A grown-up guide to the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight may conjure up fond memories of childhood holidays and while there’s plenty to do for the whole family, it’s also the perfect place for a grown-up getaway.
Jumping on a boat to cross the Solent over to the Isle of Wight feels like you’re really escaping from it all. Sure, it’s a quick hop over and you’ll arrive before you’ve had any chance to sit down, but it feels like a welcome change of scene.
Although the island is arguably still best known for its gorgeous beaches and coves, music festivals and Cowes Week, it’s also an ideal place for food and drink lovers, nature enthusiasts and those who just want to enjoy a slower pace of life.
Booking your ferry crossing already? Here’s how to spend a grown-up weekend on the Isle of Wight.
Friday
Check-in to: Camp Wight. Whether you’re a proper camper or more of a glamper (no judgement from us), get off the grid at this gorgeous woodland camping spot in the heart of West Wight. Whether you’ve come prepared with your own tent or want to live it up in a geodesic dome, it’s a great eco-friendly option with the chance to get back to nature and hopefully catch some epic stars too. The Isle of Wight has some of the darkest skies in the UK – it’s a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – so if the weather’s playing ball, you can expect a pretty spectacular show.
Courtesy of Camp Wight
Get to know Cowes: Just a 20-minute drive from Camp Wight is the harbour town of Cowes. It's best known as the spot where sailing regatta Cowes Week has been held since 1826, but there’s plenty going on during the other 51 weeks of the year. Wander around the marina, eye up the yachts, check out the massive 1912 hammerhead crane and learn a little history at The Wight Military and Heritage Museum. Or just browse the cute homeware and traditional toy shops on the picturesque high street.
Dine at: Smoking Lobster. Local island produce and seafood is given a pan-Asian twist at the Smoking Lobster in Cowes. You might think a punchy combination of yuzu scallop ceviche, dressed white crab, fennel and langoustine bisque would be a tricky one to balance, but the chefs absolutely nail it here with the citrussy yuzu slicing through the deep richness of the langoustine bisque.
For main, try the fish of the day (seabass when I visited) with seaweed salad, yuzu slaw and fries, and wash it down with a glass of sake (Japanese whisky) or one of the fabulous cocktails – many of which are fun twists on the classics. The vibe is minimalist, nautical chic, while also being really welcoming, with a friendly and knowledgeable team.
If you’re not around Cowes, there’s also a branch of the Smoking Lobster at Ventnor Beach, as well as the Drunken Lobster in Ventnor Town.
Courtesy of Smoking Lobster
READ MORE: Coastal getaways around the UK
Saturday
Step into royal shoes at: Osborne House. Explore Queen Victoria’s royal hideaway, which she bought in 1845. The Italianate-style house is stunning and packed (literally) with ornate trinkets and over-the-top décor. Once you’ve spent time admiring the house, wander the trails down to the private beach and pick up an ice cream made by local company Minghella for the journey back via Swiss Cottage. Prince Albert apparently said the views over to the Solent reminded him of the Bay of Naples.
Get your garlic on: Once you’ve worked up an appetite on the trails at Osborne House, head over to The Garlic Farm for lunch. If you’ve ever been to a farm shop in the UK, you’ll likely have seen (or tried) something from them. Start with a whole roasted bulb of garlic smeared on chunky bread, or if you’re feeling indecisive, share a mezze board with a whole selection of garlicky treats. The vampires won’t be coming anywhere near you for the rest of the weekend.
Walk off your lunch around the farm on one of the signposted strolls, while you discover the flora and fauna – and maybe even see a red squirrel or two. If you’d rather be chauffeured around, join the tractor trailer tours running at weekends from Easter to September and during school holidays. Take a slightly bumpy ride through the fields and learn about garlic growing, the farm and the local area.
Taste the local wine: Adgestone claims to be the UK’s oldest continuously operating commercial vineyard. Tour the 10 acres of vines and head down to the cellars before indulging in a wine tasting session (slurping very much encouraged). If you want to make the most of your surroundings you can stay the night in Ye Olde Cellar Door self-catering accommodation or in a shepherd’s hut. Got a wedding coming up? Buy a bottle of Something Blue, the UK’s only blue sparkling wine.
