Isle of Wight

I loved it when I went, just because it is so quaint and pretty.
It's like stepping back in time.

Dh and I went for a few days right after he retired, so over ten years ago now. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes, it does feel a bit ‘1950s’ but purely in a good way, as far as we were concerned.

Wow..... it sounds idyllic... it seems I would be stupid NOT to book...

Tomorrow will be the day ( she says excitedly )
🤗

We went in March last year but the weather was awful and all the tourist attractions were closed until April! I still love it though and would definitely go back. You should have a lovely time in June. The Garlic Farm is nice for coffee or a snack.

Athrawes

I'm from the Isle of Wight and passed my driving test there. I took it in an area where there was just one steep hill on which to stop and just one set of traffic lights!!!! I have happy memories of my time there - even the school days. I loved swimming with friends but also being on my own on the Downs - something these days I wouldn't encourage my young grandchildren to do

Same here. I took my test in 1964. The short bit of dual carriageway at Blackwater was where you could put your foot down. My first car had a top speed of 45mph! 😂

Such happy days. I would walk the family dog all over St. Boniface Down and swat for exams on Ventnor beach listening to radio London on my little transistor radio. In the summer holidays I sold ice creams on the pier.

It will always be my spiritual home.

You can take the girl out of Ventnor ….etc., etc.

I have been to the Isle of Wight It is beautiful.

There’s a series on the TV with voice over by Alan Tichmarsh on Isle of Wight. I think it’s on 5 but can’t remember which day. I haven’t been for 30 odd years but loved it there. We stayed at TheAlbion Hotel, Freshwater Bay with fabulous views from the dining room. Sadly it went down hill and we switched to Treyarnon Bay in Cornwall.

I'm from the Isle of Wight and passed my driving test there. I took it in an area where there was just one steep hill on which to stop and just one set of traffic lights!!!! I have happy memories of my time there - even the school days. I loved swimming with friends but also being on my own on the Downs - something these days I wouldn't encourage my young grandchildren to do

We had a few holidays on the IOW and liked it very much. We stayed at Bembridge. We toured most of the island and had good weather every time.

Ive used the wrong word commercialism ....

rosie1959

There is a TV programme just started on channel 5 all about The Isle of Wight which may be of interest to you Serendipity22

Yes, i saw that programme... i thought it looked lovely and 'held in time', not bombarded with commercialisation.

After all the lovely replies i am swaying to book .....
Thinking June.
I will return with my 'report' haaaa.

Its a coach holiday and if last year's coach holiday is anything to go by, we will have an absolutely FANTASTIC time.

THANK YOU EVERYONE 😊

There is a TV programme just started on channel 5 all about The Isle of Wight which may be of interest to you Serendipity22

We discovered the Isle of Wight in the 70s, went a few times, loved it, then went again in the 80s, but sadly have never been back, it`s too late now. It`s very pretty, we used to stay in the Freshwater Bay area.

I would recommend a visit to Osborne House - although I'm now worrying that it might not be 'wheelchair friendly'

I absolutely love it there!
You’ll have a great time and there is plenty to do all over the island.

Yes, lovely little island. Went there years ago. Try and visit the Chessell pottery. I believe it is still there We bought a beautiful piece but one of our little ones decided to inspect it closely and dropped it. Wish I could go back there.

You’ll have a lovely time Serendipity. We were there a few years ago, but more relatively my daughter-in-law took her Mum, in a wheelchair, and her Dad, Auntie & Uncle last year - they all had a great time.

Oooooooo sounds wonderful...

Thank you everyone for your information. It is so good to read feedback.

Im looking at June. Im looking forward now.

Thank you 😊

I have PMed you, Serendipity

Ventnor is so hilly it’s terraced so I would avoid it if you are a wheelchair user. It’s my favourite place having lived there during the sixties but there are hardly any flat parts so I would stick to the east coast. Shanklin has a lift down to the beach although I think it closes in the winter. Sundown is relatively flat.

If you are travelling about by car it will be easy to spot wheelchair friendly places because everywhere on the Island is ‘near.’ There are some spectacular views!

We like the Isle of Wight especially what we think are the more scenic parts like Shanklin & Ventnor but these are quite hilly in parts especially from the town to the seafront.
Cowes is relatively flat so is Sandown.

We had an enjoyable week’s break there a year ago after previously visiting at the age of eight. We loved it, touring all over the island on the excellent bus service as we went by train/ferry. Lots of lovely coastal walks. We were lucky the weather was glorious. It is not much changed since my visit as a child, very relaxing.

It is a very pleasant island, although stuck in the 1950s in some ways. The hilliness varies according to the area. Here is a contour map:-
en-gb.topographic-map.com/map-4fl3l/Isle-of-Wight/?center=50.67296%2C-1.29707