<![CDATA[Isle of Wight Guru

<![CDATA[Isle of Wight Guru - Blog]]>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 13:10:36 +0100Weebly<![CDATA[The Apprentice On The Isle of Wight Review]]>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:20:52 GMThttp://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/blog/the-apprentice-on-the-isle-of-wight-reviewIt's been a while since I watched the Apprentice, but I'll always make an exception for an Isle of Wight themed episode.

Indeed, if BBC Four announced an eight-part series on the history of gravel that was filmed in Bembridge, then I would watch it intently and run a streaming event with commentary and insight.

The Military Road featured on The Apprentice

A mostly accurate tour of the Isle of Wight

Last night's episode of the Apprentice was a real treat, with lots of local nuggets that went a little deeper than the usual Isle of Wight TV appearances.

Things started well, with the contestants looking pleased when it was announced that the next task was on the Isle of Wight.

I later realised that they would have looked equally pleased if it had been announced they would need to collect nine items from Narnia.

Only one of them had been to the Isle of Wight and several of them didn't know what an iguanodon was (and thought that a SUP was a fish). I suspect the editor cut out a bit where the contestants confused the Isle of Wight with the Isle of Man.

The starting point was at The Hut in Colwell, which had been emptied of the Insta crowd to allow them to plan their challenge.

They then raced their way round:

Grace's Bakery, where they bought themselves six Isle of Wight doughnuts (also known as birds' nest). You can read our flaky history of the Isle of Wight doughnut here. They visited the large Newport branch and also spent a fair amount of time trying to find the branch in Ryde High Street.
Adgestone Vineyard, where one team coughed up nearly full price for a bottle of Something Blue whilst the other team cleaned out the goats to get a hefty discount. You can find out more about visiting the vineyard in our guide to an Isle of Wight food and drink tour. Adgestone Vineyard also featured on Isle of Wight: Jewel of the South and Countryfile a few years ago.
The Garlic Farm, where one team spent ages picking their own garlic (not something generally offered for visitors) and the others got a similar price by grinning and winking at the staff.
Eddie's Surf Academy, in the overflow parking bit at Yaverland, where they bartered over a paddleboard.
Ryde High Street, including a visit to The Old Ryde Sweet Shop for some rhubarb and custard. Incidentally, when they were asked to find these I assumed they would need to race to the Needles, which has a sweet making factory.
Wight Bike Eco Solutions, where the team had to be find a cassette for a bicycle. Cycling on the Isle of Wight is an absolute treat.
Jurassic Jim's in Shanklin, which features in our guide to dinosaur themed days out

There were also a couple of spots I wasn't familiar with, including (according to a Wightlink guide) a visit to Richardsons Yacht Services, where they bought a dusty paddleboard.

Adgestone Vineyard's Something Blue featured on The Apprentice

Shanklin's Military Road

As usual, there was some geographical confusion, brought about by the editor's desire to stitch the whole thing together with pleasant sweeping shots.

One image, of a car travelling along the Military Road in the West Wight was used rather liberally and gave the impression that it was in both Shanklin and Ryde.

I can get over this, and it's something you'll see in pretty much every TV programme featuring the Isle of Wight (see our tour of Isle of Wight TV locations).

Overall, I thought it was a terrific piece of TV for an Isle of Wight fan. Maybe the BBC will move The Traitors castle to Carisbrooke for the next series?

]]><![CDATA[Blackgang Chine - A Not Very Brief History]]>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/blog/blackgang-chine-a-not-very-brief-history

We are big fans of Blackgang Chine, which has a decent claim to be the UK's oldest theme park.

The history of Blackgang Chine theme park is more interesting than most other Isle of Wight attractions. Its location on the edge of a cliff gives terrific views but also leads to much-loved features occasionally falling into the sea or having to be rebuilt elsewhere.

Here's our attempt to come up with a timeline of Blackgang Chine, since its origins about 180 years ago (and a few bits before that as well).

Most of the work on this has been done by my friend Marcus, who has a much better memory than me. He originally wrote his sections as a list of personal memories but I pinched his work and added to it. Marcus is better on small details than me. He will recall that a 1980s' slide had a wobbly third step whilst I struggle to remember that the slide existed.

My interest picks up later than Marcus' as I only visited occasionally whilst growing on the Island. We have become much more regular Blackgang Chine visitors with our own children in the last few years.

I would also like to thank Stefan who runs the Isle of Wight Archive Youtube channel for sharing some of his collection of photos. Several people have also contributed photos via Facebook, which is greatly appreciated.

Before we begin, let's include an important caveat.

We are not 100% sure on the accuracy of everything included in this history. It is patched together in good faith from Facebook groups, Isle of Wight County Press archives, memories, Wikipedia, photographs, old maps and a book called Journey Into Imagination by Joanne Thornton. I did not spend months digging through the cliffs at Blackgang Chine looking for remnants of attractions which could be carbon-dated by the Isle of Wight Guru Archaeology Department.

We've tried our best to make it accurate but if you spot an error, please leave a (polite) comment or contact me.

Perhaps present your outrage as a compliment sandwich, where you begin by offering me a compliment ("thanks for your amazing work"), then tell me what I've got wrong ("the T-rex was installed three weeks later than you claim") and then finish with another compliment ("keep up the good work, handsome!").

Or just leave a snide remark on Facebook, either is fine.

Anyway, here goes. Let's enter the Crooked House of history and pray for sunshine from the Weather Wizard.

1799

A huge landslide destroys the main residence in the Blackgang area, a farm called Pitlands. In the years after, a road is built from Chale to Niton, passing under Gore Cliff.

That's right - our history starts about 50 years before the park even existed.

1808

Mineral water is discovered in the Sandrock Spring under Gore Cliff and becomes a tourist attraction, with cottages and monuments then built around it. One such monument was a Shakespeare memorial, which was moved to Haseley Manor around 1980. Remnants of the fountain are still in situ but are difficult to access.

1823

Alexander Dabell moves to the Isle of Wight from Nottingham, where his family worked in the city's famous lace markets. His family planned to open a lace factory in Newport.

1836

With railways making the Island more accessible, Blackgang Hotel is built. During its construction, the Clarendon is wrecked just below. The heavy loss of life attracts morbid sightseer interest but also changes local attitudes to shipwrecks, with St Catherine’s Lighthouse and a network of coastguard and lifeboat stations built in the following years.

The story of the Clarendon later appears as an exhibit in Smugglerland.

This is also a good moment to mention where the 'Blackgang' name came from. The most common story is that there were rival smuggling gangs on the Isle of Wight, one called the Black Gang and another called the White Gang (from Sandown). Well, that's what it says in a crusty old book of walks that my mother-in-law found at the bottom of a drawer.

1839

Alexander Dabell is a successful businessman with shops in Shanklin and Newport (official records say he is a hairdresser but he also sold hair products and soft furnishings according to Journey Into Imagination). Through his business ventures he meets a man called Mr Jacobs who has 'recently built a hotel at Blackgang'. Some reports say hotel had opened in 1837, others say 1836. Let's not fall out over it.

According to the Blackgang Chine website, 'Alexander studied the awe-inspiring chine gorge, and knew immediately that he could create gardens, which would appeal to the romantic Victorians!'

Alexander became the licensee for the Blackgang Hotel as licenses were only given out to established business owners.

How the beach looked in 1840 (photographed from a display at Blackgang Chine)

1842

Spotting the tourist market around the chine, Alexander Dabell leases the land.

He landscapes the naturally rough terrain with paths, steps and gardens. Journey Into Imagination says that Alexander Dabell started to 'build the pathways down to the Chine' in either 1841 or 1842.

The Chine and steps, here in around 1890 - 1900 (Credit: Library of Congress via Flickr)

This image can be found in the museum area of Blackgang Chine, near the whale

1843

Alexander acquires a whale which was found floating in the sea near The Needles and brought ashore in Gurnard.

The whale, sited in the Bazaar (gift shop) makes it arguably a theme park, the first in Britain, rather than just pleasure gardens. This whale can still be seen at Blackgang Chine.

The bazaar sells 'the same merchandise as his other shops, mostly homewares, soft furnishing, lace etc' according to Journey Into Imagination. As far as I'm aware, Blackgang Chine didn't sell stuffed dodos at this stage.

