Isle of Wight

Me and my boyfriend, Fernando, decided we needed to get away for a week (I’ve explained the whole complicated situation on 43Things). The Isle Of Wight seemed like a good idea, so we bought a passenger ferry ticket from Southhampton to West Cowes, a few hours before leaving.

Actually, I did this while Fernando went and bought us a tent. It’s a great thing to do, because it’s not expensive at all. The train to get to Southhampton was far more expensive – it took maybe two hours. We both grabbed some stuff, and left! Without telling anyone where we were going. In fact, we never did tell anyone exactly where we were that week…

We got off the ferry at West Cowes, and immediately saw a sign for a campsite. We got very lucky. It was one of the best priced ones, and pretty nice, too. Plus, it was during Cowes Week (which I wrote about elsewhere). There was a swimming pool at the campsite, but it never got warm enough to go in. Same went for the beach, unfortunately.

We had a great time in the Isle Of Wight. We did lots of walking, went to places I’ve listed on here, saw a movie, got stuck in a downpour, and were the only ones in a takeaway pizza restaurant. Being in a tent got very uncomfortable (especially since we didn’t have the right stuff, and the ground was so hard it made our legs hurt), but, I at least would say, it was all worth it, and made a very good trip.

Very kid-friendly – lots of people have fond memories of going there when they were little. More of a relaxing holiday for adults. I came here on a camping holiday. It made me realise that I do not like camping. Waking up in the morning to find that there are slugs stuck on the outside of your damp tent is not a good start to the day!

IOW is cute,

I’m going to the music festival in June. This will be the 4th time and its just a brilliant weekend. Taking the ferry over to the island starts the break really leisurely and sets the scene for the weekend, chilling, enjoying the music and atmosphere, and hopefully soaking up the sunshine too.

I used to go to the IOW each year as a child. I adored it.
When I was 15 years old ran away to the IOW so I could go to the Pop Festival. I saw Jimmy Hendrix’ last performance before he died.
I will never forget it.

Queen Victoria made Osborne House on the Isle of Wight her summer home for many years and, as a result, it became a major holiday resort for members of European royalty, whose many houses could later claim descent from her, through the widely flung marriages of her offspring. During her reign, in 1897, the World’s first radio station was set up by Marconi, at the Needles battery, at the western tip of the Island.       

Henry VIII, who developed the Royal Navy and its permanent base at Portsmouth, fortified the island at Yarmouth, East & West Cowes and Sandown, sometimes re-using stone from dissolved monasteries as building material. Sir Richard Worsley, Captain of the Island at this time, successfully commanded the resistance to the last of the French attacks in 1545. Much later on, after the Spanish Armada in 1588, the threat of Spanish attacks remained and the outer fortifications of Carisbrooke Castle were built, between 1597 and 1602. During the English Civil War King Charles fled to the Isle of Wight, believing he would receive sympathy from the governor Robert Hammond. Hammond was appalled, and incarcerated the king in Carisbrooke Castle.       

go see The Isle of Wight Festival, worth it

Needles that don’t sew and cows you cannot milk.

Great beaches, child-friendly pubs, walking trails and other activities. Decent chance of good weather as well, especially in the SW.