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Island Life
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Over half of the island is designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty, with breathtaking cliff-top walks, quaint villages, stunning beaches and panoramic views across the ever-changing water. A short boat ride down the Medina River lies the historic town of Cowes. This world-famous yachting Mecca is home to Cowes Week, one of the UK’s largest sporting events and the world’s longest-running sailing regatta. The busy week is packed full of entertainment, on and off the water, with a spectacular fireworks display forming the finale on the last night. A home at Island Harbour is the perfect base from which to join the 8,000 or so competitors battling it out on the water. Regular transport to and from the Island allows the community to play host to many more prestigious sporting and cultural events which include ocean racing, powerboat festivals, Round the Island Race, The Isle of Wight Music Festival and Bestival – both major extravaganzas in the UK’s vibrant music scene. If sporting events aren’t your thing, the Island has so much more to offer. Over half of the Island is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with breathtaking cliff-top walks, quaint villages, stunning beaches and panoramic views across the ever-changing water. In the 19th century, Prince Albert commissioned Osborne House for Queen Victoria – its spectacular gardens provide an impressive backdrop to open-air concerts and are situated a short cycle ride from Island Harbour. The National Trust has several sites on the Island, including The Needles Old Battery – an old cliff-top fort, with breathtaking views. The Island boasts many other interesting and historic buildings: Bembridge Windmill, Carisbrooke Castle, Mottistone Manor and many other monuments and visitors’ attractions dotted around the countryside. Travel to and from the Isle of Wight is made convenient with up to 350 ferry crossings per day from several terminals. Ryde & Cowes’ fast catamaran ferries have connections to Southampton and Portsmouth Harbour stations, enabling London’s Waterloo station to be reached within two hours of leaving the Island’s shores. |
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