WHEN Brits choose to have a staycation, most will head down to Cornwall or Devon for their beautiful beaches, but there’s a ‘secret’ isle that has just as much to offer – or possibly more.
The Isle of Wight is the largest island off the south coast of England and Darragh Gray has holidayed there almost 100 times – speaking to Sun Travel, he reveals his favourite beaches and where you can find the UK’s only blue sparkling wine.
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Originally from Northern Ireland, Darragh’s family made the journey to the island every summer during the school holidays from when he was three-years-old.
Darragh explained: “I’ve been going as long as I can remember, every summer as a child we’d drive to Hampshire and take a ferry over.
“As a kid it always felt magical, like going to a secret island – and I fell in love with the landscape, the coastline and if anything, it’s only deepened as I’ve gotten older.”
When the school holidays ended, Darragh continues to visit and has been to the island almost 100 times – he already has four trips planned for this year.
He added: “Even though it’s a really short ferry journey, it feels like going to a different world. It looks and feels like England, with a hint of the exotic.
“Parts of it almost feel Mediterranean. A lot of people say it’s like stepping back in time and I think there’s a lot in that.
“It’s full of history with its old buildings and villages, but it also has a vintage feel and a slower pace of life – but in saying that, it doesn’t feel stuck in the past.
“There are great restaurants, attractions and lots of lovely places to stay.”
The Isle of Wight is the largest island off the south coast and can be reached in as little as a 22-minute ride on the Wightlink ferry from Hampshire.
It doesn’t take long to explore the Isle of Wight as you can drive from one end to the other in one hour – but Darragh says there are so many places to explore in the middle, and around the coast.
When it comes to beaches, Darragh suggests heading to West Wight, the rural, western coastal region with dramatic cliffs and sandy beaches.
Darragh said: “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.”
The Isle of Wight also has busier beaches with shores for building sandcastles and propping up windbreaks for a picnic.
“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 the striking red and gold sand and shingle; that’s a lovely one to visit.”
When it comes to grabbing a bite to eat, there are plenty of pubs on the island – but some of Darragh’s favourites are two you might not naturally stumble upon.
“What I love about the pubs on the island is there’s so many beautiful historic ones and lots with awesome sea views.
“In Shanklin, 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.
“On 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.”
When it comes to food, the Isle of Wight makes a lot of its own produce from tasty tomatoes to fresh seafood, and uniquely, 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 – it’s very tasty.”
Of course a trip to the Isle of Wight wouldn’t be complete without at least one chippy tea.
Darragh told us: “There are two I really like, the Happy Haddock in Shanklin, and Stotesburys in Newport – both are great value for money.
“For ice cream, there’s a fantastic Victorian ice cream parlour in Ventnor called Crave – they make a whole range of ice cream on site every day.
“There’s also a family business called Minghella, which has been going for years, and they make delicious ice cream. Their ginger ice cream is incredible.”
Places to stay on the island range from boutique hotels to Airbnbs, but another option is its holiday parks.
There are around 20 holiday parks on the island, some small, and others like Parkdean and Away Resorts, which offer affordable stays – Darragh has even booked week-long off-peak stays from £41.
And if you’re thinking about booking your own trip over to the isle and are wondering which season is best, Darragh has some advice.
“I go at all times of the year, and I love to see the island during different seasons.
During the winter, not everything is open, and it can be a bit more of a challenge getting about, especially on the buses.
“But it’s so lovely, quiet, and peaceful, and I would say if you have some time off and you’re worrying about if you’ll be bored during the winter, I’d say no – you can also get some great deals on accommodation.
“My favourite time, though, is around now, early spring and early summer. Everything’s green, there are lots of wildflowers, and it doesn’t have the summer holiday traffic.
“September into October is a lovely time to go, you still haven’t gotten into the depths of winter. It’s brilliant all year round.
“Even in peak summer, I’m always amazed, you don’t have to go too far for peace and quiet, there are so many hidden corners on the island to be discovered.”