Isle of WightThe '''Isle of Wight''' is a large island county located just off the South England|south coast of England, close to Southampton and Portsmouth. ==Cities== *Cowes *Freshwater *Newport_(Isle_of_Wight)|Newport *Ryde *Sandown *Shanklin *Ventnor *Yarmouth (Isle of Wight)|Yarmouth ==Understand== The Isle of Wight is an excellent place for an old-fashioned seaside holiday and has a number of beaches and towns that were very popular with the Victorians. Cowes is a famous yachting centre. ==Get in== Access to the island is by regular ferry, hovercraft or private boat from the nearby towns. Even though many of the ferries carry cars, this can be expensive, and unless you are visiting for a long period you are probably better off travelling as a foot passenger and using the local bus network on the island. The major ferry routes are: *[http://www.wightlink.co.uk/travel/timetables/ports_ryde/index.htm Wightlink fastcat passenger ferry] from Portsmouth Harbour rail station on the mainland to Ryde Pier Head on the island. *[http://www.wightlink.co.uk/travel/timetables/ports_fish/index.htm Wightlink car ferry] from Portsmouth to Fishbourne Creek (near Ryde) on the island. *[http://www.wightlink.co.uk/travel/timetables/lym_yar/index.htm Wightlink car and passenger ferry] from Lymington on the mainland to Yarmouth (Isle of Wight)|Yarmouth on the island. *[http://www.redfunnel.co.uk/redfunnel/travel/html/timetables/redjet.shtml Red Funnel jetcat passenger ferry] from Southampton Town Quay on the mainland to west Cowes on the island. *[http://www.redfunnel.co.uk/redfunnel/travel/html/timetables/vehicle.shtml Red Funnel conventional car and passenger ferry] from Southampton Town Quay to east Cowes. *[http://www.hovertravel.co.uk/ Hovertravel passenger hovercraft] from the Southsea district of Portsmouth to Ryde. ==Get around== The island has an excellent (by the standards of a rural area) bus service run by '''[http://www.svoc.co.uk/ Southern Vectis]'''. The is a single public service railway line on the island, running from Ryde Pier Head (''connections with Portsmouth ferry'') to Shanklin and Sandown. It is run by [http://www.island-line.co.uk/ Island Line]. ==See== *'''Alum Bay''' [http://www.theneedles.co.uk/] is famous for the many different colours of sand which appear naturally on the beach. A traditional souvenir of the Isle of Wight is a picture or glass paperweight filled with the different colours - there are many stalls where you can get the wherewithal to make your own if you are so inclined. The bay is close to The Needles (see below) and accessible by stairs or by a ski resort-style chairlift. *'''Blackgang Chine''' was formerly a dramatic gorge through which one could walk to the sea. Following a catastrophic collapse, the Chine ceased to exist some decades ago, but the bizarre entertainment park there, with its animated figures, is still worth a visit. '''Shanklin Chine''', a smaller gorge, can still be visited. *'''Carisbrooke Castle''', in the centre of the island, is well worth a visit. Charles I was held prisoner here. The castle appears in the popular children's story 'Moonfleet', and the well which appears in the story, with a treadmill driven by a donkey (not worked very hard these days) is a popular tourist feature. *[http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/ '''Isle of Wight Steam Railway'''], telephone 01983-882204 from within the UK or +44-1983-882204 from outside. A former branch line resucitated to accurately recreate the atmosphere of the island's railways in the pre-war era, when the island was the home of already superannuated locomotives and coaches from the mainland. Accessible by car at the steam railway's Havenstreet Station, or by changing from the island's one remaining public service railway (between Ryde and Shanklin) at Smallbrook Junction. Open weekends and summer; see website or call telephone number above for precise opening days and times. £8 (adult); £4 (child); ticket entitles holder to unlimited travel on day of issue. *'''The Needles''' [http://www.theneedles.co.uk/], a very famous headland and offshore rocks at the extreme western end of the island. Here you will find early sea defences such as the [http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/scripts/nthandbook.dll?ACTION=PROPERTY&PROPERTYID=233 Needles Old Battery], now preserved by the National Trust, and Tennyson Down, the national memorial to Alfred Lord Tennyson, and the sight of spectacular sea and land views. Accessible via Southern Vectis's open-top bus [http://www.svoc.co.uk/tables/ser42.html route 42], which runs half-hourly from Yarmouth (Isle of Wight)|Yarmouth and connects with the ferries from Lymington on the mainland. *'''Steephill Cove''', a cove only accessible by foot at the southernmost tip of the island near Ventnor. There is an incredible seafood restaurant right on the beach - the owners catch their own lobsters and crabs daily, you would find it hard to get fresher seafood anywhere! And the view from the tables over the cove and out to sea is breathtaking. ==Do== ==Eat== ==Drink== ==Sleep== ==Get out== ==External links== [http://www.iwight.com/just_visiting/default.asp Isle of Wight County Council webpage] [http://www.islandbreaks.co.uk/ Isle of Wight Tourist Office] WikiPedia:Isle_of_Wight {{stub}} First page | Prev | Next | Last page |

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