FURTHER INFORMATION
Watersports
Flying
Cycling
Walking
Nature Interests
Historical Sites
Arts Centres
More info
Island Events
There are a host of leisure, arts and sports events through the year. The oldest known Carnival still parades through the streets of Ryde, and an Arts Week has grown to include a vast array of music, art, literary and fun events.
The famous Pop Festivals of the 60's are 'happening' again very successfully with a new energy. And of course, Cowes Week is so popular that it may soon become Cowes Fortnight!
Adventure Sports
Being surrounded by sea, our water sports are very popular, with a wide range and variety of grades of challenge. Wight Air is the now nationally-recognised focus of wind-surfing, kite-surfing and mountain-boarding competition. Paragliding centres can be found near the cliffs and big gliders at Bembridge airport. Motorbike racing in a purpose-built ash-track stadium is a weekly feature and the annual moto-cross course has hills for some of the highest jumps we've ever seen!
There is a well-signed Round-the-Island cycle route (passing the end of our road!), the annual Cycling Festival and the Seven Hills Challenge. On foot, there is the West Wight Three Hills race - eight miles of multi-terrain running, organised by the Ryde Harriers. Or for the more adventurous, there are regular evening ghost walks around Newport's historical narrow streets...
Quieter Pastimes
Queen Victoria's Osbourne House and the earlier Appuldurcombe House are open to walk round and admire. Brading Waxworks Museum shows the people and the life of olden days and the Margaret Cameron Photography Museum shows the development of photography. There's a Model Village to walk around and a Memorial at the top of Tennyson Down to climb to. The Castle hosts regular Jousting Tournaments, and there are re-enactments elsewhere.
The Isle of Wight is one of the richest wildlife counties in lowland Britain, and also boasts the Newport Arboretum, the Apple Days Festival and the Ventnor Botanic Garden. The County Show is followed by the Garlic Festival, each with loads of stalls and demonstrations.
Alternatively, there is fossil-hunting for dinosaur bones, also displayed at the Dinosaur Farm near Brighstone and a dedicated Museum in Shanklin. Amazon World, Butterfly World, and the Tiger Zoo add to the animal interest. The Isle of Wight Steam Railways have an annual Steam Show and the Autumn Bank Holiday brings the annual Scooter Rally. There are guided walks in the West Wight, a Longstone deep in the woods and a Circular Coastal Path for those who want a 105km walk around all the sights!
And for talks, courses and demonstrations on countryside skills such as hedge-laying, pole-lathe wood turning and water-dowsing... just ask! We also have links with the Natural Therapy Centre for Animals, which runs courses for horses and smaller pets - more options!
Other interests
The Island has some fame as being one of the last homes of the red squirrel (because the Solent keeps the greys at bay) and a charity has been specially formed to care for the reds.
The annual 'Walk the Wight' gives you a choice of three different distance walks, depending on your inclination and ability. The full length (approx. 26.5 miles) takes walkers from one end of this beautiful island to the other, mostly over footpaths.
The Island boasts several breweries, orchards and wineries - and many small pubs, restaurants and cafes, often with specialty menus. There are many organic products, and some unusual foodstuffs such as spelt flour actually milled at Calbourne Water Mill. Genuinely local products are often marked with the diamond-shaped Island Produce logo.
And there are so many other sights - potteries and glass-blowing centres, art galleries and craft villages, farmers markets and car boot sales...
how could anyone ever get bored here?