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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
One's church
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.
2. Waltzing Waters
Update: Waltzing Waters has closed and is looking for a new venue 'probably on the mainland'.
Imagine sitting in the cinema, popcorn and nachos in hand, preparing for the latest Hollywood blockbuster to start.
However, this is no ordinary Ryan Gosling bore-fest and instead you are confronted with a cacophony of fountains and music. Your heart races, the fountains sway, your jaw drops for 40 glorious minutes. As Waltzing Waters (PO33 1QS) own website proclaims 'The Waters hurl into the air like liquid fireworks!...the waters seem alive, like human dancers! But no humans here..'
Obviously there are some humans at Waltzing Waters because there's also a cafe and a gift shop, but presumably they are offering clarification that there aren't any people dancing within the water fountains.
Imagine sitting in the cinema, popcorn and nachos in hand, preparing for the latest Hollywood blockbuster to start.
However, this is no ordinary Ryan Gosling bore-fest and instead you are confronted with a cacophony of fountains and music. Your heart races, the fountains sway, your jaw drops for 40 glorious minutes. As Waltzing Waters (PO33 1QS) own website proclaims 'The Waters hurl into the air like liquid fireworks!...the waters seem alive, like human dancers! But no humans here..'
Obviously there are some humans at Waltzing Waters because there's also a cafe and a gift shop, but presumably they are offering clarification that there aren't any people dancing within the water fountains.
3. 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.
At the time of writing, IOW Surf offer 90 minutes for £20.
At the time of writing, IOW Surf offer 90 minutes for £20.
4. Rocket Testing and Telecommunication Sites
Alum Bay and the Needles
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.
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 and an interesting article about rocket testing on Red Funnel's website.
Similarly unusual is a plaque alongside the teacups and carousel of the Needles Pleasure Park which marks the spot where Guglieimo Marconi started off his telecommunications work. Marconi also did a lot of work to get the world talking at Knowles Farm, which is featured in our 20 quirky places to stay on the Isle of Wight.
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.
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 and an interesting article about rocket testing on Red Funnel's website.
Similarly unusual is a plaque alongside the teacups and carousel of the Needles Pleasure Park which marks the spot where Guglieimo Marconi started off his telecommunications work. Marconi also did a lot of work to get the world talking at Knowles Farm, which is featured in our 20 quirky places to stay on the Isle of Wight.
5. Fossil Hunting
Brook Chine - one of many fossil hunting sites
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.
Many of the previous discoveries live at Dinosaur Isle, which lead a number of these walks, as do Dinosaur Expeditions.
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.
Many of the previous discoveries live at Dinosaur Isle, which lead a number of these walks, as do Dinosaur Expeditions.
6. The Longstone
The Longstone in the West Wight
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 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.
7. Alpaca Walking
"I keep thinking it's Thursday"
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 £5 to visit the farm (£3.50 for children, free for under 5s) or you can take an Alpaca for a walk from £12 (2017 prices).
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.
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.
8. Blackgang Chine
These lovebirds can be found in Cowboyland
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.
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 £15 to £17.50 per person aged 4 to 59. Younger children get in free (2014 prices).
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.
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 £15 to £17.50 per person aged 4 to 59. Younger children get in free (2014 prices).
9. 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 cretins vandalised it a few years ago - let's hope the culprits find themselves without any battery left on their smartphones 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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10. An ancient lighthouse
The Pepperpot
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 shipwrecked communion wine. It annoyed the Vatican who demanded that be build a lighthouse as penance. Nowadays it would be called Eucharistgate.
We also like visiting the more modern lighthouse – St Catherine’s – which offers internal tours.
Its history dates back to 1313AD when a boat was shipwrecked and a local Lord helped himself to all the shipwrecked communion wine. It annoyed the Vatican who demanded that be build a lighthouse as penance. Nowadays it would be called Eucharistgate.
We also like visiting the more modern lighthouse – St Catherine’s – which offers internal tours.
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.
11. National Museum of Poo
Kudos to the team behind the National Museum of Poo at Isle of Wight Zoo 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.
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.
