Discover the towns and villages of the Isle of Wight
A popular holiday destination, the Isle of Wight offers the visitor everything from well preserved traditional English villages to the more lively harbour towns with great atmospheres and good food. There is an awful lot packed in to this 23 mile wide island and so here are a few of the towns and villages worth checking out for your Isle of Wight holidays.
- Cowes. On the northern tip of the island, Cowes is the home of the world famous Cowes Week yachting regatta held annually in August. An International sailing centre, Cowes is recognized as the spiritual home of yacht racing. The sailing fraternity makes Cowes in to a thriving and lively town, particularly in August when you can watch the yacht racing from the shoreline.However there is more to Cowes than sailing, and in East Cowes you will find Osborne House, the family home of Queen Victoria. Immaculately preserved, the house and gardens allow you a wonderful insight in to the private ‘off duty’ Royal family life in the 19th Century.
- Newport. Sitting at the centre of the island, Newport is its capital and is the main shopping centre. Most people head to Newport to check out Carisbrooke Castle which is a Norman hill top fortress with a Keep and museum. If you are looking for a place to wander and explore then head to Newport Quay where the former 19th Century port now houses a fine selection of art galleries.
- Yarmouth. On the northern coast of the Isle of Wight, Yarmouth is a great base to explore the western tip of the island. For some of the best views on the island head to Yarmouth Castle, built in 1547 and is now looked after by English Heritage, which looks out across the Solent.Yarmouth is a perfect location for walkers with the Freshwater Trail, leading to Freshwater Bay, providing some superb vistas. From Yarmouth you should also head the 4 miles over to the famous cliffs and coloured sands at Alum Bay – a must see.
- Godshill. If you want to discover a quintessentially English village then head for Godshill situated between Newport and Ventnor. Full of traditional tea shops and thatched chocolate box cottages it is like stepping back in time. While there visit The Model Village, a 1 in 10 recreation of Godshill and Shanklin Old Village.
There is a great selection of holiday parks on the Isle of Wight offering both touring and camping pitches as well as caravan and mobile home accommodation. Search for holiday park accommodation using the menus above.