It's also worth mentioning that Journey Into Imagination reckons that 'the first visitors came to the Chine in 1842'. Presumably this isn't taken as the date for Blackgang Chine's anniversary as it was more of a walkway than a theme park at this stage.

So, let's take 1843 as the official date that Blackgang Chine opened.

Blackgang Chine's bazaar was an early attraction (Credit: Isle of Wight Archive)

The whale skeleton at Blackgang Chine, as seen in 2023

1846

The entrance price to the 'theme park' was 6d or 2 1/2p according to Journey Into Imagination. Entrance was free to anyone who spent 5p in the shop. By my calculation, 5p is the equivalent of about £7.50 once you apply inflation.

This image from 1846 is on display at Blackgang Chine

1847

The breakup of the old Buddle estate leads to a property boom around Niton. Due to some slightly questionable estate agents' tactics, two large houses, Lowcliffe and Southlands, are built on the unstable Blackgang Undercliff. Thankfully, estate agents have changed markedly over the years and it is now considered to be a 100% honest profession (Ed: are you sure about this?).

1853

Queen Victoria visits Blackgang Chine, having visited Sandrock Spring twenty years earlier. History does not record her level of amusement but one can assume she would loved the bouncy nets at Dodo Valley if she visited today.

1862

The road to Southlands (even lower than the Chale-Niton road) falls away. The house remains accessible by foot, becoming a sanitorium at one point.

1880s

Journey Into Imagination tells the story of Alexander Dabell's attempts in the 1880s to create a shipwreck exhibition.

His first attempt to gather artifacts from locals was fruitless but he returned with an offer of 3p per item and ended up with enough for a shipwreck museum.

A County Press report from 1884 discusses the closure of a company set up to run the sanitorium at Blackgang Chine.

Another image from Blackgang Chine's display

1890

One of the houses on the Blackgang Undercliff - Lowcliffe - is demolished.

If you are losing interest at this point, don't worry - it gets more interesting later.

Yet another image from the display at Blackgang Chine

1895

Another not particularly thrilling update, but I found this one by digging through County Press archives so I want some credit.

An advert reports that the Blackgang Hotel at Blackgang Chine is under 'entirely new management' and has been refurbished and redecorated. It boasts of 'beautiful pleasure gardens overlooking the sea and Chine' and 'excellent stabling'.

The proprietor has the Dickensian name of Mr J Rotter.

Three years later, adverts are still claiming it is under 'entirely new management'. I've concluded that it either kept changing hands, or they thought 'under new management' was a good marketing line.

1898

Alexander Dabell - the founder of Blackgang Chine - died. His son Walter Dabell took over.

Blackgang village had its first recorded subsidence in 1898, according to a Daily Mail article published in 1994.

c. 1900

A Baby Whale skeleton is added to Blackgang Chine after being washed up 'on the south Western shores of the Island' (Journey Into Imagination). This one is kept outside, along with the Shipwreck Collection which includes cannons, ships' bells and tillers.

Some sources say that the small whale was washed up in the late 1890s.

Alexander Dabell's son Charles starts running tours to Blackgang Chine which 'ran twice a day from Blackgang via Niton to Newport, leaving at 9.30am and being back in time for lunch' (Journey Into Imagination).

The baby whale skeleton survived until the 1960s or 1970s (Credit: Isle of Wight Archive)

1910

The second house in the Blackgang Undercliff - Southlands - is demolished, though the footprints of the two houses remain for some decades after.

1911

The last set of steps that goes all the way down the chine to the beach is built and washes away two years later. It remained possible to walk most of the way down and scramble the rest if determined until about 1970 (read our blog about a trip to Blackgang Beach for a modern route to the beach).

The beach now has a reputation as an unofficial spot for those who like to achieve a full body tan. Proceed with caution.

Back in the day, you could walk down to the beach from the attraction (Credit: Isle of Wight Archive)

c. 1920

On Blackgang Bluff, a headland directly seaward of what is now the Maze and nearly the height of Gore Cliff, a wooden observation platform, hut and set of swings are built.

1920

Queen Mary loses her hat when it bumps into the whale's jawbone. According to the Blackgang Chine website 'Within minutes, a man appeared and sawed off the offering piece of bone and applied a plaque that is still there to this day'.

An image from 1922, from a display at Blackgang Chine

1928

A massive (albeit expected) collapse of Gore Cliff permanently severs the Chale-Niton road, with a new road then being built inland.

The cliffs suffered a big landslide in 1928 (Credit: Isle of Wight Archive)

1933

The 1930s sees Blackgang Chine expand into much more of a 'theme park' under the guidance of Bruce Dabell, Alexander's grandson.

That includes the original Hall of Mirrors in 1933. According to Journey Into Imagination, the 10 original mirrors in the Hall of Mirrors came from Paris.

1934

The next attraction is the Gnome Garden, which were initially introduced to raise money to pay for a nurse's car.

The most famous gnomes are the ones gambling with cards, which are used as an emblem of the park for many decades.

At some point, gnomes are also added to the Cascade, a mini waterfall on the east side.

An article in the Isle of Wight County Press from 1988 says the gnomes were officially introduced in 1934. However, Helen got in touch to say that the gnomes 'were there in 1932 as I have a photo album of a visit to the Isle of Wight from that year. They were captioned in this album as "The Gamblers' Den"'.

Gnomes have been a part of Blackgang Chine for many years (Credit: Isle of Wight Archive)

Helen Assaf's photo, dated as 1932, shows the gnomes from a different angle

A County Press advert from 1934 appeals for more visits from Islanders and gives a good summary of what was on offer at the time.

"People of the Wight, tour your own Island during the lovely month of June, when the countryside is at it, best. Start -with a visit to Blackgang Chine, where the wonderful panorama of natural beauty will enchant all true lovers of the Island. The little Gnome Garden Iaid out just inside the Chine-will delight children of all ages, while the Hall of Mirrors will provide fun and amusement for all. Swings, See-saw, Deck Chairs, etc., free"

"Blackgang Chine is the ideal place for a picnic. Lawns and shaded walks overlook Chale Bay and St. Catherine's Point. The attractive Bazaar, the largest of its kind on the South Coast, contains novelties and curios not seen elsewhere, including whales and sharks—real monsters caught in Chale Bay—not Loch Ness. This Bazaar Is well known to thousands of "overners" who make special visits to purchase from its large stock of China, Pottery, Brass, Leather, and Fancy Goods."

1935

The area suffers another landslide, according to an article on display at Blackgang Chine.

It reports that a 'piece of cliff roughly 70 to 80 feet suddenly disappeared'.

1936

Blackgang Chine introduces its evening Illuminations, which are strings of coloured lights which are powered by generators. The illuminations were initially on show for four weeks in August.

Some sources say they were introduced in 1936, others say 1937. I'm going on an advert from 1993 that celebrated 150 years with a list of key dates.

1938

A song is released called 'Blackgang Chine'. An advert in the Isle of Wight County Press calls it 'A rollicking song about this famous beauty spot' and asks readers to send off for a copy. I've never heard this song, but I can't imagine it is as good as the Dodos singing Stayin' Alive.

1940s

Blackgang Chine is closed from 1939 until 1947 due to the Second World War.

According to Journey Into Imagination, Blackgang Chine was 'used as a training ground for Marine Commandoes'.

In 1947, Dick Dabell became the latest Dabell to help run the park (full name Francis Richard Dabell) whilst a County Press report in 1948 records AB Dabell as the manager. The County Press records that £518 was donated in the gnome garden in 1948 for local charities, the equivalent of about £15,000 today.

In an interview for the Blackgang Chine website in 2024 he said: “I grew up at Blackgang. I knew no different...And I’m told that Queen Mary, who often visited because she would watch King George sail, patted me on the head and said, ‘Nice little boy’. For me, that was just normal childhood.”

In the same interview he said that “I worked in the shop probably from the age of 16". This doesn't quite match up with our timeline, as he would have been about 15 when the park closed in 1939. He was born in 1924 and went "to serve as an engineer in Essex for the duration" of the war.

1953

Blackgang Bluff has gone by this point. Expanding beyond gnomes, the Model Village is added above the Cascade. It is a collection of famous Island buildings rather than a village as such.

Journey Into Imagination records that a stuffed baby elephant was delivered to Blackgang Chine at some point in the 1950s so that people could have their photos taken with it.

