What a great way to see the wildlife and flowers that populate this scenic destination. A long cycle provides the ideal transport to see a vast amount of the island in a detail that would often be missed in a car journey.  A nice picnic provides an ideal rest stop and breather for those who want a sit down and a sandwich. The Isle offers many designated cycle paths so you will not have to contend with any motor traffic.

By foot is the other option we recommend to see the Isle of Wight. A leisurely stroll around the Isle is a great reason for a day out in the sunshine. A slow walk around the Island exploring what the is on offer will really allow you to get to experience nature first hand. Following the vast network of footpaths that the Isle of Wight has to offer you will be amazed at the routes you have to choose from. Why not stop for some tea and biscuits when out and about or stop for a picnic and relax and watch the world go by.

If, like many other people you are looking to visit the Isle of Wight for a walking holiday then you will need some accommodation. Hotel Shanklin based accommodation is available and there are a range of Shanklin Hotels from you to choose from.

I’m sorry that I’m the one who has to tell you, but you’ve missed Bestival.

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The Isle of Wight BestivalOnly this year, though.

The multi-award winning Bestival, one of the Isle of Wight’s many annual music festivals, has been going for five years now. You’ve missed it this year, but given its success there’s no reason that you couldn’t take the opportunity to visit next year.

The volume of festivals and carnivals are an excellent reason to consider Isle of Wight holidays, but with Bestival winding up last Sunday, let’s review that to see exactly what you were missing.

Headliners this year were Massive Attack, Kraftwerk and Elbow, each of which gave a spectacular performance to those near the stage, but sound problems on the Friday and Sunday meant that for those further back, Massive Attack and Elbow were lost amongst the sound drifting over from the other tents. Kraftwerk, on Saturday, avoided these problems, and gave a spectacular performance.

In addition to the mix of headliners, performances from Lily Alan, Florence and the Machine, the Fleet Foxes and Seasick Steve, as well as DJs Zane Lowe, Annie Mac and Rob da Bank, meant that the variety of music available at Bestival was truly eclectic; something that the festival aspires to.

Every year there is also a theme, and punters are encouraged to dress up to match it. This year’s was space, and even the bands took part, with Elbow’s Guy Garvey telling the crowd they wouldn’t get an encore unless they hummed the Star Trek theme tune.

Although camping space is available, and the festival organisers provide a selection of gypsy caravans, yurts, squrts, cloudhouses, podpads and bellepads for visitors, there’re plenty of other options for Isle of Wight accommodation available. Hotels or Bed and Breakfasts guarantee you a degree more comfort and the opportunity to shower each day. It also means avoiding the festival toilets, at least some of the time.

Remember that Bestival isn’t the only music festival on the Isle of Wight either, and if you want something different you’ll probably be able to find it. If, on the other hand, it does sound like your type of thing, then I’m glad to have been of service.

Dragon on the Isle of Wight

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Duncan on the Isle of Wight promoting TourismDuncan Bannatyne has been doing his bit to promote the Isle of Wight. The Dragon Dens Millionaire has been filming the Great British Holiday Show and highlighting great things to see and do in the realms of the UK. It seems that he has left his pool side villa to head over to the Isle of Wight.

The six shows that are being filmed are exclusive to Virgin 1 and promote the great British getaway. Mr. Bannatyne said that “People should be holidaying here instead of going abroad”. Bannatyne went on to say “I sacrificed some of my break there to fly back to the UK to promote great British seaside towns.”

Duncan had been spotted in the small town of Sandown. The idea behind these shows is to capture the imagination of the great British public.

As Duncan has a background in the leisure industry and may prove to be the right candidate to rejuvenate the tourism industry. The local community is behind him and offered full support in a chance to unveil the mended shore attractions that the Isle of Wight has to offer, which in turn will hopefully bring people to the area.

Long gone are the days of the 60s when people went on family holidays in the UK and embraced the holiday park culture. The lure of foreign travel that became affordable was to take people away from the UK to destinations that not only offer hotter weather but a different cultural experience. As time has gone on people have chosen new destinations and it seems only now during a recession that people are considering a holiday in the UK. This downturn in the economy along with the promotion of wealthy businessman should put the UK in good stead in terms of travel.
Isle of Wight Hotels are hoping that the attention that is brought to the Island by Mr. Bannatyne and the media should see bookings on the rise. If you are looking for a place to stay then why not visit this popular Isle of Wight Accommodation site today.