THE LOCAL AREA..AND BEYOND
The Isle of Wight (referred to locally simply as ‘the Island’) is a unique place. Although it is only 23 miles by 13 miles (at the widest points) there is over 500 miles of footpaths and public rights of way crisscrossing the landscape, of which half is designated as being an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Putting the natural beauty of the Island to one side, you may be surprised to know that the Island has been home to royalty for centuries (albeit one of them, King Charles I, was imprisoned in Carisbrooke Castle!) regularly hosts Europe’s largest walking festival, is on average the sunniest place in the UK and has inspired generations (Lewis Carroll is understood to have begun Alice in Wonderland whilst staying with Alfred, Lord Tennyson; Charles Darwin began ‘Origin of the Species’, a book that would change forever the global belief in Creation, while on holiday in Bonchurch; Charles Dickens penned ‘David Copperfield’ on holiday, inspired by the natural beauty … the list also includes Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Jane Austen, Karl Marx, Guglielmo Marconi, Winston Churchill and John Keats).
If history isn’t your thing, how about taking a holiday in the stunning surroundings that have inspired artists and novelists alike? There are sandy beaches, stony beaches, beaches great for walking along, swimming and playing volleyball. There is downland that appears to roll endlessly, with small hamlets nestled into the countryside (and usually complete with a traditional pub!) Because we are fortunate enough to be in a rural location, we benefit from some of the darkest skies, meaning that on a clear night after sunset, the sky is a mass of stars and is ideal for astronomers and stargazers alike. Having been John’s home for pretty much all of his life, the Island is a truly great place. Brenda, originally from London, spent regular holidays here as a child and young woman with her parents and brother, who eventually moved to Ventnor. Reasons to holiday on the Isle of Wight? If history does interest you, we have several castles and a few Roman villas for good measure!
How about walking, because we have more footpaths per square mile than anywhere else in the UK(and one that runs along the southern boundry, aprox 300m away - which the caravans are hidden from) Maybe you’re into some stargazing, well, you should know that the Island is featured in ‘Sky at Night’ magazine as having the newest and one of the most successful star parties in the UK! We have very dark skies above the Fruit Farm and guests are welcome to wander into the field to get a good view!
Maybe you just want to escape the noise, the hustle and daily routine? There is nowhere better to have your holiday than with us, on the beautiful Island! Come and watch the squirrels, listen to a dawn chorus that will rival the noise from any city and unwind …
THINGS TO DO
Walking in the fresh air: There are also some lovely walks with stunning scenery, hilly walks, level walks, and walks with a pub or Café at the end or beginning. The footpath at the end of our drive links up with a network of other paths and bridal ways which can take you all over the west Wight.
Bussing About: You don’t have to walk, and can take the tourist bus (The Needles Breezer), there is a bus stop specifically for this at the end of our drive. This is a hop on, hop off bus and passes us every 30 minutes. It does a circular trip around the West Wight, going as far as The Needles Battery. Which is run by the National Trust and well worth a visit.
Nowhere is too far by car: If all this talk of walking is a bit much, you can of course take your car, and when you want to go further afield you will need a car or a bus rover ticket. There are too many attractions to list on this web site, but there is something for everyone on the Isle of Wight. Feel free to contact us with any questions.
HIRE A BIKE
Guests can arrange cycle hire and delivery/collection from Wight Cycle Hire in Yarmouth. Cycling is a wonderful way to get around the West Wight.
SELF CATERING
For the self-catering side of things, we have a very good new and large Co Op store on the outskirts of Freshwater. Very easy to find, and a few minutes’ drive from here. There is also a Sainsbury's further into town. We like to support local - so why not try our butcher or fish monger in Freshwater, or pay a visit to the Deli in Yarmouth. There is also a great farm shop in Brighstone.
BEACHES
There is so much to do at this end of the Island, especially if you like clean beaches, sandy beaches, stony beaches, and beaches where you have a good chance of finding fossils, we have them all! We have a beach at St.Helens where at the very low spring tides hundreds of people walk our to one of the historic Palmerston Forts (St. Helens Fort)
PLACES TO EAT
There is plenty of variety in the choice of places to eat out in the local area. The nearest pub/ restaurant – The Red Lion is about five minutes drive away, or you could walk there across the footpath. They have a good reputation for food and atmosphere.
Yarmouth, just three miles away has a number of pubs, restaurants and cafes.
At the lovely Freshwater Bay (5 minutes drive away) is The Piano Café, which is opposite the beautiful thatched church of St.Agnes. It serves breakfasts and lunches Tuesday – Sunday and is also open on Friday and Saturday evenings for dinner (quite often with live music)
Freshwater has several Asian takeaways, a fish and chip shop and several coffee shops.
The newest Island attraction is on our doorstep, Tapnell Farm. It’s about a five-minute drive from us, or a half hour walk. If you drive it’s towards Newport and if you walk you go to the top of our field, turn left and follow the footpath.
There is a playbarn and farm park full of animals, as well as a popular restaurant ‘The Cow. Co.’ with wonderful views from the upper floor and a gift shop and gallery.