An advert in August promotes upgrades to Blackgang Chine's summer illuminations and says they have 'added many extra Lights and numerous new Novelties, including illuminated plastic animals, Colour Lighting Effects, and a special Ultra-Violet Set-piece'

Blackgang Chine's model village first appeared in the 1950s and stayed for more than 30 years (Credit: Isle of Wight Archive)

1954

The Dabells go heavily into the smugglers theme, adding the first Smuggler’s Cave in 1954, near where the old Niton road turns off from the new. This is a primitive version of the walkthrough animatronic displays that will become common later. The story of the Clarendon wreck in 1836 is told in this area.

1955

Comedy stocks are added and stay at the park for many years.

There is a short video of Blackgang Chine in 1955 as part of an amateur video on the BFI website. Skip forward to 40 seconds (although the whole video is of interest to Isle of Wight fans).

Stocks first appeared at Blackgang Chine in the mid 1950s. This photos is from 1970. Credit: Sally Cochran

1958

The first iteration of the Museum appears, along with some smuggler figures around the entrance area.

Journey Into Imagination records that in the late 1950s or perhaps early 1960s, Dick Dabell went to the USA to see two theme parks - Knotts Berry Farm and an early Disney theme park. He 'used the idea of tableaux at Blackgang Chine to introduce unique themed areas'.

Dick Dabell gave another interview in 2024 to the Blackgang Chine website to celebrate his 100th birthday. He talked a bit more about where his ideas came from:

“I visited many places, took ideas from some, and some had already taken ideas from us!..But every time I had a new idea, fairies, dinosaurs, cowboys, each was new and different, and fun. But always built from scratch. We would put things in and make them ‘Blackgang'"

1961

Expansion on the east side continues, with the Water Gardens added near the Model Village from 1961-1962. According to Journey Into Imagination, 400 tons of earth were evacuated and 10,000 bricks were used. In the end 25,000 gallons of water circulated per minute. They were illuminated at night with underwater lighting.

An advert from 1993 gives the dates as 1962 for the Water Gardens.

The water gardens were added in the 1960s (Credit: Isle of Wight Archive)

The water gardens in 1973. Credit: Sarah Pearce

The gardens tradition continued at sister-park Robin Hill, which had impressive Japanese themed gardens.

Robin Hill's excellent woodland gardens were used for events in summer

1963

The expansion of Blackgang Chine continues with the planting of the Maze on the bowling/putting green of the Blackgang Hotel. It is extended a few years later. A couple of sources say that 5000 bushes were used to make the maze. Journey Into Imagination reports that Blackgang Chine held maze races.

A tiny advert in the County Press in November 1963 says 'privet buses or hedges wanted - write Blackgang Chine'.

A 2023 shot of the Blackgang Chine maze. The original maze opened in 1963.

A new entrance building is constructed beside the old ticket office in 1963. It has round towers with porthole windows, making it distinctive in photos.

The bazaar is refurbished between 1963 and 1964.

1968

The Crooked House is added near the Smuggler’s Cave, followed soon after by the Chimney Pot Walk near the Water Gardens and Aviaries (birds in cages) at the inland end.

The Crooked House before its 2022 facelift, photographed in 2016 (this isn't its original location)

This chimney pot collection can still be seen at Blackgang Chine in 2023

There is a first version of the Fairy Castle at the Chale end of the park at some point in the 1960s. It is a bit smaller and flimsier than later versions. There's also an Observation Tower (which moved to Robin Hill) and an illuminated Blackgang sign. The large car park also appears in the 1960s.

The observation tower moved to Robin Hill Country Park

1969

An advert from 1993 says that the highlight of 1969 was the landscaping of the 'Fern Stream'. I assume this was part of the Water Gardens.

1970

From 1970 onwards, Dick Dabell ramps up the themed “lands” which he had seen on his trip to the USA (mentioned earlier).

These expand round the corner onto the large sweep of Undercliff near Gore Cliff – presumably this land was bought up, as Alexander Dabells’s original lease was for how far he could throw a stone from the chine.

Around 1970, most of Edwardian Blackgang Chine goes: the remaining path down the chine falls away, the Shipwreck Collection is removed and the baby whale disintegrates (some sources say this happened in the 1960s).

This image is most likely from the early 1970s (Credit: Isle of Wight Archive)

Adventureland appears in 1970, right at the Chale end and includes the Crooked House, a playground and some military vehicles, with some film prop vehicles added later. The first Adventureland was open from 1970-1986 and the second one was open from 1986-1994.

The remnants of it survive to the present day including the ruins of Mission Control, the footprints of the Crooked House, bits of the playground, and bits of the first Smuggler’s Cave entrance. The playground’s Wicksteed roundabout survived until it was removed in 2018.

From the second Adventureland, the Stardust space shuttle and the missile survived until 2010. The shuttle was a prop in the 1979 film Unidentified Flying Oddballs - also known as The Spaceman and King Arthur. I believe the shuttle was added in 1980.

Journey Into Imagination records Adventureland as 'play equipment...disused military vehicles...old cranes, steam rollers...a Ruston Bucyris digger (and a) Bristol Bloodhound MkII Rocket' as well as 'a helter skelter slide, swings and a roundabout'. The same source says that Dick Dabell's relationship with Pinewood Studios meant that he was able to buy a mock-up submarine called Neptune from the Bond film For Your Eyes Only.

Adventureland in 1990. Credit: Sally Cochran

1971

Sandrock Spring and its surrounding grotto/chapel are lost to landslides in 1971.

For those who nodded off early in this guide, this was a natural mineral water spring which was discovered in the early 19th century.

1972

Dinosaurland arrives in 1972 and can be found south from the Maze. It features fibreglass dinosaurs plus the Mouth of Hell and was initially called the Dinosaur Park. Child one has reminded me that a sign in Restricted Area 5 says that some of the original dinosaurs are brought by helicopter, which was shown on Blue Peter.

This area was redeveloped with animatronic dinosaurs to make Restricted Area 5 in 2014, with a few originals retained. An earlier animatronic version was the Triassic Club (1994), placed near the Rumpus Mansion and replaced by the re-sited Mouth of Hell in 2016.

Dinosaurland in around 1972 or 1973. Credit: Sally Cochran

...and again in the late 80s or early 90s. Credit: Philip Dean

Dinosaur at Blackgang Chine in early 1970s

This dinosaur has provided many climbing opportunities! Credit: Sally Cochran

Fun and game with the dinosaurs in 1978/79. Credit: Jo Jones

The original Mouth of Hell, which reappeared in 2016. Credit: Kirsty Ann

Another favourite in the 1970s... Credit: Sally Cochran

...and the same dinosaur in 1989. Credit: Philip Dean

The second Fairy Castle is built in 1972. It later becomes part of Nurseryland and was apparently based on a castle in Austria.

The Fairy Castle in about 1980. Credit: Sally Cochran

Another shot of the Fairy Castle, this time from about 1985. Credit: Samantha Cove

1974

Nurseryland arrives in 1974 and can be found north from the maze in what had previously been a fern glen. It features various fibreglass figures and buildings, including Humpty Dumpty, the Woman Who Lived in the Shoe, the House that Jack Built and the Wishing Well.

In January, the Isle of Wight County Press features the 15 foot shoe arriving in East Cowes with Mr F R Dabell.

This area is referred to as Nursery Rhyme Land in some sources. Journey Into Imagination says that Hickory Dickory Dock's clock used to have live mice rather than models. I am unsure if this was a design decision or due to pest control issues...

The shoe at Nurseryland has changed colour a few times. This photo is from 1996. Credit: Damian Corr

This gnome on a toadstool can still be found in Nurseryland

Nurseryland also includes Jonah’s Whale, which for some time contains an aquarium. Some guides refer to this as Moby Dick's Revenge. It is later moved to a different location in the park, near to the former Cliffhanger site. The Isle of WIght County Press reports that it arrives in March 1974 and that the Blackgang Chine management arranged for the whale to be moved from its London design studio to the Blue Peter studios. It is then dismantled and moved to the Isle of Wight.

