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10 quirky days out on the Isle of Wight
It is tempting to visit the usual tourist attractions and activities on a day out on the Isle of Wight and then subsequently bore your friends and relatives with a predictable Facebook album. There are though plenty of quirky, unique or just plain weird days out, activities and attractions on the Isle of Wight that are worth considering. Some of the unusual attractions are busy, some are less well known.
1. Sit in Queen Victoria's Pew
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My father used to say that 'he who breaks wind in church shall sit in his own pew'. I'm certain that Queen Victoria was never guilty of such things whilst worshipping at St Mildred's Church in Whippingham. The church has a 'Royal Pew' which Queen Victoria frequently parked her bottom in. The unusual church also has a number of memorials to the Victorian royals, and is free to visit.
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One's church
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2. Yoga on a paddleboard
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In the last few years, Stand Up Paddleboarding has emerged as a popular (and unusual) way of exploring the coast around the Isle of Wight. Participants look a bit like they are pushing a gondola without any passengers and I like to imagine they are all humming 'O Sole Mio' whilst dreaming of ice cream.
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If that's not unusual and quirky enough for your liking, you can now combine it with yoga. Presumably some of the tranquillity is lost every time someone falls in and screams an expletive.
If you just want to try out Standup Paddleboarding without the yoga then you can hire them from Tackt-Isle in St Helens, Bayside Beach Hire in Sandown and Wight Water Adventure Watersports in Lake.
If you just want to try out Standup Paddleboarding without the yoga then you can hire them from Tackt-Isle in St Helens, Bayside Beach Hire in Sandown and Wight Water Adventure Watersports in Lake.
3. Rocket Testing and Telecommunication Sites
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Ask any Isle of Wight resident to name one place they associate with space travel, and they will probably say...Houston, Texas.
However, ask them to name two places and they might just mention the Needles Old Battery, which thrust the Isle of Wight into the centre of Britain's attempt at joining the space race by building the Black Knight in the 1950s and 1960s. |
The Needles at Alum Bay
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It was all rather secretive, although any half decent spy would surely think it was strange that 240 people were travelling towards a lighthouse and then disappearing into a bunker.
There's an exhibition about it at the Needles Old Battery.
Similarly unusual is a plaque alongside the teacups and carousel of the Needles Pleasure Park which marks the spot where Guglielmo Marconi started off his telecommunications work. particularly enjoy the irony of having a poor phone signal whilst stood at the Marconi monument.
Marconi also did a lot of work to get the world talking at Knowles Farm Cottage, which is featured in our 20 quirky places to stay on the Isle of Wight.
There's an exhibition about it at the Needles Old Battery.
Similarly unusual is a plaque alongside the teacups and carousel of the Needles Pleasure Park which marks the spot where Guglielmo Marconi started off his telecommunications work. particularly enjoy the irony of having a poor phone signal whilst stood at the Marconi monument.
Marconi also did a lot of work to get the world talking at Knowles Farm Cottage, which is featured in our 20 quirky places to stay on the Isle of Wight.
4. Fossil Hunting
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A quirky Isle of Wight day out for those who like prodding at things on beaches is an organised fossil walk. You need an expert with you because, quite frankly, many of the things that end up in museums do a brilliant impression of a stone.
The Isle of Wight markets itself as the 'Dinosaur Island' and there have been numerous impressive discoveries over the years, so it's not impossible that you might find something. There are also permanent 'dinosaur footprints' which are visible at low tide on the west coast. |
Brook Chine - one of many fossil hunting sites
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Many of the previous discoveries live at Dinosaur Isle, which lead a number of these walks, as do Dinosaur Expeditions and Island Gems.
Read our blog about searching for the dinosaur footprints at Brook Chine.
Read our blog about searching for the dinosaur footprints at Brook Chine.
5. The Longstone
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The closest thing the Isle of Wight has got to Stonehenge is the rather unusual Longstone, which is two great big lumps of greensand sandstone, which are looked after by the National Trust.
The two neolithic stones (nearest postcode PO30 4EA) are thought to be 6000 years old and - according to bearded experts - they mark the entrance of a burial ground. Legend has it that St Catherine threw the four metre pillar from St Catherine's Down in a contest with the Devil. Obviously that's nonsense, but it's entertaining nonsense to tell fellow visitors. It's in the middle of a field...but here's a map to help you find it. |
The Longstone in the West Wight
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6. Alpaca Walking and lion feeding
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The website for West Wight Alpacas asks if you 'know your cushing from your pronking', which I must admit I don't. Apparently such questions are answered when you take one of their Alpacas on a trek around the pretty West Wight. It costs £8.50 to visit the farm (discounts for children) or you can take an Alpaca for a walk for about £20.
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"I keep thinking it's Thursday"
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They also have a shop where you can buy a pair of unusual Damson and Rose coloured Alpaca socks for £29. I can confidently say that they don't sell such things in Primark.
