Isle of Wight

We just booked a weekend in March, really nice hotel in the town of Ventnor.  Has anyone here been to the island?  I'm really excited 

Never been, but I know someone who grew up there, and has nothing but wonderful things to say about it.

Hi

I live on the Isle of Wight and love it. It's often described as being England in the 1950's. Ventnor is charming IMHO - if you want a really nice meal book in at www.thepondcafe.com in nearby Bonchurch. The best places to visit are Yarmouth (have lunch at Saltys next to the castle and ferry), Cowes for the boats and Godshill for a cream tea. If you still have room left, try The New Inn at Shalfleet for superb food. The IOW steam railway at Havenstreet will really take you back 50 years! 

If you've got a car with you you can drive round the entire coast of the Island in a couple of hours and enjoy the views from Culver Down and Ventnor Down. The north of the island is more sheltered and a boating mecca, the south is sparsely populated and blown by the atlantic. If you are feeling fit, park at Freshwater Bay and walk up the cliffs to the Tennyson monument and along to The Needles.

Enjoy! 

To be a total geek...

The Isle of Wight is the only place in the UK with old fashioned slam-door trains still in operation.  So ditch the car and take the train!!!

Vicky

Thanks for that Boatmad!  I'm really looking forward to getting out of Bristol for a weekend!  I miss the sea air badly!  Will look into the restaurant suggestions, thanks again!!! 

DH and I are going to IOW the first week-end in March  .  This will be our first time even though we live in Poole and can see the IOW on a clear day.
I am really looking forward to it.

I hope you have a great time.  I've only heard good things about it.

We went to the IOW back in '03 because we really needed somewhere relaxing to just go a plop down for a week. Ventnor and Cowes are lovely.

It is very laid back and a blast from the past as Boatmad said.....I hope you guys enjoy it!

JennRedd/phillygirl , if you are in the mood for a great waffle breakfast, there is a little restaurant in Shanklin called Alvin's Waffle house or restaurant.

To be a total geek...

The Isle of Wight is the only place in the UK with old fashioned slam-door trains still in operation.  So ditch the car and take the train!!!

Vicky

If you want to be really geeky - the Steam railway has slam-door carriages, the 'proper' railway from the end of Ryde pier to Shanklin (all 8.5 miles of it!) runs genuine 1930's London Underground trains pretty much untouched from when they were built! Ryde must also have the only old rickety pier with a wood plank floor that you can drive you car the entire length of dodging the pedestrians and park at the end! It 's like driving on ice in the wet. 

We spent a few days on the Isle of Wight over the Holidays.  BF's friends just moved to Ryde.  I've only visited Cowes once prior, but Ryde was nice too.  Can't remember the restaurant we ate in...Liberty I think???  We also took a really nice walk on the beach on New Year's Day.  The weather was perfect!  Looking forward to going back over the summer.

Hope you enjoy your visit!

We went to Ryde on the old train (cool old train). Couldn't find too many great places to eat (we were only there for a few hours one evening) but there is Joe Daflo's (now called just Joe's I think) in Ryde and also in Newport. The owner is the former singer of Level 42...remember them? Big hit in the states back in the 80's "Something about you".

We've been to the IOW three times and have had a great time!  We stayed in a hotel in Shanklin once and caravan parks the other two times.  I can't recommend the Orchards caravan park enough.  It is close to Yarmouth.  In fact we are going back there for 4 days in the summer. 
For a beach we really liked Colwell bay-it's small but quiet.  The girls loved Sandown pier-we couldn't get them off of the bumper cars.  But then again they get a kick out of the ferry ride from Southampton!
I saw that waffle house in Shanklin but didn't get a chance to go in. 
 
Enjoy your visit! 

Jennredd, sounds like we're in for a great time .

Thanks everyone for the tips.

Thanks again everyone!  I'm getting more and more excited!!! 

I haven't been the the IoW since about 1978, so imagine it's changed a little since then.

If you want to be really geeky - the Steam railway has slam-door carriages, the 'proper' railway from the end of Ryde pier to Shanklin (all 8.5 miles of it!) runs genuine 1930's London Underground trains pretty much untouched from when they were built!

Although if I recall correctly (and continuing to be geeky!), they are modified to run on a regular 3rd-rail electrification system instead of LU's 3rd & 4th rail system (or any of the other Underground electrification schemes which existed in earlier times).   

For other trivia, although the Isle of Wight is today classed as a county in itself, that has only been the case since the rearrangement of county boundaries in 1974.  Prior to that, it was just part of Hampshire.

Yes, you are right about the rail modifications, and I'm not ashamed to say that I knew that! 

Other 'interesting' fact...the IoW is the only county which is also an entire Parliamentary constituency...and of course the only constituency which encompasses an entire county!

I'll get my coat.


Vicky