The perfect holiday on the Isle of Wight, the south of England in miniature
The old joke goes that each of the six miles that separates the island from the mainland takes you back a decade, but it's time that outdated stereotype was sunk in the Solent. This is a dynamic island moving with the times, with excellent local food and drink producers and superb walking opportunities, where it is difficult to ramble far without coming across an inviting pub.
Towns such as Yarmouth, Ventnor and Cowes are all worth exploring, and the wildlife is impressive too – the island is home to a bundle of animal magnetism, including the red squirrel, as well as giant avian predators in the form of white-tailed eagles.
For more Isle of Wight inspiration, see our guides to the island's best hotels, restaurants, bars and pubs, things to do and beaches.
In this guide:
How to spend the perfect day
Morning
Start the day in Yarmouth, Britain's second smallest town, with a coffee and pastry from PO41, a tiny yet excellent café just by the harbour. Hire a bicycle from Wight Cycle Hire and pedal along the car-free east bank of the River Yar to Freshwater Bay. The whole journey is barely three miles.
Pause to take in the mires, swans and waterbirds at the river edge and stroll around Mill Copse, a 400-year-old woodland where you might spot red squirrels and minuscule goldcrests. Passing the Causeway, the route joins the road as you tumble down to Freshwater Bay.
Park the bikes here and begin the three-mile round-trip walk up to the Tennyson Monument for breathtaking 360-degree views (note: should you decide to walk on to see The Needles rock formation, it's another three miles return and at least an additional hour).
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