What to See

Where do we start? The Isle of Wight has such a variety of landscapes and seascapes, so much history and heritage. All we can do is tell you what we like to do on our sunny island.

We love walking and getting out into the fresh air. The Isle of Wight has over five hundred miles of footpaths, all well maintained and signposted. Leaflets can be obtianed from the Tourist offices. One of our favourite walks is the Warren from Totland Bay to the Needles. Here you can see the Needles Battery and the famous Needles rocks. Also here is the old Rocket Site where the rockets were tested that launched the UK's first space satellite over 30 years ago.

 

Carisbrooke Castle and Osborne House are both run by English Heritage. The castle is in excellent condition and you can walk around the walls, see the museum showing much of the history of the Isle of Wight and see the donkey raise water from the well by walking inside a huge wheel. Osborne House was the island home of Queen Victoria and has stunning grounds where you can often see Red Squirrels.

 

The Isle of Wight has a long history in the production of glass and pottery and there are many studios where you can watch the craftsmen and buy from their shops. For lovers of flowers visit the Botanic Gardens at Ventnor where the island's micro-climate enables sub tropical plants to flourish. Award winning Isle of Wight Lavender near Newport has a wide variety of plants for sale and an extensive shop of Lavender products plus a great cafe - try the Lavender cake!

 

The island also has great music festivals, a revival of the festivals of the 1960's and 70's where T Rex, The Move, Fairport Convention, Jefferson Airplane, Bob Dylan, Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Moody Blues, The Doors, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix and Joan Baez performed. For the more energetic there is the White Air extreme sports festival and the famous Isle of Wight Walking Festival held over two weeks every May and featuring walks of all types, many free for the participants.