Isle of Wight - where to stay, what to see, things to do
- Thread starter gaijingirl
- Start date
gaijingirl
Well-Known Member
Just a quick thanks to all who helped. We had an amazing weekend on the IoW - loads of cycling - pretty perfect combinations of hills/bike tracks/sea/countryside -they've done a really good job with their cycle mapping and also have some great off road routes (some of which are still suitable for thin tyres).
The place was absolutely awash with cyclists with a round the island event as well as some time trials happening. We also got some excellent walking in and gaijinboy ("suncream - nah i'll be fine") even got sunburnt. It's certainly a windy place though..
The place was absolutely awash with cyclists with a round the island event as well as some time trials happening. We also got some excellent walking in and gaijinboy ("suncream - nah i'll be fine") even got sunburnt. It's certainly a windy place though..
I'm so happy you had a good time
though I won't be on a bike *shudders*
Will be heading there this summer at some stage to see the folks etc.
Guy I work with just went to the IOW, near Ventnor last weekend.
Group of them went over together and stayed in some cottages next to Appuldurcombe House and the ghosts ruined the holiday.
Group of them went over together and stayed in some cottages next to Appuldurcombe House and the ghosts ruined the holiday.
have a lovely time RD, hope you're going to take your little one to blackgang
Not sure if it's open. I think 'they' have squat parties there now
You can get a ferry to Southampton from there. I am sure there are things you can do in Southampton.
sheothebudworths
Up the bum - no babies!!!
I'm taking the kids youth hostelling there in the summer.
Did I pick the wrong place?
I wanted to go to Marloes Sands in Pembrokeshire, tbf, but with no transport of our own it was a bit of a risk (a long days travel to get there each way and then a bit fucked if it rained the whole time
).
Did I pick the wrong place?
I wanted to go to Marloes Sands in Pembrokeshire, tbf, but with no transport of our own it was a bit of a risk (a long days travel to get there each way and then a bit fucked if it rained the whole time
).
Callie
Pivoting
Ventnor Botanic Gardens are nice. I saw a LIZARD! Might be too cold for lizards though this time of year.
Black gang chine is a thing with rides and a museumish thing, good for kids but generally a bit naff. I think you can get a bus to the needles and Alum Bay for all your multi coloured sand needs. Shanklin is pretty. Carisbrooke castle is good for a wander around, they have donkeys you can stroke
Theres the garlic farm - I havent been but you probably like garlic so you might like it - they do garlic beer!
Black gang chine is a thing with rides and a museumish thing, good for kids but generally a bit naff. I think you can get a bus to the needles and Alum Bay for all your multi coloured sand needs. Shanklin is pretty. Carisbrooke castle is good for a wander around, they have donkeys you can stroke
Theres the garlic farm - I havent been but you probably like garlic so you might like it - they do garlic beer!
fen_boy
Exits gracefully.
I enjoyed this place http://www.dimbola.co.uk/ they had an exhibition of Lord Snowdon's stuff on at the time which was really good. The needles were good as well. There are a load of dinosaur related places which are interesting.
Everything else was shit.
Everything else was shit.
Maggot
The Cake of Liberty
Ventnor Botanic Gardens are nice. I saw a LIZARD! Might be too cold for lizards though this time of year.
Black gang chine is a thing with rides and a museumish thing, good for kids but generally a bit naff. I think you can get a bus to the needles and Alum Bay for all your multi coloured sand needs. Shanklin is pretty. Carisbrooke castle is good for a wander around, they have donkeys you can stroke
Theres the garlic farm - I havent been but you probably like garlic so you might like it - they do garlic beer!
I love garlic.
Thanks Callie!
Callie
Pivoting
Its all falling into the sea! but yes bits of black gang chine are fenced off or have disappeared. There is an educational 'ride' thing where some bloke of the telly with a beard (not brian blessed) tell you about it all then there is a bit that sounds really exciting from outside bit if you are on the 'ride' thing you are really diaappointed.
Last time I was on the IOW I went to The Chale Show, which was a sort of IOW version of the Lambeth Country Show (or other alternatives). That was quite a cool day out as I didn't need to drive, could drink cider and walked back to the campsite along the coast Was a really lovely sunny day too. That won't be on when youre there though maggot
Chines btw are steep sided valley things where rivers go into the sea - theres loads along the south coast. You have to be careful though as you might be able to get to the beach down one but not be able to get back up the next one whale chine is EVIL! unless you like that sort of thing.
