Adventure Travel in Australia and New Zealand

Major Towns of the Isle of Wight   by Terry Simpson

If you’re planning to have an Isle of Wight holiday, then it is imperative to get to know all the major towns on the island in order for you to have an idea on where to find Isle of Wight accommodation and the must visit sites and things to do in the region.

Newport

Located in the heart of Isle of Wight is its capital Newport which is also the main shopping centre. Exceptional road conditions and an unrivalled bus service makes it easier to go here from anywhere on the Island. Some of the historic places in Newport include Carisbrooke and Carisbrooke Castle in which King Charles I was imprisoned.

Shopaholics will surely enjoy browsing through the major chain stores and the numerous individual and fascinating little shops to be found in the lanes leading off the High Street and two main squares. There are two markets per week in the town square, one on a Tuesday and a farmers market every Friday for those organic foodies amongst you.

It is also the proud site for the yearly music festival certainly one of the biggest and best in the Country held every June with such headliners as The Who, Rolling Stones and many, many others.

Freshwater

A village that has the ambiance of a town, Freshwater has an 18-hole golf course located above the Freshwater Bay. Some of the tourist attractions in the town include the Needles Pleasure Park together with the stunning view of the Needles itself which is the primary tourist attraction in the area.

Those who are planning to have an Isle of Wight holiday can visit the Farringford, the former home of poet laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson and right beside it is the church donated by the Tennyson family, St. Agnes, which also happens to be the only thatched church in the island. Art enthusiasts can visit the photographic museum Dimbola Lodge located at Freshwater Bay that formerly served as the abode of Pioneer Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. It is also the home of the controversial bronze statue Jimmy Hendrix.

Cowes

Famous for its yachting centre, Cowes is the Island’s main port with a natural waterfront at the mouth of the Medina River. Yachtsmen from all over the world gather every year to participate in Cowes Week, a prestigious sailing regatta held in August of each year.

East Cowes

Separated by the River Medina from its sister town Cowes, East Cowes is well known for its industrial tradition and for the fact that Queen Victoria actually lived for some time at Osborne House which is just a few minutes away from the town centre. The houses’ grounds proudly boasts many music festivals to include Simply Red, Anatacia, Westlife and many more.

Bembridge

A village at the easternmost part of the Isle of Wight, Bembridge is a great local service centre with a post office, Catholic, Methodist and Anglican Churches, several shops, a primary and middle school, and a small airport.

One of the most remarkable landmarks of the island is the RNLI lifeboat station which is vital for the town due to the presence of the infamous “Bembridge ledge”, a huge wobbly outcrop which poses a major hazard to passing boats.

Tourists can also visit the Bembridge Windmill which is the only remaining windmill on the Isle of Wight. Built during the 1700′s, it is a National Trust property usually open from April to October of each year.

Ryde

Ryde is a short trip from Portsmouth or Southsea which with the construction of the pier in the 1814s and the founding of a regular ferry service in the 1825s transformed the town into an elegant Victorian resort. It has the only running hovercraft passenger service anywhere in the world.

Tourists around the world are drawn in the town’s miles of splendid golden sand and shallow coastal waters that extend all the way around the coast to Seaview. The tide goes out a long way, leaving solid sand perfect for beach games.

Sandown

Due to its sunny weather and marvelous sands on the Isle of Wight compared to other parts of the United Kingdom, Sandown has been A Seaside Resort town ever since the Victorian age.

Sandown Esplanade possesses some fine Victorian and Edwardian hotels overlooking the golden sands of the beach underneath. Sandown Pier on the other hand hosts a huge amusement centre with children’s play areas and arcade games, distinctive of a seaside resort. The pier is also a good place to do sea fishing with selected areas particularly for the keen angler. On the northernmost part of the town located is the Isle of Wight Zoo which houses a big cat sanctuary and other facilities including the Dinosaur Isle, geological museum, an 18-hole golf course, and Sandham Grounds, offering bowls, putting, and tennis.

It is also the home of the famous Garlic Festival which is held every August.

Shanklin

Also a popular seaside resort, Shanklin is famous for its sandy beach, old village and the chine. The boardwalk beside the beach is occupied by hotels and restaurants, which is considered one of the most tourist-oriented parts of the town apart from the Old Village which is located at the top of Shanklin Chine. Regent Street and High Street is the central shopping centre of the town.

Ventnor

Also a seaside resort during the Victorian era, Ventnor is located on the south coast of the Isle of Wight and lies beneath St Boniface Down, is constructed on steep slopes and cliffs leading down to the sea. The town also generally has a sunny weather which made it famous for various subtropical plants that can be mainly found in Ventnor Botanic Gardens.

Yarmouth

The scenic Port of Yarmouth provides a ferry link from Lymington on the mainland. The main tourist attraction of the town is the 1876 exceptional 700ft long timber pier, which is a Grade II listed building.

The annual Yarmouth “Old Gaffers” festival during the month of May until early June is one of the largest events in the Isle of Wight wherein more than 100 “Old Gaffers” (gaff rigged boats) participate in the event which is complimented by shore based entertainment.

About the Author

Terry Simpson writes article for Island View Holidays and for more information on Isle of wight holiday she recommends you to visit http://www.islandviewholidays.com/
Getaway TV Spot ep40 Pensione Hotel Sydney and Melbourne, Willy Bay Margaret River WA