19 minute read
Special interest tours & activities
Tours
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Book a tour and then sit back, enjoy the ride, and let someone else take care of the details. Explore the dramatic landscape, go in search of ghosts, or find out about the Island’s rich history. Here are a few favourites…
See The Needles
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Up the Downs
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Book seats on the open top Needles Breezer for one of the most spectacular bus rides in England.
STOP & SEE
Needles rocks & Battery Multi-coloured sands of Alum Bay Fort Victoria Country Park
Hop on, hop off. Runs: March to November. The Downs Breezer follows a circular route through countryside and across the Downs with amazing views.
STOP & SEE
Birds of prey and red squirrels Robin Hill Dinosaur Isle Wildheart Animal Sanctuary
Hop on, hop off. Runs: May to September.
¬ For more Southern Vectis services go to islandbuses.info
Ghosts and relics
Go on a ‘themed’ tour with Island Explorer. They’ll transport you in air conditioned mini coaches – or you can hire one of their tour guides to join you in your vehicle. ¬ islandexplorer.co.uk
Roman holiday
Isle of Wight Guided Tours will plan a tour just for your group. Popular tours include:
Roman Wight Round the Island Victorian Wight Tennyson Tour Shipwrecks, Smuggling,
Priests and Penance ¬ isleofwightguidedtours.co.uk
Package providers
These are just some of the operators who include the Isle of Wight in their packages or itineraries. Contact Visit Isle of Wight if you would like to be included in our list.
UK based:
Alfa Travel Anderson Travel Angela Travel Caledonian Travel Daish’s Holidays David Urquhart Travel Greenline Coach holidays Harry Shaw Hemmings Coach Travel HF Holidays Isle of Wight Tours Johnsons Coaches Just Go Mart Harris National Holidays Owen’s Travelmaster Parry’s International Rabbies Robinsons Holidays Saddle Skedaddle Shearing Holidays The Holiday Shop
International:
House of Britain Titan Travel TUI Rundreisen UK Breakaways Wikinger-reisen
Cruise ship shore excursions:
Intercruises Excursions Ltd European Cruise Service UK
1. A fish dish served up at The Seaview Hotel 2. Tomatoes growing for The Tomato Stall 3. Isle of Wight Blue made by the Isle of Wight
Cheese Company
Look out for the Wight Marque – it’s a sign that the food is lovely and local
Eating & drinking
This is a foodie paradise. There are award-winning restaurants, seaside cafés and gastro pubs, plus the local produce is world famous with virtually zero food miles!
Restaurants
Look out for restaurants serving local produce. Seafood is a speciality and many places have earned prestigious awards for their cuisine.
Pubs and Inns
Whether you are in search of real ales or fine wines; looking for hearty traditional pub grub or more contemporary cuisine, there will be a venue to suit your taste - from olde worlde pubs with beams and roaring log fires to inns in superb coastal locations providing a breath of sea air.
Cafés
Relax at the coast and enjoy wonderful freshly made food as you watch the boats sail by, or spend lunch in an arts café in the centre of town.
Afternoon tea
Sit down, relax and enjoy a quintessentially English afternoon tea at one of the Isle of Wight’s superb foodie destinations.
¬ Find great places to sample local food and drink at visitisleofwight.co.uk/eat-and-drink
Tuck into tasty local produce
Asparagus – the succulent spears are a local delicacy. The season is short but sweet, and usually starts around Easter. Picked in the morning, you could be eating it for lunch. Craft beer, wine & spirits – enjoy real ale brewed with Island hops, or go and see the grapes growing at a vineyard before sampling a glass or two of Island wine. You could also pay a visit to the Isle of Wight Distillery, near Ryde, which makes small batch Mermaid Gin. Dairy produce – the cows here produce the creamiest milk and you can buy local dairy produce in many farm shops. Local cheeses include Isle of Wight Blue and Gallybagger.
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Garlic – go to The Garlic Farm in Newchurch for garlic goodies and see where garlic is grown. Ice cream – when it comes to the traditional flavours, Minghella Ice Cream has got it licked. Meanwhile Crave in Ventnor offers a wild selection that could include Bakewell Tart. Seafood – look out for fresh lobster, crab and fish. Delicacies include crab on chips, and crab pasties. Head for Captain Stan’s Bembridge Fish Store or Ventnor Haven Fishery for fish straight off the boat. Tomatoes – tasty tomatoes are available all year round, in all shapes, sizes and colours…. green, orange, yellow, pink, striped and even black.
