THE Isle of Wight is known for its Mediterranean-looking beaches, ‘back in time’ towns and being one of the sunniest spots in Britain.
If you fancy a visit – and we suggest you do – here’s everything you need to know, from the best hotels to the quieter beaches, as well as how to get discounts on the ferry and where to find the island-made sparkling blue wine.
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To find out all the best bits about the British island, Sun Travel sought out the help of an insider who has been there almost 100 times.
Darragh Gray, who hails from Northern Ireland, has been holidaying on the Isle of Wight since he was just three years old.
When family school holidays came to an end, Darragh was so taken with the place that he continued to visit and has already planned four trips this year.
Talking to Sun Travel, Darragh describes the isle as “magical” and, at the right time of year, even comparable to the Mediterranean.
Best beaches
As the Isle of Wight is only 22.5 miles long, you’re never too far from a beach. For some bucket and spade fun, Darragh knows exactly where you should visit.
He says: “If you’re looking for a beach with all the fun of the traditional seaside, you can’t beat Sandown. It has miles of sand that run from a pier at one end to the cliffs at the other.
“Another great spot is a beach resort called Ventnor, which has striking red and gold sand and shingle; that’s a lovely one to visit.”
For more of a rural coastline escape, Darragh suggests heading to West Wight, which has dramatic cliffs and sandy beaches.
He says: “Compton Bay is a lovely spot that feels remote, and you can go fossil hunting on the beach.
“Freshwater Bay is interesting because on a stormy day it looks wild with huge waves on the edge of the Atlantic.
“But on a calm summer’s day, you can feel like you’re on a Greek island.”
Other secluded spots include Bembridge on the East Coast and the quiet beach found on Totland Bay.
Local gems
The town of Cowes in the west is famous for yachting and well known, but what tourists don’t know about is the secret spot around the corner.
Darragh says: “About 30-minutes walk around the coast, there’s a little village called Gurnard.
“It has a lovely little beach and beautiful sunsets.”
It’s bordered by green beach huts, and there’s a traditional pub called The Woodvale found beyond the green where you can watch boats bob along the water.
Another secret spot is Seaview – the small Edwardian resort is just beyond Ryde.
Darragh says visitors will love it for its “lovely coastline”, which is much quieter as it’s away from the main resorts.
He also named Steephill Cove near Ventnor as a “lovely hidden place” that can only be reached on foot.
The fishing cove is known for its safe sandy beach, perfect for swimming, with plenty of rock pools for exploring.
Pubs
Who can stay away from a pub on holiday, whether it’s a refreshing pint you’re after or a glass of wine in a sunny garden?
Well, there are lots of lovely ones on the Isle of Wight, with sea views or overlooking the countryside.
When it comes to his favourites, Darragh told us about one in Shanklin.
He says: “Tucked under the cliffs is the Fisherman’s Cottage; it’s a lovely pub away from the main beach – sitting on the patio is one of my favourite places to be.
“Or the south side of the island, in Ventnor, is The Buddle Inn, which dates back to the 16th century and used to be a spot for smugglers back in its day.
“It’s lovely to sit by the fire in the winter, or in the garden in the summer.”
Another favourite is The Culver Haven Inn, thanks to its outdoor terrace that has sea views in “three different directions”.
It’s isolated up on the cliffs, but there are plenty of walking routes around it.
When it comes to country pubs, Darragh says: “The Blacksmiths is a country inn near Halsbrook, which I think is one of the most tranquil locations on the island.
“You can eat, drink and take in the views all the way down to the Solent.”
Another is The Crown Inn in Shorwell, which Darragh describes as quiet and historic with a “great gastropub menu”. On Sundays, they serve up pub lunches, as well as dishes like steak and chips, and of course, plenty of fish dishes.
Number 3, that’s tucked away at the top of the high street in Cowes, is a restaurant that Darragh says offers good value.
He also recommends the Basque Kitchen, which has “outstanding tapas”.
A higher-end restaurant is the RT Cafe Grill in Ryde, which is right by the sea, and has an à la carte menu, grill specials and Sunday roasts too.
The True Food Kitchen in Ventnor cooks up Asian-inspired food made from local ingredients.
Darragh says: “They’ve just opened up a second restaurant in Castlehaven where you can sit outside and look over the cliffs – it’s very magical.”
Seaside favourites
No trip to the seaside is complete without going to the chippy.
Darragh has two that are his standouts.
He tells us: “The first is the Happy Haddock in Shanklin, and Stotesburys in Newport, which is the oldest fish and chip shop on the island, and both are great value for money.”
When it comes to soft serve treats and gelato, head to Ventnor.
“There’s a fantastic Victorian ice cream parlour in Ventnor called Crave, which makes a whole range of ice cream on site every day.”
It has rotating flavours from Dubai chocolate pistachio to Cabana (coconut, caramel, cherries and chocolate) and salted butter and ginger cake.
If you happen to be in Newport, pop into Minghella.
It’s called an ‘institution’ serving ice cream for over 75 years, and a must-try, according to Darragh, is their unique ginger ice cream.