Check-in to: Haven Hall. Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views from the award-winning gardens at this luxury bed and breakfast just outside of Shanklin. Owners David and Arielle have lovingly transformed the house into a relaxing and tranquil escape with 14 ensuite bedrooms filled with period fixtures and fittings. With super comfy, super-king-sized beds, large windows and lots of trinkets and curiosities, the bedrooms feel cosy and homely.
Rachael Hogg
Help yourself to a pre- or post-dinner drink at the honesty bar before choosing whether to sip it on the patio or in the drawing room or dining room. The private two-acre grounds feature an outdoor heated swimming pool with a pool house, along with a grass tennis court.
Enjoy fine dining at The Hambrough. With renowned chef Matthew Tomkinson at the helm, who's earned Michelin stars at two restaurants he’s previously worked at, expect fabulous fine dining in quaint surroundings. It will require some restraint, but try not to fill up on the pre-dinner snacks which just keep on coming. The changing menu features lots of seasonal produce cooked with flair and sophistication.
Sip a glass of very reasonably priced wine while trying to make the very difficult decision of what you’re going to have to eat. Expect the likes of English broccoli soup, Colston Bassett Stilton, toasted almonds and extra virgin olive oil; Cotswold white chicken, white onion purée, wild garlic, truffle pudding and roast chicken sauce; and set Briddlesford Farm cream with poached English rhubarb, yogurt sorbet and spiced pain perdu (a fancy version of French toast). It’s the perfect date-night spot.
Rachael Hogg
Sunday
Read the paper with a 5-star breakfast: Enjoy breakfast looking out over the dazzling sea in the light and airy East Room at Haven Hall hotel. Tuck into a full English with as few – or as many – ingredients as you’d like. The sausages, bacon and eggs are all local. Or stick to classic egg dishes including omelettes and eggs royale. There’s also a large range of continental breakfast bits like fruit salad, bircher muesli, cereals, yogurts, breads, freshly baked pastries and local jams and preserves.
Take a morning stroll: After a fabulous breakfast with sunshine (hopefully) streaming through the large windows, take a stroll down the coastal path to Hope Beach, potter around Shanklin old village with its quaint thatched houses or visit Shanklin Chine waterfall, the island’s oldest tourist attraction, which opened in 1817.
travelbild/Alamy Stock Photo
Lunch at: The Buddle Smuggler’s Inn. Set on the clifftops in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this 16th-century inn is the perfect spot for walkers and nature lovers. If the weather’s good, lounge in the large garden with sea views and enjoy the breeze, or if things aren’t quite so balmy, escape inside and be warmly greeted with a roaring fire, inglenook beams, flagstone floors and plenty of cosy and snug corners to hide in.
Tuck into delicious pub fare featuring plenty of local ingredients, like Isle of Wight tomato bruschetta, Isle of Wight steak mushroom and ale pie or Yarmouth crab salad. You must leave room for the chef’s special orange and almond slice too. Alongside, quaff a pint of local beer or a bloody mermaid made using the island’s Mermaid Distillery salt vodka.
See the island: Before heading back to catch the ferry, take a scenic drive down the stunning Military Road along the southwest coast of the island, where you’ll catch awesome views of The Needles, an impressive group of chalk stacks rising out of the sea.
Courtesy of Wightlink
Getting there
The only way to get to the Isle of Wight is by boat, but it’s a quick and easy journey. Wightlink operates ferries for foot passengers and vehicles from Portsmouth to Fishbourne and Lymington to Yarmouth, with crossings taking around 40-45 minutes.
If you’re not taking a car, you can hop on a Wightlink FastCat catamaran between Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde, which takes just 22 minutes. At the time of writing, tickets start from £26.80 for an adult return foot passenger or from £93.50 for two adults and a car. Tickets can be purchased from wightlight.co.uk.
You can also get to the island with Red Funnel ferries operating between Southampton and Cowes or between Southsea and Ryde on a foot passenger hovercraft operated by Hovertravel.
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Lead image: Courtesy of VisitIsleofWight.co.uk