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Isle of Wight
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Isle of Wight
Just 45 minutes off the South Coast, we enjoy a separate identity - and often better weather! If you need to leave the pressures of work behind, the quick ferry crossing marks the change and helps you switch into holiday mode. There are three ferry routes for vehicles, and two more for foot-passengers. Follow in the footsteps of King Charles 1st, Lewis Carroll, John Keats and Charles Darwin - some of the famous people who have visited.
Boasting award-winning beaches, unspoilt and spectacular scenery and a rich historical heritage, it is small diamond-shaped island, measuring about twenty-three miles wide by thirteen miles North to South. It has a chalk downland spine running East-West which is a Special Area of Conservation. There are many Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and with such a great variety of views, the Island is sometimes known as Little England - cramming in reminders of the whole country!
The Isle of Wight is called 'The Island' by locals and legend has it that the last man to have never travelled to 'The Mainland' died only recently. Sometimes left off the political map, this little haven is well-known to the tourist industry. It has a reputation for the longest hours of sunlight and is warm enough to grow palm trees outdoors! As a naturally quiet place, it is a popular retirement location - as the Beatles said in "When I'm 64".
Council Bridleways
The Isle of Wight is reputed to have more footpaths per square mile than any other English county. The Council has worked hard to achieve an award for the best-kept paths and bridleways. Historic routes used by sheep drovers and market gardeners, previously bramble-choked and uncared-for, have been cleared and sign-posted.
The character of the paths themselves varies from ancient lanes pre-dating the Roman occupation to windswept cliff-top tracks, quiet woodland ways and field paths across agricultural land. Glorious views of poppyfields (like the one in the picture above) are coming back into existence since the Government has changed farming subsidies.
Local Horses
With more horse owners here than any other area in the UK of similar size, we are only second to Lambourne in the number of horses in the area. This means the Island is a very horse-friendly place, and you will see a lot of other riders around. There are many horse-riding centres and tack shops, and hacking hire is easily arranged. Local interests range from week-end hacks, through dressage and three-day events, to show-jumping and driving, breeding, showing, rescuing and running sanctuaries. You can see shires and falabellas, working horses and show ponies, retired horses and foals ...