Isle of Wight Holiday Ideas

Thinking about spending your holiday on the Isle of Wight? There are lots of things to do on the island and lots of things to see. Sailing and sunbathing are among the most popular. Here are a couple of suggestions for those of you that are looking for something a little more unique.

Enjoy a Biking Adventure

Regardless of your level of expertise, you will find a suitable cycle-way somewhere on the island. If you prefer the easy routes, you will find them in Yarmouth on Route 1 and 2, in Cowes on Route 3, in Newport on Route 9 and in Sandown on Route 11.

If you want something a little more challenging, with a couple of hills to test your endurance, you could try Shanklin on Route 12 or Ryde on Route 8. The view from Route 8 is spectacular and includes coastline and countryside. If you want shorter day routes, you can leave the main route and head back to Brading at several points along the course.

For something a little more thrilling, there is a fine mountain biking path on Route 5 in Brighstone. For everyone, there is the annual Cycling Festival held during the weeks of September and October with events scattered all across the island.

Take a History or Geology Lesson

From the time of the dinosaurs to that of Queen Victoria and beyond, something has been left by practically everyone that has visited the islands, animal and human alike.

Fossils abound in the cliffs at Compton, Brook, Brighstone and Hanover Point. Bones and fossilised trees can be seen in the stone above the beaches and bays all around the island. You will find exhibits at Dinosaur Isle, Sandown and Dinosaur Farm.

Thousands of years after the dinosaurs lived, there were the Stone Age farmers that built earthen tombs at Freshwater Bay, Tennyson Down and Mottistone. At the eastern end of the long mound at Mottistone, you will see the “Longstone”, a large pillar built by Stone Age engineers.

Thousands of years after that on the Isle of Wight, castles were built at Carisbrooke and Yarmouth. Osborne House, built by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert lies on the island. Dozens of museums ranging from the bus and coach museum in Newport to the Roman courtyard villa in Brading are open regularly to tourists.

If geology is your passion, you might never want to leave Alum Bay. It is one of the few places on earth where geological folding caused the rock strata to become vertical, rather than horizontal, with the oldest rocks to the east and the youngest to the west.

If history, geology and biking are not among your hobbies, don’t fret. You’ll find plenty to do on the Isle of Wight, even if a “pub crawl” is your idea of exercise.
About the Author

Mandy Miller is an author and travel writer who writes about holiday and leisure related topics, including the Isle of Wight Holidays. To find out more about holidays on the Isle of Wight, visit http://www.aboutbritain.com/counties/isle-of-wight.asp

Isle of Wight Mountain Biking 2008

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