Meanwhile, Wildheart Animal Sanctuary (previously Isle of Wight Zoo) offer experiences where you can feed lions and tigers their breakfast. Normally, I'm a bit sceptical of 'zoo keeper experiences' as I'm not sure that I want to pay to shovel manure but I'll make an exception for this one as it looks a wee bit more exciting. It's quite an expensive thing, so probably one for a birthday treat (£75 per person when I checked).
Meanwhile, Wildheart Animal Sanctuary (previously Isle of Wight Zoo) offer experiences where you can feed lions and tigers their breakfast. Normally, I'm a bit sceptical of 'zoo keeper experiences' as I'm not sure that I want to pay to shovel manure but I'll make an exception for this one as it looks a wee bit more exciting. It's quite an expensive thing, so probably one for a birthday treat (£75 per person when I checked).
7. Blackgang Chine
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Every schoolchild in Britain has been to Blackgang Chine, or at least that's the impression I get when I mention the Isle of Wight to a mainlander. It's been around since about 1840 and claims to be the oldest theme park in the country.
For those that haven't been, it's a weird mix of small/medium sized theme park rides, along with an exhibition about the local area, a crooked house, a giant smuggler, lots of full size carbon fibre dinosaurs, cowboys, talking bins and various other unusual things. |
These lovebirds can be found in Cowboyland
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It is one of the Isle of Wight's busiest tourist attractions, but it makes our list of quirky days out because it's so eclectic. Like some other Isle of Wight attractions it feels a bit like a hobby that got out of hand, rather than a corporate scheme and it has the added quirk of occasionally falling into the sea.
Older children might find it a bit tame compared to big theme parks like Alton Towers but toddlers and younger children will love it.
Entry is about £20.
Older children might find it a bit tame compared to big theme parks like Alton Towers but toddlers and younger children will love it.
Entry is about £20.
8. Call from the UK's oldest working telephone box
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Bembridge High Street is home to one of the last few K1 Telephone Boxes.
According to the Isle of Wight County Press, and Bembridge Parish Council it is the UK's oldest working phone box. Some uncivilised oafs vandalised it a few years ago - let's hope the culprits find themselves without any battery left on their iPhones and need to use a payphone. You can see it in this Google Street View image or you can watch our attempt to get it to work. |
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9. An ancient lighthouse
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The Lighthouse at the Needles is a tourist hotspot, but a much quirkier day out is to St Catherine's Oratory. I'm a very childish person so I always think that ‘St Catherine’s Oratory’ sounds a bit rude and can't say it without giggling like a schoolgirl. I prefer its nickname of The Pepperpot.
Its history dates back to 1313AD when a boat was shipwrecked and a local Lord helped himself to all the communion wine onboard. It annoyed the Vatican who demanded that he build a lighthouse as penance. Nowadays it would be called Eucharistgate and the papers would say 'his position has become untenable'. We also like visiting the more modern lighthouse – St Catherine’s – although you can longer have tours inside unfortunately. |
The Pepperpot
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Locating the Pepperpot is a bit of a challenge. It's a little way north east of Blackgang Chine. When we've visited it we've parked at the viewpoint car park on Blackgang Road (nearest postcode PO38 2HN) and walked from there. It's about 1/2 a mile up a steep hill.
10. Tunnel tours at Ventnor Botanics
I've not done this one, but I like the sound of the tunnel tour at Ventnor Botanics.
Back in the 19th century some bright spark had the idea of linking the gardens with the beach for patients in the Royal National Hospital, which was based at the site. They had idyllic visions of children with tuberculosis being gently wheeled down to the beach to aide their recuperation.
Unfortunately, these noble ambitions turned into a 100 metre rubbish chute, so that lazy Victorians could lob their litter into the sea without having to take the long way round (honestly...).
Nowadays, you'll face certain death if you attempt to use the tunnel yourself but you can go on a tour if you're visiting Ventnor Botanics.
Back in the 19th century some bright spark had the idea of linking the gardens with the beach for patients in the Royal National Hospital, which was based at the site. They had idyllic visions of children with tuberculosis being gently wheeled down to the beach to aide their recuperation.
Unfortunately, these noble ambitions turned into a 100 metre rubbish chute, so that lazy Victorians could lob their litter into the sea without having to take the long way round (honestly...).
Nowadays, you'll face certain death if you attempt to use the tunnel yourself but you can go on a tour if you're visiting Ventnor Botanics.
11. National Museum of Poo
Kudos to the team behind the National Museum of Poo who clearly understand how to make a splash in the papers. The web went wild with the punning opportunities on offer. And who can blame them?
You can see safari animal poo, ancient poo, human poo and even 'a child's shoe which a cat has marked by pooing in it'. Plus there are educational bits about energy and a display of toilet seats.
At the time of writing, it isn't on permanent display but operates on a plop up basis.
You can see safari animal poo, ancient poo, human poo and even 'a child's shoe which a cat has marked by pooing in it'. Plus there are educational bits about energy and a display of toilet seats.
At the time of writing, it isn't on permanent display but operates on a plop up basis.