Educational trips
The Island is a smart choice for your school party or youth group with lots of resources to support you.
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The Isle of Wight has a long history of attracting scholars and innovators, including Charles Dickens, Karl Marx and Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Explore dinosaur fossils, Roman remains, a royal palace, and a castle. There are also sites of special scientific interest, including downs, forests, beaches and landslips.
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Lesson time: the Victorians
Learn all about the Victorians at Queen Victoria’s seaside palace at Osborne. There are hands-on exhibitions, plus your students can experience life below stairs under the watchful eye of Mrs Pilkington, the costumed ‘housekeeper’.
Organisations that can plan a trip
Education Destination will help you organise your visit and can provide free resources, created by teachers.
Activity Island Limited organises all-inclusive residential visits.
Isle of Wight Experience has been arranging school visits for over 27 years on the Island.
Organisations that can support your trip
UKSA offer courses in yachting, rafting, kayaking... and much more.
They also provide high quality accommodation for groups.
Red Funnel offer ferry packages for educational groups. Wightlink provides easy and frequent ferry services for groups. Hovertravel flies school parties in from Southsea to Ryde in just 10 minutes.
1. Keeper talk at Monkey Haven 2. UKSA, Cowes 3. Mrs Pilkington at Osborne
Staying here
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Take your pick from group-friendly accommodation providers, including hostels, hotels, campuses, campsites and caravan parks.
Options include: ¬ UKSA, Cowes uksa.org ¬ Corf Scout Campsite,
Shalfleet
corfcamp.org ¬ PGL Little Canada
Wootton Bridge
pgl.co.uk ¬ Kingswood, Bembridge kingswood.co.uk/activitycentres/isle-of-wight ¬ YMCA Winchester House
Shanklin
ymca-fg.org/venue/isle-ofwight ¬ YHA Totland, Yarmouth yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-isle-ofwight-totland ¬ YHA Brighstone (school
summer holiday only)
yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-isle-ofwight-brighstone ¬ Sandown Manor sandownmanor.co.uk ¬ Lorron Hotel lorron-hotel.co.uk
Weddings & celebrations
Congratulations, you’ve found the perfect location for your wedding or celebration!
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1. Host an event at
Osborne 2. Celebrate at the seaside 3. Isle of Wight Pearl 4. East Afton
Farmhouse
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With a sunny climate, and stunning scenery, the Island makes a beautiful backdrop for your special occasion. There are amazing venues for stag and hen do’s, weddings, family birthdays, anniversaries and glamorous office parties. Locations range from seaside hotels to stately homes. A few unique options include… Have your reception in a butterfly meadow, on top of a cliff at Isle of Wight Pearl. Enjoy spectacular views over the coast.
Say ‘I do’ inside Queen Victoria’s palace at Osborne. Then dine and dance under the stars in a marquee on the Queen’s private beach. Host your big bash at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. You can even charter your own steam locomotive. Get married in a luxury barn attached to East Afton Farmhouse in Freshwater. The venue includes a hot tub and plush cinema room, and overlooks the site of 1970’s iconic Isle of Wight Festival.
Filming & photography
The Isle of Wight makes a wonderful film set. Here are 5 reasons to choose the Island for your next film or photography project…
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1. The Isle of Wight offers a range of amazing backdrops. It’s sometimes referred to as ‘England in miniature’ because you can see all kinds of landscapes in one small, beautiful island. You can discover everything from secret coves and sandy beaches to rolling fields, woodlands and thatched cottages, plus there’s a castle and a palace. 2. It’s easy to get around. All these beautiful and varied scenes lie within an accessible distance, as the Island is a compact 13 miles by 23 miles. 3. The Isle of Wight has its own microclimate, and usually has more hours of sunshine than the rest of the country, so the wet weather equipment can stay at home!
4. You can find a wide range of trusted professionals
on the Island, including camera operators, models and stills photographers, plus there are several recording studios. 5. You’ll be supported. If you need any help, just get in touch with Visit Isle of Wight!