Jonah's Whale in 1990. Credit: Sally Cochran

Nurseryland survives, though with some models gone (Little Miss Muffet), moved (Jonah’s Whale) or fenced off (the Wishing Well). The Water Gardens went in 2016-17, leaving this, the Maze and the Chimney Pot Walk as the sole remaining section of 1970s' Blackgang Chine. The other historical attractions – the Mirrors, the Whale Skeleton and Museum – are now grouped with Jonah’s Whale north of the entrance.

Little Miss Muffet making a right meal of things in 2015

1975

New toilets open. They weren't named 'Bottomland' or 'Toiletland' despite that being the naming convention of the time.

1976

Frontierland is built in 1976, initially under the name of Buffalo Creek. It can be found low down on the Undercliff on the Southland estate.

This is the cowboy area, made by Pinewood Studios, along with the Trappers’ Cabin, Indian Camp and Totem Pole and the Trading Post café. Other features include a locomotive (also made by Pinewood Studios), a gold mine and a stage coach with horses. The locomotive was added in 1987.

Journey Into Imagination says that the area came about because the Dabell family, 'having grown up up at Blackgang used to run around the area playing Cowboys and Indians'.

A fort was built near Buffalo Creek in 1985 (more on that later).

Frontierland closed in 1994, though its biggest section was moved inland and eventually became the modern Cowboy Town. The Indian Camp moved too, though is outside the boundary fence and barely visible. The Trappers’ Cabin survived in its original position until a few years ago, while the Trading Post is still there.

Frontierland in the 1990s. Credit: Samantha Cove

Credit: Zoe Harrhy

Credit: Zoe Harrhy

Another familiar attraction which can now be found in Cowboy Town. This photo is from 1989. Credit: Sarah Pearce

The bartender in the saloon is still working a long shift. This was in 1983. Credit: Tracy Wakely

Frontierland in 1989. Credit: Philip Dean

The Indian encampment in 1990. Credit: Philip Dean

The mine at Frontierland, photographed in 1989. Caption: Philip Dean

1978

Smugglerland appears in 1978, featuring the Smuggler’s Cave, the Pirate Ship and the Smugglers’ Rest Inn, with various connecting walkways. Smugglerland moved to the second Adventureland site in 1994 and was then redeveloped as the Pirate Cove in 2012.

Elements like the Smugglers’ Rest have gone but others have been added, including: a second ship and the ability to have water fights between them; an optical illusion corridor that was originally called The Sailor’s Return (2011) and is now The Vortex and a shooting gallery, which replaced the short-lived Magical Music Factory (2007 or perhaps earlier). The Smuggler’s Cave was turned into part of the Underwater Kingdom in 2017.

Smugglerland was later replaced by the Underwater Kingdom. This image is from 1980. Credit: Sarah Pearce.

Several characters from now-closed attractions at Blackgang Chine can still be spotted around the park (photographed in 2023)

In March 1978, a major landslide destroys Sandrock Spring Cottage, the largest remaining house beyond Blackgang Chine, along with two other houses, a further section of the old road and some buildings that had been a naturist camp. The area affected covered 30 acres.

A news report blamed melting snow and heavy rain and said that the 'ground plummeted 70 feet'.

1979

Jungleland opened in 1979 although work started in 1978. It was created by extending the expansion at the Gore Cliff end and featured fibreglass animals and cavemen with piped noises.

Marcus suggests that this was 'always a bit crummy compared with the rest' but bear in mind that this based on his memories from 30 years ago. Highlights included a full size elephant and crocodile as well as Tarzan swinging through the trees.

Jungleland survived the 1994 landslide more or less intact. It was finally removed in 2008 and many of the models were transferred to Robin Hill as part of its African Village adventure playground. Jungleland was replaced by the Butterfly Walk (closed 2017) and the Giant Bug Walk.

The elephant in the room at Jungleland. Credit: Kirsty Ann

Jungleland in 1989. Credit: Philip Dean

Bears doing something in the woods at Blackgang Chine in 1989. Credit: Philip Dean

At some point in the late 1970s, the Crackerjack Amusement Arcade is installed at the front of the Blackgang Hotel building. It includes pinball and shoot-em-up machines. For a short period, coloured tubes are placed in the Water Gardens.

As mentioned earlier, the Stardust space shuttle features in a film in 1979 called either Unidentified Flying Oddballs or The Spaceman and King Arthur depending on which source you read.

In June, an application is approved to convert an 'abandoned residential property called Crohana' into a 'water powered sawmill museum'. It is part of a long term plan to 'transfer amusements to the north side of the road leading into Blackgang' because of continued erosion.

1980

Mission Control is added to Adventureland, being a small concrete building with mannequins in spacesuits and various controls to press/pull. Journey Into Imagination says it was described as 'an exciting visual representation of a space vehicle's ground control centre complete with the space shuttle ready for take off outside'.

Marcus says that no good photo of the interior has ever come to light, making it the Holy Grail of Blackgang Chine nostalgia. It features the Stardust spaceship outside.

Journey Into Imagination records that the Ship Ashore Inn opens in 1980, which was the stables and taproom for the original Blackgang Hotel.

Smugglerland is revamped with the addition of an animatronic display about the Clarendon shipwreck.

Smugglerland was revamped in 1980. This image is from 1989. Credit: Philip Dean

In September, Keith Chegwin and Swap Shop visits Blackgang Chine.

1981

The Sawmill opens on the north side of the road, in premises that are purpose-built but in the style of the much older buildings around. Journey Into Imagination says that it was 'constructed from a house called Crohana, which was originally a 17th century barn'.

It summarises the attraction as 'a mill owner's kitchen and a bedroom...a working water wheel and...the story of timber including...a wheelwright, fence maker, cooper and others'. The water wheel could be seen on the outside of the building in 2023, although it no longer moves.

In July, thieves steal a total of £150 from the Blackgang Chine wishing well. Presumably they are still getting through the loose change.

1982

A new 'Ship-Shop design opens within (the) old Bazaar area'. I'm quoting an advert from 1993.

1984

St Catherine’s Quay is added alongside The Sawmill in 1984, with the whale skeleton moved there from the Bazaar. The two together can be bought as a separate (rather cheaper) ticket from Blackgang Chine, or as a combined ticket.

It features an Isle of Wight Ferry Museum, according to Journey Into Imagination and includes the engine of the Compton Castle paddle steamer. The exhibition also includes 'smuggling artefacts and displays about the RNLI'. A lifeboat called The Friendly Forester appears outside. It dates from 1953.

The grassy area round the back is turned into a Mill Pond Garden, including a Romany Caravan that started in Nurseryland and eventually ends up in Robin Hill.

Contemporary reports suggest the Dabells have long-term plans to move everything several hundred metres inland, given the whole site is predicted to have gone by 2010. Just at this time, the section of cliff between the Gnome Garden and Adventureland starts eroding rapidly.

Adventureland and Smugglerland are relocated to the Gore Cliff end. Adventureland is placed at the top, in a field that had previously been used as an overflow car park. Mission Control closes at the end of 1984 and cannot be moved, so is left derelict, though it is re-created as the not dissimilar Lunar Base.

Adventureland was relocated in 1984. This image is from 1989. Credit: Philip Dean

Adventureland at Blackgang Chine machine

More machinery at Adventureland in 1989. Credit: Philip Dean

1985

The Fort Buffalo adventure playground is added to Frontierland, at the far limit of the Undercliff. Blackgang Chine reaches its greatest geographical extent.

In a Treasure Hunt episode, broadcast live in March 1985, Anneka Rice’s helicopter lands in a field at Blackgang Chine.

Earlier in the same episode she also visits Robin Hill, which at the time isn't owned by the Dabell family.

The video below is the Blackgang Chine section, which ends in a thrilling crescendo as Anneka Rice races around the maze looking for a gnome. My favourite moment is when she screams "It's a dead end!"

Planning permission is given in 1985 for a new entrance and giant smuggler. According to Journey Into Imagination, Blackgang Chine didn't add any new attractions for three years whilst they focused on relocating things due to erosion.

1986

The Crooked House is moved for the 1986 season. The Hall of Mirrors is relocated from being in a shed just west of the entrance building to the Blackgang Hotel area.

In June, a new entry road with mini roundabout is built higher up from the previous entry along the old Chale-Niton road, which becomes pedestrian-only.

Marcus reckons August 1986 is the first time he visited Blackgang Chine. This is of no interest to anyone apart from him, but he insists that I include it.