Local food and blue wine
When it comes to food, the Isle of Wight harvests a lot of its own produce, from tasty tomatoes to fresh seafood, and in one case, blue wine.
“There’s one commercial vineyard on the island called Adgestone, and what you can buy from there is sparkling wine: white, red, and blue. I once took the wine to a barbecue, and everyone was fascinated by it.
“The colour blue comes from the skin of the grapes, and I don’t know how they do it, but it’s an incredible turquoise-blue colour, and very tasty.”
Mermaid Gin, which is sold around the country, is also made on the island, and you can even visit the distillery. At the Mermaid Bar, you can sample cocktails made with their distilled gins and rum made from island botanicals. Think a ‘Ginacolada’ and Mermaid Margarita.
Free activities
For animal lovers, the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, which has 109 donkeys, is a great spot – it’s open seven days a week, and is completely free.
Another free activity is at the RNLI Lifeboat Station in Bembridge, which opens a few days a week to the public.
There are some quirky museums too, like the Isle of Wight Bus & Coach Museum in Ryde, which is full of historic vehicles and completely free.
On display are around 20 vehicles, transport artefacts and photographs as well as a cafe and shop.
Festivals
During the spring and summer seasons, the Isle of Wight comes alive with festivals across the island.
Darragh has some suggestions, one of which is slightly unconventional.
He says: “The garlic festival is one of my favourites, I went for the first time last summer and can’t wait to go back this year.
“It’s a mix between a food festival and a country fair with lots of food stalls and dog shows.”
This year, the Garlic Festival is taking place between August 15-16, with tickets still on sale.
For keen hikers, the Isle of Wight is full of trails, and there are even organised Walking Festivals – some are free of charge. You can ride the Isle of Wight Steam Railway throughout the year, but they also hold festivals.
One is the Real Ale Festival, where local brewers offer a selection of beers and ciders – it was last held in May so anyone wanting to attend will have to keep an eye out for next year’s event.
Of course, one of the most famous events on the island is the Isle of Wight Music Festival. This year it’s between June 18 and June 21 with Lewis Capaldi, Calvin Harris, and The Cure all headlining.
Hotels
There are plenty of places to stay scattered across the island, from large hotels to tiny guesthouses.
Darragh says: “I’m a big fan of supporting independent businesses – there’s a big choice of private hotels and B&Bs.
“In terms of where you might want to base yourself, Shanklin is great, especially for first-time visitors because it has a village and a beach.”
“Places I’ve stayed in there and I’d be happy to recommend are the Havelock Hotel, and then there’s a slightly larger Channel View Hotel, which has an indoor pool.”
If you fancy a hotel stay in Shanklin, then Darragh suggests The Curraghmore, which is a family-run B&B with rooms from £90per night.
It’s a great spot for anyone wanting to enjoy spring sunshine as it has beachfront access, a sun terrace and a pretty garden.
The Chestnuts first became a B&B in the 1940s, and is still operating as one today – guests can relax in its suntrap patio and get breakfast included.
Rooms here start from £45 per night and range from singles to family suites.
Number 29 is a small adults-only B&B with rates from £42.50 based on two adults sharing a double room.
All three rooms are en-suite with tea and coffee facilities as well as free Wi-Fi, and include a full English breakfast cooked to order in the mornings.
Darragh adds: “Cowes is a great place to stay, it’s got a lovely High Street, lots of good restaurants and independent shops. There are a couple of places I’ve stayed there.
“One boutique hotel is called Onefifty, which I was really impressed with, or if you fancy staying in a pub, then check into The Anchor Inn, which has good value rooms.”
He adds: “If you’re looking for a self-catering stay, my top tip would be to look at Sun Holidays because there are two big holiday park companies on the island, Parkdean and Away Resorts.
“I’ve stayed more times than I can count in one of those resorts – I’m going over next week, later in May, and they really are great value.
“I’m consistently able to find off-peak week-long stays on the island from £41; you can have up to six people stay in some of the modern caravans.”
Ferries
To get to the Isle of Wight, visitors will have to book a ferry across the Solent.
Darragh suggests hopping on board a Wightlink service where fares start from £21.90 if taking the foot passenger ferry.
Prices can increase during peak travel, but Darragh says there are ways to keep the cost down that not everyone knows about.
He tells us: “If you’re travelling on foot, or by car with Wightlink, children under five are always free, and during the school holidays, you can take school-aged children on the ferry for free.
“If you’re travelling by train, you can buy a return train ticket to the Isle of Wight that includes the ferry and often works out cheaper.
“It’s especially handy if you have a railcard as that discount is applied to the whole journey and it saves faffing about with multiple tickets.”
Before booking, also check discounts through membership schemes like Blue Light cards, English Heritage, and if you’re a supermarket shopper, you can even use Tesco Clubcard vouchers.
Darragh adds: “Lots of accommodation on the island offer discounts on ferries as well, so have a look at that before you book.
“For example, I know that with Parkdean, you can get a significant discount on the ferry when you book a holiday.”