¬ Go to visitisleofwight.co.uk/explore/filming-on-the-isle-of-wight
Location, location, location...
Historic streets and buildings Natural landscapes
Recent projects
An Action Hero, Bollywood film made in 2022 Victoria and Abdul, starring
Dame Judi Dench and Ali Fazal Victoria, the hit ITV series starring Jenna Coleman and
Tom Hughes, by Mammoth
Screen Queen’s Islands on ARTE, the
European culture TV channel Documentaries for the BBC,
ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 Scenes from the latest Bond movie No Time to Die and
Christopher Nolan’s Tenet.
Pretty villages
Meetings & conferences
You can work hard, then play hard on the Isle of Wight – everything is set up for your business needs, so that you can have a productive and enjoyable time…
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The Island is a great backdrop for all kinds of business events, from meetings to corporate fun days
Inspiring venues
Hosting your business event on the Island gives you the chance to get away from the norm and find inspiration. There are a variety of venues, in new and traditional settings, including modern hotels, historic houses, colleges, schools, community halls and sporting clubs. There are options for all kinds of events, including small conferences, one-off meetings, product launches, training courses and corporate fun days.
Social activities
Why not combine your meeting with teambuilding activities? Give your team and clients the opportunity to experience the thrill of yacht sailing, high-speed RIB tours, clay-pigeon shooting, treeclimbing, and karting. Or enjoy relaxing options such as afternoon tea and a guided tour of a royal palace, a steam train ride, falconry, paddleboarding or a cycle ride along the riverside.
Easily accessible
It’s easy to get here by ferry or private boat charter from Southampton, Portsmouth, Southsea or Lymington. You could even host a meeting on one of the ferry’s on-board lounges, or have a quick brainstorming session on a high-speed catamaran or hovercraft. There’s also the option of arriving by helicopter, as some venues have their own landing pads.
¬ For further information email info@visitwight.org
Beaches
You’re never more than nine miles from a beautiful beach – and they’ve all got something unique to offer. Here are a few favourites…
Appley and Ryde
You’ll discover vast acres of golden sand in a peaceful setting at Appley, just minutes from the more bustling beach at Ryde. Facilities include toilets and cafés. Best for: Sandcastles, families, paddling and picnicking.
Colwell Bay
A picturesque spot in West Wight, with a sandy beach and spectacular views across the Solent to the mainland. Look out for the sea forts. Best for: Swimming in the calm water. The sand and shingle gently slope down, making it suitable for families.
Compton Bay
Glorious and unspoilt golden beaches, hidden below dramatic cliffs. Best for: Dinosaurs – search for fossils, see their footcasts by the cliffs, and look for their footprints at low tide. Also great for surfing and paragliding.
Freshwater
This rocky, rugged spot offers amazing views of chalk stacks. Best for: Surfing, watersports and skimming pebbles along the water.
Sandown Bay
‘Beach of the Year’ in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2019 for its ‘miles of golden sand, pier and eclectic seafront – and just a short walk to peace, fossil-rich cliffs and stunning coastal wildlife’. Best for: Traditional entertainments and fossil hunting at Yaverland.
Steephill Cove
An enchanted spot, that can’t be accessed by cars, with a golden cove and little cafés. Best for: Escaping the 21st century.
Ventnor
A beach that looks red one day, and gold the next… with pubs and cafés overlooking the sea. Look out for occasional resident Grumpy the Seal. Best for: Fish and chips by the sea and coastal walks.
¬ For more information on the
Island’s beautiful beaches go to visitisleofwight.co.uk/things-todo/attractions/beaches
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Countryside
The Island’s interior is diverse, with fields, Downs and forests, all bursting with wildlife.
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Downs
Lush Downs stretch across the southern part of the Island, from east to west. The highest point is St Boniface Down in the south east, at 241 metres.
Forests, woods & copses
The Island has ancient woodland and forest areas. Borthwood Copse and Parkhurst Forest were once royal hunting grounds and are home to large numbers of red squirrels.
AONB
The Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) contains some of Britain’s finest landscapes. The AONB covers five distinct sections, including two Heritage Coasts.