He recalls that the old entrance was still just in use with the Gnome Garden clinging on but largely gated off, as its paths went straight over the cliff. He also reckons he visited the original Smuggler’s Cave and tried the slide in the original Adventureland. The Model Village was still largely intact, albeit very near the edge.

He also goes into ridiculous detail about walking around the path (I told you he had a better memory than me):

"It isn’t easy to reconstruct how the entrance worked at this point. I think you headed down from the car park as you would now, but instead of going in you bore right, where a sloping path took you down the back of Nurseryland, with Humpty’s head just visible. It curved round to a grassy area with the entrance through revolving doors ahead and toilets under wooden arches (which ring a faint bell with me) to the left. You then went through the Bazaar and down steps, coming out above the Gnome Garden."

In March, a dinosaur called Bron is introduced to the park. Unlike the others, this one moves and is part of a plan to have various costumed characters roaming the park. The costume originally belonged to David Bellamy.

1987

A new entrance is built just left of the Blackgang Hotel, along with the iconic Giant Smuggler. The official opening in held in April 1987. Simon Dabell reveals that about 100 foot/30 metres of cliff has been lost in 2-3 years (according to Journey Into Imagination).

The Hotel itself, much altered over the years, has become the main café. The Locomotive is added to Buffalo Creek (also known as Wild West Loco).

The Gnome Garden has already largely gone, and the gnomes are relocated to near the new entrance. The very top notch of the chine ravine is still there – Marcus remembers seeing this and looking for it on later visits without success.

At this time, there are about half a million visitors to Blackgang Chine each year.

Inside the locomotive which arrived in 1987. This image is from 1989. Credit: Philip Dean

The Blackgang Chine Smuggler in more recent times (photo from 2023)

There is tragedy at Blackgang Chine when a two year old called Colin Holland from Silverstone falls 'from an elevated walkway of the Jolly Smuggler mock pirate boat attraction, ten feet above the ground' (court report from 1988). He died six days later. According to the court report, 'three hours after Colin's fall a six year old girl, Carly Fielder of...London, fell from the same walkway, and was detained at St Mary's Hospital, Newport with head injuries for three days'.

FR Dabell is "ordered to pay £21,000 in fines and costs after an Island Crown Court jury convicted him of exposing children to safety risks".

The report says "they had slipped under the lower of two horizontal rails" and that the attraction wasn't closed after the first accident as there wasn't any visible damage. The court was told that an inspection in 1986 had highlighted the issue, but Mr Dabell said that wasn't the case, and that the only advice given was about the Helter Skelter - which was fitted with vertical railings after the visit.

1988

The Orbiter V ride is added to Adventureland, being the park’s first real ride. Some say it only lasted a couple of seasons but it appears on a 1992 map.

Journey Into Imagination says the reason for its closure was 'new regulations and the costs associated with keeping it running'. It says that it 'showed a film of flying over the Isle of Wight, before shooting up into space and engaging in a battle with alien space craft'. Souvenir passports could be bought. It was constructed under the name of either Astro Glider or Astro Liner before Blackgang Chine rebranded it.

In October, a collector tells the Dabells that their collection of vintage gnomes have become valuable antiques, with some being worth £3000 each. At this time, there are about 30 gnomes on display and about 50 more in storage but many more have been lost, thrown out or broken (or stolen presumably). The Dabells say that they are now considering moving the gnomes indoors. (County Press article).

The catering facilities are also upgraded in 1988.

1989

A landslip in May 1989 forces the closure of the Model Village and the Fairy Castle (although the former wasn't removed completely until 1994).

Journey Into Imagination says 'a 40 foot stretch of cliff had dropped about eight foot back and large cracks had appeared in the ground'

The Aviaries and the Crackerjack Arcade are removed in the late 1980s as well. The Weather Wizard is added, extending further round the cliff from Jungleland. The Weather Wizard has a long stay at the park before being removed in 2016.

The 'Lost Valley' is landscaped in 1989, according to an article from 1993. I'm a bit unclear where this refers to - did it become Dodo Valley?

The entrance to the Weather Wizard, seen here in 2015

1990

The Fairy Castle is moved to the east end, near the last remaining houses under Gore Cliff. The Snakes and Ladders attraction is installed on the steep section of land above Fort Buffalo, where the zigzagging path was marked on maps as “Burma Road”.

Marcus recalls that fun as they were, they did tend to become rather hot in the sun in their original location.

Around this time, talking rubbish bins are added to Frontierland. Marcus describes these as the "annoyingly loud and repetitive character rubbish bins" but I love them and think he needs to lighten up.

At some point around 1990, the Crooked House is closed off for a period but it later re-opens.

In the early 1990s, a number of characters are created and used at events (and in an official 1993 video which can sometimes be found on Youtube). These include Bron Brontosaurus (created by David Bellamy according to Journey Into Imagination), Bodger the Badger and Connie the Fox. Bodger was a smuggler whilst Connie was a customs officer. Both appeared in a show in the early 2000s which was apparently written by then-park manager Simon Dabell.

Modern day talking bins at Blackgang Chine, photographed in 2023

1991

Fantasyland is created. This is similar to Nurseryland but more animated, and groups the Fairy Castle, Snakes and Ladders and the Weather Wizard with some additions like the Dragon and the Liquorice Factory. Supposedly, for its first season the Factory actually smelled of liquorice, but this feature didn’t last.

One report from 1993 says that Fantasyland actually opened in 1990.

Journey Into Imagination suggests that the talking parrot was also added at this point and says that Mad Hatters Tea Parties were held with various characters from Alice in Wonderland. I have a feeling that the parrot flew into place later but I'm not 100% sure.

How the maze looked in 1991. Credit: Philip Dean

The Fantasyland dragon during his green phase, photographed in 1992. Credit: Philip Dean

The dragon was later moved to the entrance to Blackgang Chine (seen here in 2023)

1992

The Musical Pet Shop opens. Marcus describes this as the 'least irritating attraction in the history of theme parks'. I do wonder if he's being sarcastic but I like it either way.

A shop opens up alongside the pet shop.

In July, Ken Russell's TV series Lady Chatterley is partly filmed at Blackgang Chine's maze and water gardens.

The entry price is £3.99 for adults of £2.99 for children whilst season tickets are £10.95 and £8.95.

The cacophonous Musical Pet Shop, photographed in 2023

1993

For the 150th anniversary, Rumpus Mansion is opened in what was Five Rocks, an old house by Gore Cliff, which was the home of some of the Dabells. Rumpus Mansion is still going, though a Clock Tower that was added outside in 1994 only lasted until 2005. Journey Into Imagination says that the clock tower cost £30,000.

An advert from 1993 says that Rumpus Mansion cost £500,000. The same article says that up to 400,000 people visit the park each year.

150 helium balloons are released by local schoolchildren to mark the park's anniversary, along with a Pirate Fiesta and a superhero competition (according to Journey Into Imagination). The superhero competition was themed around the rescue of the crew of a ship called the St Mary. In September, a celebratory wild west hoedown is held.

Another part of the celebration involves the hosting of the Isle of Wight Conker Championship. There is front-page controversy the next year when Simon Dabell hosts a similar event at the Hare and Hounds near Robin Hill. The man behind the 'original' championship complains that he had only leant the event to Blackgang Chine for its anniversary. Simon Dabell offers to promote the championships at his own event. Personally, I think they should have settled it with a game of conkers.

A two day 'bungy' event is held at Blackgang in August, called the Sky's No Limit Tour.

The Dabells change their organisation from a family business (a general partnership) to a limited company called Vectis Ventures. The company is incorporated on 18th February 1993. I'm not sure that detail is particularly relevant or interesting but I made the effort to look it up. The company is briefly known as RP 146 Limited for some reason!

At around this point in our timeline, Marcus' interest wanes significantly. He stopped visiting Blackgang Chine in around 1993, as he was a bit older and started wasting his time on Warhammer and learning the clarinet.

The Dabells begin the process of acquiring Robin Hill. The deal was that they would buy Robin Hill and the Hare and Hounds pub, but that they wouldn't take any of the animals. In the previous two years, an inspection by a charity and another inspection by government vets had produced critical reports about the way animals were being kept. There is speculation at the time that this prompts the sale of the park.

