Isle of Wight

We used to go regularly when DD was small but haven't been for many years. We absolutely loved it. All those quaint little places, Blackgang Chine, the children buying little bottles of coloured sand. Lovely.

I'm here! 'bin' character was a typo. 'Crapola' is a word I nicked from Michele Hanson's column in the Guardian, meaning 'rubbish' or similar, depending on context. 'Bin' was a typo. I wondered whether the IOW looked run-down and suburban as some people have previously told me.

Reading all your posts, it's clear that there's a lot to explore and I'm now really looking forward to our visit. We're going at a time when schools aren't on holiday but when the weather is more likely to be kind. I'm now wondering whether we've allowed enough time, but if not there's always scope for a return visit. Thank you all for your welcome input!

:-D

The Zoo at Shanklin is worth a visit. It is run by Chris Packham's partner.

The trip on the ferry from Lymington to Yarmouth is breathtaking on a clear sunny day.

That`ll need a fair old lottery win! Gorgeous though.

You and me both merlotgran! I found this little beauty on Rightmove. Soon as I win the lottery, it's mine!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-45876468.html

We missed our chance to move back when DH was made redundant but DD2 was settled in 6th form and my mother had just been widowed for a second time. After that work got in the way and then the grandchildren started to arrive!

You have to take the geographical isolation into account. The ferries are expensive so friends and family have to plan accordingly if they want to visit. There is often a need for major illnesses to be referred to Southampton General which can mean an ambulance transfer on a ferry.

If we ever did go back we'd buy a cottage in West Wight to be near our friends as I love the villages. Ventnor in the south is my spiritual home with a very pretty beach but the town and terraced streets are far too steep so would be out of the question now. East Wight is much more commercialised and very busy in the summer.

In the winter I often while away a wet and miserable afternoon browsing RightMove and pretending I've won the lottery.

There's lots to see and if you like walking it's ideal. There are plenty of places to visit or you can just wander along the various sea fronts. West Wight is quieter than East Wight. After all it was good enough for Queen Victoria and Tennyson to name just 2 of the many 'celebs' of the 19th century!!! Very historical - Carisbrooke Castle for example and the Roman villa at Brading - and of course don't forget the dinosaurs!!!

That's lovely Chewie - it's so enjoyable to go there and see all the donkeys wandering about, isn't it?

This has got me all excited now about retiring to IoW - have often considered that after ex-GF of brother always said she was going to retire there, and when she married said she still was going to, with or without her husband!

Where abouts on the island do people reccommend? (I'm thinking accessible to shops, transport etc as may be too doddery to drive!)

I still sponsor a donkey at the IOW donkey Sanctuary DanniRae. Actually, thinking about it, he must be about 40 now and I still get a quarterly newsletter from him. waves to Henry

So many positive thoughts about IoW maybe OP works for tourist board!

I too LOVE the IOW and have been many times. Lots of advice about where to visit - I would like to add The Donkey Sanctuary. We visit there every time we are on the island.

We had our honeymoon there in 1961, then went back to celebrate our Golden Wedding. It was lovely, but I hadn't remembered how hilly it was. Why has Rowantree not come back to tell us what " Crapola scenery Surburban bin character " means?

Thank you for the update Chewbacca. We first went in 1971, then 72 and 73. The next time we went we just had the 2 youngest with us, but they still enjoyed it, as did we, that was in 1983, and we were informed that it had begun sliding into the sea, but didn`t realise how bad it was. It looks a bit fancier nowadays, but it still looks fun, we`ve always been at night, never in daylight. Would love to go back.
Love your story Merlot!

I can almost believe it too merlotgran!

Yes, it's so sad to see the undercliff around St Lawrence disappearing. DH and I met at the St Lawrence Inn at a mutual friend's 21st birthday bash. I believe it has closed now.

The Buddle Inn, further along the undercliff, is still doing a roaring trade by all accounts and is always our first port of call. Happy memories of family gatherings when my lovely Dad was alive.

I have a little story about escaping wallabies:

My brother was training in pathology at St. Mary's hospital. Driving across Arreton down late one night, he and some friends unfortunately hit a wallaby. It was stunned and probably bruised but otherwise unhurt. They smuggled it into A&E, put it to bed in one of the cubicles and scarpered!!!!

Allegedly!!

blackgangchine.com/about-us/

Happy to amend my earlier post 're Blackgang Chine with the above link. Think it's moved a little further inland due to recurring landslips but it's still open for business.

Blackgang Chine was falling into the sea (apparently) 37 years ago when we were there.

We must go back and find out if there is any left
Or if there are still wallabies hopping around on the IofW

Most of Blackgang Chine is in the beach at the bottom of the cliffs now callgirl1. My kids loved it there too but, each year we went back, there was less and less of it to see! Even the Military Road that goes past the Chine was diverted for a while due to landslips.

Haven`t been for a good few years now, but the IOW is a lovely place, ideal for a relaxing holiday, but plenty to do as well. Is Blackgang Chine still as fun-filled and magical? My kids loved it there.

Another one here who doesn't really understand the question but just wanted to say I love the IOW

Absolutely love the Isle of Wight and have had many lovely holidays there. West Wight is my particular favourite, with Freshwater Bay, Tennyson Down, Alum Bay and The Needles having spectacular scenery. Can't think of any part of the island that I wouldn't be happy to visit though.
Can't recall any suburban bin characters.

The IoW is beautiful. If you go, do visit Bembridge and have tea in the beachside cafe near the lifeboat. It's perfect.

It's a lovely island, as Smithy says, it's a bit of a step back in time, quite "old-fashioned" (in a nice way) in places. Lots of pretty villages, beautiful countryside and coast, and quite a few things to do. If you have a car over there you can drive right round in less than a day, at a slower pace than on the mainland. I believe it also gets more sunshine per year than anywhere else.
My Dad lived there for a number of years before his death, and I've not been back there since.

I went on a works holiday and wasn't looking forward to it, but its the most lovely place!
Its really quaint and pretty, with lovely tea rooms and gardens. I loved it.