Last time I was on the IOW I went to The Chale Show, which was a sort of IOW version of the Lambeth Country Show (or other alternatives). That was quite a cool day out as I didn't need to drive, could drink cider and walked back to the campsite along the coast
Was a really lovely sunny day too. That won't be on when youre there though maggot Chines btw are steep sided valley things where rivers go into the sea - theres loads along the south coast. You have to be careful though as you might be able to get to the beach down one but not be able to get back up the next one
whale chine is EVIL! unless you like that sort of thing.
pootle
little moran
I LOVE the Isle of Wight and it's ramsahackle, pretty dated and wierd ways. It's my happy place. FACT
My top tips are: play as much crazy golf as possible. Particularly good civic courses in Sandown and Shanklin. The one on Sandown Pier is pretty good too.
Blackgang Chine! The IoW's version of a theme park - clamber on fibreglass dinosaurs, get lost in the the World's Easiest Maze, pretend to be a child on the slides and stuff, go in the wonky house and understand what it's like on ketamine! Fun for all the family!
Coo at the donk's at the Donkey Sanctuary!
Pretend to be Godzilla at the Godshill Miniature Village and then have an awesome cream tea in one of the many tea shops
Go to the Needles and the multi-coloured sand bit (although you can't really go on the sands anymore) and experience both the shittest and scariest cable car ride ever!
Best of all is Waltzing Waters in Brading....http://www.waltzingwaters.co.uk/ the world's most elaborate water, music and light show. There are no words to describe it...although part of the show contains poems/testimonials read out by people who have experienced the wonder of Waltzing Waters and tried to express it in mere words.
That should keep you going for a bit!
My top tips are: play as much crazy golf as possible. Particularly good civic courses in Sandown and Shanklin. The one on Sandown Pier is pretty good too.
Blackgang Chine! The IoW's version of a theme park - clamber on fibreglass dinosaurs, get lost in the the World's Easiest Maze, pretend to be a child on the slides and stuff, go in the wonky house and understand what it's like on ketamine! Fun for all the family!
Coo at the donk's at the Donkey Sanctuary!
Pretend to be Godzilla at the Godshill Miniature Village and then have an awesome cream tea in one of the many tea shops
Go to the Needles and the multi-coloured sand bit (although you can't really go on the sands anymore) and experience both the shittest and scariest cable car ride ever!
Best of all is Waltzing Waters in Brading....http://www.waltzingwaters.co.uk/ the world's most elaborate water, music and light show. There are no words to describe it...although part of the show contains poems/testimonials read out by people who have experienced the wonder of Waltzing Waters and tried to express it in mere words.
That should keep you going for a bit!
I used to play American Football for the Isle of Wight Rhinos back in the day.
Coach was Steve Rains, I went out with his daughter, you can read an interview with Steve here if you want to know more.
I am pretty sure there is no team now but if you had gone in 1991/1992 you could have popped along.
It was shit but something to do I suppose.
Coach was Steve Rains, I went out with his daughter, you can read an interview with Steve here if you want to know more.
I am pretty sure there is no team now but if you had gone in 1991/1992 you could have popped along.
It was shit but something to do I suppose.
Or the 50's if you're in Ventnor.
London_Calling
Pleasant and unpatronising
Don't ever go there unless you have little kids and a half term to fill, or guaranteed snatch action lined up.
HTH!!1!
HTH!!1!
pogofish
Testicle Hairstyle
You could go for a stroll round the remains of the UK's main rocket engine testing site at High Down:
http://www.hengistbury-head.co.uk/highdown.htm
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=24215
http://www.hengistbury-head.co.uk/highdown.htm
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=24215
geminisnake
a complex mass of conflicting ideas
Go and see all the 'wonders' of the IoW. Cowes you can't milk, Ryde where you walk, Needles you can't thread and the other 4 iirc!! I haven't been there since I was 10 so now idea what it's like now but from some of the posts I'm thinking it'd be much the same!!
I haven't been there since I was 10 so now idea what it's like now but from some of the posts I'm thinking it'd be much the same!!
clicker
nanook rubs it....
I was going to say brading wax works museum....then googled it and am bereft that it closed in 2009. It was small, freaky and a kid's delight. I remember the winged cats and stuffed animals and a woman in a coffin as the last exhibit....she moved as you went past and as an eleven year old she made my day.
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