There are a few bumps along the way before the Dabells take possession of Robin Hill, including allegations that the previous tried to sell some endangered animals illegally. In the end, about 200 animals are 'donated' to a zoo in Morocco and the Dabells start investing significant sums of money into Robin Hill. The first job, over the winter of 93/94 is to get rid of 4000 old tyres that were scattered around the site.

The Rumpus Mansion clock tower lasted for about 11 years. This photo is from 1994. Credit: Philip Dean

1994

In January, a massive landslide destroys the classic layout of Blackgang Chine, rendering nearly all the big sweep of Undercliff unusable and taking out the rest of the old road, along with houses that the Dabells were living in. Fort Buffalo literally went over the cliff. It is blamed on a very wet December.

A Portsmouth News report at the time says that it caused half a million pounds of damage, whilst the local MP "appealed to the seven remaining hippies who spent the night in two stone cottages perched near the cliff edge to flee". The same report says that "half dozen homes have been evacuated, a caravan and several cars have toppled over the cliff" and that Alec Dabell "had to be rescued from his home when the floorboards 'erupted like a pyramid' and the walls buckled".

The Daily Mail reported that Alec Dabell had been trapped inside his house and had to call his brother Bruce, who smashed down the door with a sledgehammer. It also reported the key detail that Alec Dabell left clutching a bottle of claret but 'lamented' having to leave a bottle of port as well as his polo stick and trophies.

Another news report calls it the "biggest ever landslide on the Island" (presumably excluding dinosaur-era events) and says that thousands of tonnes of soil fell 400 feet.

The landslide led to the closure of Buffalo Creek and part of Smugglerland and other attractions are moved inland. A County Press report from 1995 says that 'Since the 1994 slide £500,000 has been spent on re-siting four major features on safer ground - Cowboy Town, Snakes and Ladders, the Fairy Castle and Smugglers' Boat'. When Cowboy Town returns in the summer it is called Buffalo Canyon. The Fairy Castle is later renamed Fairyland.

The observation tower is sent to Robin Hill.

The story of the landslide is told in the Disappearing Village exhibition. The exhibition had been planned anyway, but it coincided with the major landslide.

Marcus and I have had many arguments about to what extent the park shrank at this point. He reckons that it became 'much more crammed together', whilst I have suggested that he is just a lot bigger than he was in 1994. Maps suggest that he is accurate in saying that the site used to cover a much larger area before 1994.

The Triassic Club opens, with its dining dinosaurs. It is built on the site of a former swimming pool.

In August, two contractors spot a flare out at sea whilst 'resiting a feature high up at Blackgang Chine' (County Press article). They raised the alarm and two Polish yachtsmen were rescued.

The entry price in 1994 is £3.99 for adults and £2.99 for children.

A display about the 1994 landslide can be seen at Blackgang Chine (photographed in 2025).

Blackgang Chine water gardens were still going strong in 1994. Credit: Philip Dean

1995

Snakes and Ladders is moved to its new location due to the landslide of 1994.

Buffalo Creek returns as what is now called Cowboy Town.

According to Journey Into Imagination many of the old buildings were saved and some new ones were added including a funeral parlour, a mine and the La Cantina café. New comedy headstones were added along with an Indian camp and gold panning.

A crowd of about 3700 turn up for the annual Superhero Championships. A man called Andy from Wootton is the winner.

Much of Buffalo Creek was moved to a new home in 1995. This photo was taken in Cowboy Land in 2015.

Bartender in cowboyland at Blackgang Chine

The long-standing bartender, working in his new home in 2015

1997

Fort Tortuga opens in the area which later became The Wight Experience. I don't remember this fort but the skull from the entrance has been relocated to the Crossbones play area, which is near to Dodo Valley.

Journey Into Imagination says that the play area costs £70,000 and that it includes 'rope walks, a tunnel crawl, helter skelter and a rope slide' as well as a treasure hunt. The entrance is marked by Long John Silver.

Pirate party nights are held at the park with characters including Mick da Silver, Horatio Kneeldown and Kristina Swashbuckle (according to Journey Into Imagination).

The entrance to Blackgang Chine in 1997. Credit: Philip Dean

The Liquorice Factory in 1997. Credit: Philip Dean

The skull from Fort Tortuga was moved to the Crossbones play area (photographed in 2023)

1998

Water Force opens in May, with riders choosing one of three slides inside a small boat. There are two identical open slides as well as a covered slide called the Plughole. A County Press article says it cost £30,000 to build although I have seen much higher figures in other articles. It was opened by a Spice Girls tribute act called the Spicey Girls, for some reason. One of the first riders is a member of staff called John dressed as Queen Victoria.

My interest picks up significantly from this point onwards. I started working at Robin Hill in 2002, so kept a distant interest in Blackgang Chine and became a regular visitor again when my children arrived.

The arrival of Water Force begins an era of Blackgang Chine gradually adding more rides.

Blackgang Chine's waterslide, seen from above in 2023

2001

The park survives unscathed despite a 'massive landslide' in the Blackgang area. According to a report in the Isle of Wight County Press in November, it involved "hundreds of thousands of tons of earth" at Windy Corner.

It didn't "destroy property or affect the nearby viewpoint car park at Gore Cliff but destroyed a network of unofficial footpaths created by local residents and naturists who use the area. The IW Council's principal engineer for coastal management Peter Marsden said: "It is probably the biggest landslip since the 1920s, affecting an area of land 80 metres wide by more than 200 metres long."

Admission to Blackgang Chine in 2001 is £6.50 for adults or £5.50 for children.

2002

The Blackgang area suffers another cliff fall in late December 2002. Several temporary homes in South View were blocked off and a former naturist camp was evacuated. Of course, the plus side of evacuating a naturist camp is that you don't have many possessions to take with you in a hurry.

Blackgang Chine has some 'Space Jets' and Teacups at this stage. I believe the Space Jets were moved to Robin Hill soon after, to operate near the Colossus ride under the name of Jumping Jets.

Prices remain at £6.50 for adults and £5.50 for children. Returns are £1.

2003

Plans begin for a new rollercoaster called the Tornado.

Journey Into Imagination gives a good chunk of detail about this rollercoaster, which was 200 metres long and had a 9 metre drop.

A launch party with 160 guests was planned to 'celebrate the 160 year anniversary of the park' but it failed health and safety checks and had to be postponed.

Admission prices rise to £7.50 for adults and children but returns are free within four days.

2004

The Tornado rollercoaster saga rumbles on. A County Press article from June reports that it could leave Vectis Ventures £500,000 out of pocket. They tell engineers to pack it up and send it back. I once had to deconstruct and re-pack an IKEA chest of drawers so I can empathise with how difficult this must have been.

The problems with Tornado started when the Italian company they purchased the ride from was taken over by a Swiss company. They supplied them with a ride that was up to specification for mainland Europe but not for the UK. The small site made it tricky to add in the required extra support beams without the risk of injuring an enthusiastic rider.

I was working at Robin Hill during this time and remember hearing the ongoing problems. I was told a story of a crash test dummy being placed onto the ride and returning without any arms, but that may have been hyperbole from a colleague...

An inspection in May finds there are still 'three or four' problems, despite it being worked on for 11 months.

Vectis Ventures demand that they are repaid £200,000 of the money, with the rest being spent on things like preparing the site.

Journey Into Imagination says that The Dabells later 'launched a £1m legal claim' against the rollercoaster builders - I haven't found out how that ended!

The Magical Music Factory opens, possibly!

Kay got in touch via Facebook to say that "I have a feeling it was earlier; or at least it had a very similar precursor. I remember going there in 2003 and there was something similar but I think it was reworked as the videos on YouTube sound different."

This matches with my (very vague) memory of a magical music factory around 2003 or 2004. It appears to be on the map from 2004 but I've not got a map from the previous year

It isn't there anymore, although I'm not sure exactly when it was removed.

The entry price stays the same.

2005

The Cliffhanger Rollercoaster opens instead of Tornado. Journey Into Imagination puts the price at £590,000 which is about a million pounds in today's money.

Blackgang Chine hosts the British Junior Conker Championships. I still feel this would have been better if it had been held onboard the rollercoaster.

Entry prices rise to £8.50 for 4-60 year olds.

Blackgang Chine cliffhanger rollercoaster in 2010

The Cliffhanger at Blackgang Chine in 2010

A quiet day on the Cliffhanger Rollercoaster, photographed in 2017

2006

The Pirate Barrels arrive, near to the Cliffhanger site. My stomach can just about cope with these.

