Home >
South England >
Isle of Wight Holiday Cottages
These rental companies offer a wide range of Isle of Wight holiday cottages and holiday accommodation including beach-houses and traditional thatched cottages. They can be found all over the island both in coastal and rural locations. Visit the sites for news of the latest discounts and deals.
Cottages 4 You - More than
140 Isle of Wight holiday cottages in Cowes, Wooton, Bembridge and other locations. Their range is varied and includes modern waterside holiday apartments, Victorian properties as well as traditional thatched cottages.
Holiday Rentals - 120 Isle of Wight cottages situated all over the island, many of which are appointed close to the coast. They too provide a mix of traditional cottages and modern beach houses. Some may be booked for as little as £250 during low-season.
Independent Cottages - Around 10 Isle of Wight self catering cottages, most of which are traditional in style. They're situated in places like Yarmouth, Porchfield and Alum Bay with bookings starting at £200 for seven day breaks, during low season.
Hoseasons - A collection of cottages on the Isle of Wight which includes thatched holiday cottages, coastal properties and farm building conversions. Booking rates are between £230 and £1500 depending on high and low season. Some of their cottages can accommodate up to 9 people.
Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight has been one of the UK's most popular short-break destinations since Victorian times. The island's high chalk downs appealed to the Victorians and the elements of that era remain today Its temperate climate and sunshine record makes it perfect for weekend breaks on the Isle of Wight.
The Isle of Wight, 23 miles from west to east and 13 miles from north to south is smaller than most of the major cities of the UK. It'll take a morning's drive to cover most of the better known areas - one road makes a complete circuit of the island.
There are numerous marked paths all over the island, ideal for walkers and cyclists and its countryside is dominated by farmlands, heaths and small villages. Its capital,
Newport is set on the River Medina and has an excavated Roman Villa amongst its attractions.
There are other notable locations like
Calbourne with its low stone cottages and Norman church. Carisbrooke, the old capital of the Island has a splendid 12 century castle, built on the site of a Roman fort while Brighstone has its own thatched cottages, a reminder of the Islands past. We've included a summary below of major Isle of Wight visitor attractions, activities and places of interest.
Isle of Wight visitor attractions
See below for more information about the Isle of Wight's major visitor attractions, such as opening times and admission prices. We've included popular outdoor activities, historical sites, pubs and restaurants. Links have also been included where available.
Outdoor activities
The Isle of Wight offers hundreds of miles of bridleways and public footpaths, which are popular with ramblers and cyclists. Centres such as
Wight Cycle Hire, rent out bikes on a weekly and daily basis and also offer guided rides around the island. See the
website for booking information.
Water-based activities can also be arranged through companies like X-Isle Sports, who cater for windsurfers, sailing enthusiasts and kite-surfers. Instructor courses are also available for beginners as well as private coaching. Enquiries should be made online. For a more relaxing day-out try Seacatch - they provide boating excursions on board a local fishing vessel which travels along the nearby coast.
Food and drink
Travellers Joy is located just outside Cowes and is a family-run pub. It is over 300 years old and serves wholesome pub food from an uncomplicated menu. Local ales such as Hampshire King Alfred are served and there's also a pub garden with children's play area. The 19th century
Spyglass Inn, once a refuge for smugglers is an intriguing old pub and displays a wide selection of nautical artifacts and memorabilia on its walls. It's specialises in seafood such as local crab and lobster and there's also an array of ales and beers from the locality including
Yates Undercliff Experience and Ventnor Golden.
The Pond Cafe is a popular eating establishment and is located in Ventnor. It's speciality is mediterranean cuisine served from a menu that changes every fortnight. Children's portions are served, families are welcome and a la carte main courses start at around £10. The idyllically placed, St Helens in Ryde is also worth a visit and serves modern British food. Overlooking the village green, dishes include Isle of Wight seabass fillet and locally caught crab. Families are catered for with a children's menu and dinner prices are between £13 and £30.
History and Culture
The 800 year old
Carisbrooke Castle is a fine example of a Mote-and-Bailey keep and includes the remains of a Roman fort underneath some of its buildings. Its great hall and chamber are open to the general public and there's also an adjoining museum in the gatehouse that displays manuscripts and other artifacts. Visiting times are 10am to 5pm and admission is £6.70 for adults, £3.40 for children.
The
Calbourne Water Mill is also worth visiting and features the only working water mill on the island. It's set in 10 acres of well-kept landscaped gardens and includes a cafe and giftshop. Opening times during high season are 10am to 5pm and entry prices are £4 for children and £7 for adults. Under 5's are allowed in free of charge.
