2 Bedroom The Isle Of Wight cottages

• Latest Articles:
• ...locals, the endearing thatched cottages, weekly farmer's markets and rural isolation of villages are the quintessentially English aspects of Dorset that few migrating townies will ever appreciate - unless they choose to settle here. The 19th Century setting for many of Thomas Hardy's acclaimed...
• ...Jarvis Cocker and Robert Plant all vying for an annual spot, you can pretty much guarantee a mind-boggling lineup!   Bestival, Newport, Isle of Wight 9-12 September If beer-swilling and electro-funk are your thing, Bestival promises a rip-roaring weekend of debauchery - albeit in a...

As well as being a county in its own right, the Isle of Wight is the largest island in England. Accessible by both ferry and hovercraft services from the mainland to harbours at Yarmouth, Ryde, Fishbourne and Cowes, this jewel of an island is diamond-shaped, covering an area of 380 sq kilometres. With its central, hilly spine, it is possible to view different sides of the island from the same vantage point, and the lush countryside is also transected by several rivers, including the Medina and the Eastern and Western Yar.

Situated at the foot of the English mainland, just three miles off the coast of Hampshire, and between the English Channel and the strait of water known as the Solent, the island has been a popular holiday destination since Victorian times. Indeed Queen Victoria herself was a frequent visitor, building her Summer residence, Osborne House at East Cowes. The Victorian Poet Laureate, Alfred Lord Tennyson lived at the western point of the island, at Freshwater, which was also the birthplace of the 17th century architect and polymath, Robert Hooke. The late, Oscar-winning film director Anthony Minghella was also born on the island, and his family still produce ice cream for the local population. Other famous residents include Dame Ellen MacArthur, Alan Titchmarsh, Bear Grylls and David Icke.

With a beautiful, diverse natural landscape, the island is often referred to as 'England in miniature'; it is also notable for its flora and fauna, being one of the few remaining places in England where red squirrels flourish; other notable wildlife includes the Glanville Fritillary butterfly, the dormouse and several species of rare bat. The area is also one of the most important areas in Europe for dinosaur fossils.

Things to do on the Isle of Wight
The island is a wonderful place to explore, particularly on foot and by bicycle; there are numerous well-kept footpaths and cycleways, including a 62 mile 'Round the Island' route for the more committed cyclist, and 67 miles of long-distance coastal footpath.

The Isle of Wight is well-known for its events and festivals. 'Cowes Week' is perhaps the most famous sailing event in the UK, with the regatta taking place each August. The island is also home to multiple musical events, including the Isle of Wight Festival (successfully revived in 2002), the more niche boutique 'Bestival', an international jazz event, and the one day 'Summer Madness'. The microclimate of the island is particularly suitable for growing garlic bulbs, and for almost thirty years the annual Garlic Festival at Newchurch has provided aficionados of this aromatic with the opportunity to sample both traditional and more exotic culinary expressions - including garlic beer and garlic ice cream.

Top Destinations

Carisbrooke Castle - Now an English Heritage property, the impressive castle was once a prison for the beleaguered King Charles I during the English Civil War.

Osborne House - Queen Victoria's favourite Summer retreat, the house is open to the public as a fascinating museum, containing all sorts of royal ephemera. In the gardens of the main house, lies the Swiss Cottage, a home-in-miniature for Victoria's nine children. The grounds are now also used as a venue for open-air concerts.

Blackgang Chine - Originally built in a ravine (or 'chine') at the southern tip of the island, this popular family amusement park developed in an area supposedly known for its smuggling activities. Bizarrely, due to the instability of the coastline and the continual threat of landslides, the attractions are continually being moved inland onto firmer ground.

Bembridge Lifeboat Station - On the eastern tip of the island the RNLI station overlooks a particularly dangerous rocky outcrop, where boats still run aground. Construction of a new boathouse and an inshore lifeboat station are underway.

The Needles - Perhaps the most famous image of the island, this series of distinctive chalk stacks sit out to sea off the coast of Alum Bay, at the western-most point of the island. Ironically, an additional (and supposedly the most needle-like) stack is thought to have collapsed in 1764. The red and white striped Needles Lighthouse stands at the end of the line of rocks, and was manned by keepers up until 1994.