An Isle of Wight County Press article says that "the threat of cliff erosion could see some features at Blackgang Chine transferred to its sister attraction at Robin Hill over the next decade".

It says that Vectis Ventures has "earmarked £290,000 to upgrade the two tourist attractions over the next year" and that "more than £140,000 is being spent creating the new Smugglers Adventure Play Area for youngsters, with work due to be completed by the end of January".

Simon Dabell is quoted as saying "In the long term, Blackgang will be too small to be a major family attraction because of cliff erosion so we are considering the possibility of moving some of its features to Robin Hill."

The entry price stays the same for 2006 and the free return is now valid for seven days.

2007

Fort Tortuga disappears in 2007 but a similar attraction opens called the Crossbones play area (the one with the black pipes and the crossbones at the entrance).

Season tickets are now called the Vectis Adventurer.

Ticket prices rise to £8.95 for 4-60 year olds.

2008

Jungleland is finally removed. Some of the animals moved to Robin Hill's African Village playground.

In August, the front page of the Isle of Wight County Press features a blurry image of what it speculates could be a ghostly girl at Blackgang Chine. The video was taken by a chap called Mark Norman from Sandown. Simon Dabell says that he knows of two or three tales about smugglers but nothing about ghostly girls.

Could it just be a bit of sunlight reflecting off something on a sunny day in August? We shall never know...

The Chocolate Heaven opens, along with The Wight Experience film with in a 70 seat 'cinema'.

Ticket prices rise to £9.50 for 4-60 year olds.

Robin Hill's African Village became home to some former residents of Jungleland at Blackgang Chine

2009

The giant bug walk opens, including talking gnomes, which you can sit next to on a bench. It is 100m long and the creatures are 100 times bigger than normal.

In the same year, The Wight Experience opens with aerial footage of the Isle of Wight coastline. Nowadays of course, every man and his dog offers drone footage of the Isle of Wight.

Ticket prices stay at £9.50.

2010

The current whale museum opened as an exhibition showing off the original skeleton, which started the whole theme park.

The Disappearing Village exhibition also appears, explaining how 'almost 3/4 of a mile of coastline has fallen into the sea' over 150 years (Journey Into Imagination)

This repetitive parrot was part of Fantasyland. Credit: Tess Daniels, photographed in 2010

By 2010, the dragon in Fantasyland had been given a red paint job. Credit: Tess Daniels

2011

A spinning tunnel called The Vortex opened. The Vortex may win the prize for the most-regularly renamed attraction at Blackgang Chine. It seems to have also been called The Sailor's Return and The Cask and Weevil.

Fairyland moves again. It is now based near to Rumpus Mansion and includes small mushroom houses to play in.

There is a change of management at Vectis Ventures when Dick Dabell (FR Dabell) retires at the age of 87. His son Alec returns to the business.

The entry price is £10.50 for 4-59 year olds.

The Vortex has changed its name a few times. This is the entrance in 2023

2012

Pirate Cove opens, with two pirate ships side by side. These offer a similar attraction to the original Jolly Smuggler but with the added opportunity to fire water cannons at strangers. Pirate Jubilee parties are held to mark the Queen's Jubilee.

Simon Dabell leaves his role as Managing Director of Vectis Ventures. He tells the County Press that the retirement of Dick Dabell 'resulted in a change in family ownership and I have sold my shares back to the business'. Simon had been involved in running Blackgang Chine since the 1980s.

Ticket prices are now £10.50 for 4-59 year olds.

Pirate Cove opened in 2012 at Blackgang Chine

2013

Valley of the Dodos opens. I wasn't a big fan at first, but I now enjoy the continuous squawking of "Do! Do! Do! Do!" followed by "Do, Do, Do, Do, Stayin' Alive!"

It was around this time that two puppet dinosaurs called Shadow and Sheila first appeared. This was a tie-in with a not-particularly successful 2013 3D film called Walking With Dinosaurs. Augmented reality rocks were placed around the Isle of Wight so you could take photos of dinosaurs in locations where they once lived.

Ticket prices increase significantly and are now split into peak and off peak prices. Off peak adult entry is £10.50, whilst peak time entry is £14.95, an increase of 42% on the previous year.

Dodo Valley opened in 2013. This photo was taken in 2015

2014

The dinosaurs come alive with the opening of Restricted Area 5. Highlights include a Pterodactyl that sprays you with water. Journey Into Imagination says it was 2013 but the Blackgang Chine website says 2014.

Several of the original fibreglass dinosaurs are still in place and this remains one of my favourite parts of Blackgang Chine.

Halloween events are held to make the most of the park's floodlights and new dinosaurs.

Prices rise to £14.95 off peak or £17.50 on peak for 4-59 year olds. Over two years, entry price in summer increased by 66%

Dinosaur in Restricted Area 5 at Blackgang Chine

This friendly face can be found in Restricted Area 5 at Blackgang Chine

2015

More dinosaurs are added to Restricted Area 5, including a family of triceratops.

Cowboy Town is given a revamp and the Indian camp is moved. Additions include a 'new National bank, covered tots play area, General Stores stocked full of provisions and more; plus get your own 'wanted' poster too' (according to the official website at the time).

Entry prices for 4-59 year olds increase to £16 off peak and £18.50 on peak.

Fantasyland - a couple of years before it was removed to make way for The Underwater Kingdom. This photo is from 2015.

2016

The Mouth of Hell reappears in a new location. It has been repainted and tidied up somewhat. It replaces the Triassic Club's dining dinosaurs, which has reappeared as a pop up attraction.

Another old favourite - The Hall of Mirrors - re-opens in a new location, near to the former Cliffhanger site. Meanwhile, the Blackgang Sawmill and St Catherine's Quay both close.

A front page County Press news story in May features a couple from Lancashire called Dan and Lucy Yates who visit Blackgang Chine on the afternoon of their wedding.

The Big Night Out returns in the summer, with the park staying open for longer.

Prices are now £19 on peak and £17.50 off peak.

2017

The Underwater Kingdom opens on the former site of Fantasyland and the Smugglers Cave. This means the end of the Weather Wizard and Liquorice Factory. Part of the Underwater Kingdom incorporates a small part of the old roadway to Niton.

The highlight of the Underwater Kingdom is the giant whale at the end, which makes whale noises and moves slowly. On our last visit it had stopped moving but perhaps it was having a day off.

According to Wikipedia, the last section of the water gardens were removed in 2017. However, there are still a couple of fountains and ponds near to Nurseryland. When we visited in 2023, the fountain was firing at a peculiar angle and drenching everyone who walked past.

The entry price jumps up to £22 on peak and £19.50 off peak. The standard price in 2017 was £10.50, so peak time prices have increased by 109% in five years.

The Underwater Kingdom opened in 2017 in place of Fantasyland

2018

Blackgang Chine celebrates its 175th birthday.

Further dodos are added to Valley of the Dodos, along with some bouncy nets to make a circular route.

2019

Terror Island launches at Blackgang Chine, aimed at a much older audience. Visitors are treated to a series of terrifying mazes. It is described as 'the South Coast’s largest multi-award winning scare attraction'.

Ticket prices are £25 on peak or £20 off peak if purchased in advance. On the day prices are higher. Annual passes are £39.

2020

Blackgang Chine is closed for most of the year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The park announces in mid-March that it won't be opening as usual and then finally re-opens for a few weeks in late July 2020. Guests are asked to wear face masks, keep social distancing and book in advance.

2021

Coronavirus continues to disrupt tourism on the Isle of Wight. By July 2021, face coverings are no longer mandatory at Blackgang Chine but booking in advance is still required and guests are asked to pay with card or contactless.

2022

Two new rides appear called Evolution and Shipwrecked. Shipwrecked breaks down in August 2022 with passengers onboard and is later repaired.

Cliffhanger rollercoaster is retired and moves to Dreamland Amusement Park in Margate under a new name - Rock 'n Roller.

The Crooked House is revamped with the, er, charming mannequins being replaced by cartoonish characters.

Ticket prices range from £23-£35 depending on when you visit and whether you book in advance. The on the gate price in summer has risen by 233% in 10 years.