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
In 2019 the Island was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve , one of only seven in the UK. This recognises the sustainable relationships between the residents and local environment.
Look out for: Bluebells - there are prolific displays across the Island every May, on the Downs and in the woodlands.
¬ To find out about the Isle of Wight
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve go to visitisleofwight.co.uk/explore/ biosphere-reserve
Resources
England’s Coast is an exciting tourism initiative offering you a wealth of holiday experiences.
Tour operators and travel agents can access resources such as:
Stunning images and video footage of England’s dramatic coastline.
Contacts for hundreds of coastal tourism businesses on the trade itinerary builder.
Support with educational visits.
New coastal itineraries.
¬ englandscoast.com/en/tradeportal/register
England’s Coast Ambassador is a free online training programme written for all staff who engage with visitors on the coast. It takes less than an hour to complete and covers international welcome and product knowledge. ¬ englandscoastambassador.co.uk
Towns & villages
Each town and village on the Island has its own character and charm – here’s a quick guide to some of the most popular places…
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Bembridge
Countryfile Magazine’s ‘Village of Year 2019’. The harbour is ringed by picturesque houseboats plus there’s a busy village community with upmarket independent shops, cafés and restaurants.
Local knowledge: The population is around 4,000 – it’s said to be the largest village in England.
One of the oldest towns on the Island, set in an area of outstanding natural beauty. It’s best known for its Roman villa.
Local knowledge: You can see Roman board games, jewellery and farming tools at Brading Roman Villa.
1. Quay Arts, Newport 2. Godshill 3. Shanklin Old Village 4. Ryde 5. Cowes 6. Bembridge Lifeboat Station
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Cowes and East Cowes
These historic towns are split by the Medina Estuary – and you can get between the two on the chain ferry or ‘floating bridge’. Cowes is famous for sailing, while East Cowes is celebrated for its maritime history (it’s where the hovercraft was built). Local knowledge: Look out for the 1912 hammerhead crane at the mouth of the River Medina.
Freshwater
As one of the largest villages in West Wight it is a popular destination for visitors with the spectacular Freshwater Bay area lying to the south of the main village. Local knowledge: The bay is easily recognised by its chalk cliffs and the imposing “Stag” and “Mermaid” rocks that sit at the edge of the coast, which are a magnet for photographers on the Isle of Wight.
Godshill – geared up for groups
The village of Godshill has thatched cottages, gift shops, pubs, tea rooms, and the popular Godshill Model Village. It’s also got a large free car park. Local knowledge: It’s easy to explore the countryside from here – follow the path to the right of The Griffin, opposite the entrance to the car park. Turn left into the woodlands.
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TripAdvisor review of Godshill Model Village
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Newport
The historic county town, known locally as the ‘capital’ of the Isle of Wight. It has a good range of shops, restaurants, a cinema and pubs along the River Medina where you can sometimes see rare birds such as black swans.
Local knowledge: Look out for Quay Arts, the Island’s centre for contemporary arts – it’s based in former warehouses on the town quay.
Ryde
The self-styled ‘town on the beach’, with golden sands, boutique shops, cafes and bars.
Local knowledge: Find out about the town’s royal history at the Heritage Centre, in the Royal Victoria Arcade.
Sandown
A traditional seaside resort with a long stretch of beach, a Victorian pier, and large hotels – it’s ideal for families with young children. Local knowledge: Play crazy golf on the pier or at the dinosaur themed course at Sandham Gardens.
Shanklin
This town is famed for its beautiful beaches, sub-tropical gardens, Shanklin Chine, thatched tea rooms in the Old Town, and traditional entertainments.
Local knowledge: Visit beautiful Rylstone Gardens where you can relax in a deckchair and listen to music at the bandstand in the summer.
Ventnor
Situated on the south coast, this charming Victorian spa resort has a sheltered beach. Access to the beach is down the winding Cascade Road, with its waterfall gardens. Local knowledge: Walk along the coastal path from Ventnor to Bonchurch, looking out for seals and dolphins along the way. You might be lucky, as they’re sometimes spotted here.
