Isle of Wight Guide

Once famous for being a really boring place to go on holiday (unless you were Victorian or happened to like a posh hotel that served limp scrambled eggs for breakfast), the Isle of Wight is now a place to be seen. The fact it is so near to the mainland and surrounded by sea makes it the perfect venue for water sports, outdoor activities and music festivals alike.

Once famous for being a really boring place to go on holiday, the Isle of Wight is now a place to be seen.

Travel on the Isle of Wight

You can get around the island in a variety of ways. Local company Wightbus runs a regular service between the main towns (though maybe it is a symptom of the increasing quirkiness of the island that the buses don't actually use a proper timetable). There is also a small stretch of railway, running from Ryde to Sandown. This is interesting, because it is run entirely using ex London Underground trains, most of which are nearly 100 years old. For the young and the young at heart, there is also a small steam railway which is well worth a visit.

The Isle of Wight uses ex-London Underground trains.

Moving away from trains and buses, there is of course the option of using a car, though a lot of the roads are very narrow. By far the best way of seeing the island has to be via bike: the island has nearly 250 miles of cycle path and several organised trails which will take you from one location to another with relative ease.

Things to see on the Isle of Wight

As said before, the age of the Isle of Wight as the refuge of the limp scrambled egg serving hotel is coming to a close. Instead, the island is now a bustling place full of interesting things to see and do. For animal lovers, you will be able to see many species of rare bat, red squirrels and dormice that are found nowhere else in the world but on this island.

There are also so many other things to see on this fantastic island. Osborne House is one of the main attractions on the Isle of Wight but for more family-orientated activities why not go to Alum Bay and enjoy the beautiful scenery and multi-coloured sands.

Like boats? Great, you can go to the annual Cowes sailing competition, which attracts over 1,000 yachts to its regatta. There is also an almost unlimited choice of fine beaches, many of which have won blue flag awards for their cleanliness and quality.

Let's be honest though - surely the biggest draw of the Isle of Wight is its music scene. Not only was it home to the world famous Isle of Wight jazz festival (which is sadly currently on a little bit of a holiday), but it is currently the home of the Isle of Wight festival, which won `Best Major Festival' award in 2007 and consistently attracts some of the best talent in current music.

Let's be honest though - surely the biggest draw of the Isle of Wight is its music scene.

AFerry.co.uk offers the best way to find the cheapest ferry routes to Isle of Wight with its easy to use booking form. Begin your holiday on a ferry and start relaxing straight away!