Yarmouth
An ancient port town that acts as one of the gateways to the Island. The town sits at the mouth of the River Yar and has some great little shops and cafes. Local knowledge: Seek out Yarmouth Castle, a Tudor fortress near the ferry terminal. It’s a great spot for picnics with uninterrupted views over the harbour and Solent.
Coach parking & facilities
Yarmouth
Coach parks
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2 3
Cowes East Cowes
5
Newport 6
Ryde
Sandown
Shanklin 4 9 11 8 10
Godshill
Ventnor 13 12 7
1. The Parade PO31 7QJ 2. Ward Avenue PO31 8AY. Coach parking is also available at Northwood House PO31 8AZ by special arrangement. Call the office on 01983 293642.
East Cowes
3. Osborne PO32 6JT: Ample
parking for visits to the House
and Gardens (booking essential to obtain discounted group fares).
4. Old Smithy & Gardens PO38 3JE: Ample parking for
visits to the Old Smithy tea
rooms and shop (booking essential).
Newport
5. Coppins Bridge PO30 2AQ:
9 spaces
Set down point: outside Morrisons on South Street (a dedicated 30 minute coach bay).
6. Quay Road PO33 2HH:
12 spaces
Sandown
7. Fort Street, Sandown PO36 8BA: 18 spaces
Shanklin
8. Spa Site, The Esplanade PO37 6BG: 5 spaces 9. Atherley Road, PO37 7AU:
8 spaces
10. Vernon Meadow, Chine Avenue PO37 6AA: 6 spaces 11. Winchester House, Sandown Road PO37 6HU
Ventnor
12. Dudley Road PO38 1EJ: 6 spaces (managed by Ventnor Town Council) 13. Ventnor Botanic Garden, Undercliff Drive PO38 1UL:
Ample parking for visits to the
Garden (booking essential to obtain discounted group fares).
Yarmouth
14. River Road, Yarmouth PO41 0RA: 1 space
Attraction coach parking
Many attractions have coach parking, including Amazon World, Blackgang Chine, Robin Hill, Carisbrooke Castle, Dinosaur Isle, Isle of Wight Steam Railway, Isle of Wight Pearl, Osborne, Monkey Haven, The Needles Landmark Attraction, Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, Tapnell Farm, Ventnor Botanic Garden and Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum.
Council operated coach parking
All days 8am-6pm. Overnight parking
£ Charges apply all hours, seven days a week – including bank holidays. ¬ iow.gov.uk/Visitors/Parking-and-
Travel
Tourist Permits: available from paybyphone.co.uk or call (01983) 331331. Coach/oversize vehicles (use code 71001). ¬ iow.gov.uk/Visitors/Parking-and-
Travel/Parking-Permits/Touristpermits1
Service and recovery
If your vehicle encounters a fault, Seaview Services can provide relief coaches and drivers.
¬ seaview-services.co.uk/servicerecovery.php
Looking to hire a coach?
Wight Coaches is a Private Hire coach operator. It operates a range of vehicles from 49 to 70 seats, meaning no group is too big or too small. ¬ www.wightcoaches.co.uk
Bus travel
Southern Vectis is the Island’s main bus operator and has been getting visitors and residents from A to B since 1929.
Discover, explore and see more of the Isle of Wight by bus – and save money with 10% off all Southern Vectis Group Rover tickets. A Group Rover offers either 24 or 48 hours unlimited travel for up to five people on all Southern Vectis buses. This includes the green network buses stopping at all major towns and villages and night buses into the early hours. There are four seasonal routes on the Breezer buses, two of which are open-top, taking you to the Isle of Wight’s best beauty spots, landmarks and attractions. Operating an extensive bus network across the Island, Southern Vectis’ buses offer a regular and reliable service.
¬ Fare information and timetables: islandbuses.info hello@southernvectis.com | 0330 0539 182
Southern Vectis bus routes
Needles Old Battery
SUMMER LINKS
West Wight Alpacas
SUMMER LINKS
Calbourne Water Mill Chessell Pottery
Isle of Wight Pearl
Grange Chine Pan
Quarr Abbey
Bus Museum Isle of Wight Distillery
Nodes Point
Wildheart Animal Sanctuary
Sandham Gardens
Appuldurcombe Donkey Sanctuary
Upper Ventnor
Shanklin Chine