The Crooked House after its revamp in 2022

2023

A new ride - Extinction - opens towards the front of the park. The ride is a pendulum and gives riders the choice of joining one of two queues. You can either go over the top or just go up to 135 degrees. Read about our visit in 2023.

An extended events area and a Dino Enclosure appears behind the modern Hall of Mirrors building. This is used for dinosaur themed shows in 2023. Several retired dinosaurs make a reappearance in a walkway which leads to this events area.

The park celebrates its 180th anniversary.

Alec Dabell announces that sister-park Robin Hill is being put up for sale and will be not be opening for the tail end of the season.

The Festival Of The Dead event moves from Robin Hill to Blackgang Chine. The press release suggests that some things may move from Robin Hill to Blackgang Chine.

Extinction is probably the most extreme ride Blackgang Chine has ever added

This vintage dinosaur made a reappearance in 2023 as a chalk board!

2024

Photos appear of Robin Hill's Colossus (swinging pirate ship ride) onboard a ferry, leaving the Isle of Wight. Vectis Ventures later clarify that it was being sent away for refurbishment.

Blackgang Chine announces two 'new' attractions that will move across from Robin Hill. These include the Jolly Robin, which combines Colossus with Jonah's Whale. Photos appear of Jonah's Whale being removed across the park in April 2024.

The pirate play area is removed to make way for the Jolly Robin. It was due to open for the summer season, but was delayed.

The other new attraction is Blackgang Beach, made from The Ripple at Robin Hill and placed onto the previous location of the Cliffhanger rollercoaster. It opens in May.

Ticket prices are simplified and lowered after steadily increasing for a few years. Entry now ranges from £15 - £24.50 whereas they had peaked at £35 a couple of years earlier.

Blackgang Chine hosts the Fiesta of the Dead in October.

2025

Blackgang Chine has a rebrand, with new fonts and colours on its signs and websites.

The Jolly Robin opens.

Sister-park Robin Hill is sold and re-opens under new owners. See our history of Robin Hill for the full details.

Blackgang Chine wins three awards at the UK Theme Park Awards (gold for 'Best Customer Service (Small), silver for Best Seaside Park (South), and bronze for Best Marketing Campaign (Talking Bins with Joe Sugg)).

A new ride is announced, which will be a re-imagined version of the old Cows Express from Robin Hill.

Dick Dabell dies at the age of 101. He worked at the park from the age of 16 and played a pivotal part in its development to a theme park.

]]><![CDATA[Memorable Days At Newport Roman Villa]]>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:36:42 GMThttp://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/blog/memorable-days-at-newport-roman-villaSomewhere at my mum's house in Carisbrooke is a saucy photograph that I took whilst on a school visit to Newport Roman Villa in the early 1990s.

It shows a scantily clad statue and was taken whilst I chomped on a cheese and honey sandwich.

I was in year four, or perhaps year three - so about eight or nine years old.

It will tell you everything you need to know about me that my only memories of the day were a) the rude statue and b) what I had for lunch.

And so, I was excited to return to Newport Roman Villa three decades later to see what I had forgotten - and to check if the rude statue was still there.

Newport Roman Villa was discovered 100 years ago

An old-fashioned day out

Newport Roman Villa is not an expensive day out and it won't fill hours and hours. It usually costs about £5, but they were doing a special offer of £1 entry as part of a half term deal. I have a policy of not paying full price for anything, so I leapt at the chance.

The whole setup has a wonderfully old fashioned feel to it. That's perhaps not surprising for a Roman Villa, but what I really mean is that it has a school-trip nostalgic charm that you wouldn't get from a trip to a London museum. Newport Roman Villa is certainly not the sort of place that has a greenwashing sponsorship deal or a wing named after a dodgy donor called (NAME REDACTED). Instead, this is a museum held together by volunteers and 27p per year of funding from the local council.

It doesn't have a website, but just about manages a page on the council website.

Opening hours are limited and it mostly seems to be somewhere for schools planning a day out without needing to catch a ferry.

It doesn't have any parking, so you have to do six laps around Shide looking for a space that won't block someone's driveway (Morrisons is another option).

There's no café, or even a jar of instant Nescafe Gold. There's a gift shop, but it's tiny and hasn't been strategically located so that you can't leave without walking past it.

When we arrived, the person on the ticket office asked with some concern if we wanted to pay by card, as the card machine was misbehaving. I got the impression that this happens regularly. She looked relieved when I whipped out my emergency £20 note that lives between my phone and my phone case.

Underfloor heating at Newport Roman Villa

Newport Roman Villa has underfloor heating (unlike my house, 1800 years later)

This mosaic is one of the best preserved parts of the museum

Taking a tour of the Roman Villa

Next month - March 2026 - marks 100 years since Newport Roman Villa was discovered (see our 100 years, 100 stories page for more of this sort of thing). A local resident was digging foundations for a garage when he found a third century farmhouse. A former mayor of Newport (shout out to John Curtis Millgate) bought the site and put a roof over it so it wouldn't be ruined. When he died, national government said they didn't want it, so it ended up being rescued by the local council.

History fans may be interested to know that another Isle of Wight villa wasn't so lucky. Clatterford Villa in Carisbrooke was partially dug up in the 1850s but it was covered up again and has been sat there ever since.

Newport Roman Villa is not huge but there are well preserved remains of mosaics and a bath suite, which has underfloor heating and a selection of cold, tepid and hot rooms. When we visited, the villa's vintage Dimplex fan heaters matched the temperatures of the different rooms. I wasn't sure if this was designed as an immersive experience or if only one of them was working properly.

There's also a reconstruction of a kitchen and an activity room, where we were offered some clay to make into a Roman coin and some broken pots to piece together.

My assumption is that most of the Roman Villa is still buried underneath the houses that are either side of the museum. If I lived next door, I'd be itching to dig up the garden.

We spent about an hour at Newport Roman Villa, with most of the time being spent on an activity. It's certainly not as large as Brading Roman Villa but if you like lesser known days out then it's certainly worth a visit.

And yes, the rude statue was still there, thank goodness.

The dead swan isn't from Roman times

]]><![CDATA[10% Off Wightlink Now Valid In 2026 and 2027]]>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:54:54 GMThttp://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/blog/10-off-wightlink-now-valid-in-2026-and-2027

Wightlink ferry with The Needles in the background

Wightlink now offers 10% off all year round with our discount code

Wightlink recently got in touch to say that they were extending our exclusive 10% off discount code (GURU10 via this page) until 25 March 2027.

When I read the email, I briefly gazed out the window to consider that 2027 couldn't possibly be next year, since it sounds like a distant future with flying cars and robots. After I'd got over this, I looked through the terms and conditions and added it to our list of the latest discount ferry deals.

The 10% off code was previously only valid over winter, so we were delighted that it can now be used all year. Once you combine it with our 10% off Red Funnel deal, you shouldn't really ever be paying full price for the ferry.

Use code GURU10
via this link to save
10% on Wightlink

Restrictions of the 10% off Wightlink deal

There are a few dates when you can't use the 10% off code:

3 - 6 April (Easter)
1 - 4 May (early May Bank Holiday weekend)
22 - 25 May (late May Bank Holiday weekend)
18 - 22 June (Isle of Wight Festival weekend)
28 - 31 August (Bank Holiday weekend)

Can you find a better Wightlink Discount?

Yes, quite possibly. The 10% deal is a nice and simple one that doesn't require you to jump through hoops or complete a treasure hunt - but there are other offers that might be better for you. For example:

you can get 20% off if your visit coincides with one of about a dozen throughout the year including the Isle of Wight Walking Festival, Ventnor Fringe Festival and the Classic Motor Show. A lot of these events are free, and I think I'm right in saying that you don't have to provide proof that you will actually be taking part.
if you're paying for accommodation then there's a good chance that the owners will be able to get you a bigger discount. The big names can often get you more than 50% off - including Parkdean Resorts, Away Resorts and Warner Leisure. See our guide to accommodation + ferry travel bargain bundles.
various memberships and schemes will get you a 15% discount, including The AA, English Heritage, Blue Badges, Discounts For Teachers (and similar sites for healthcare workers, carers, charity workers).
Tesco Clubcard tokens can get you 50% off, in a roundabout sort way. You swap the tokens for ferry vouchers, but don't get any change so might end up paying for some of it as cash.
Railcards get you a third off foot passenger fares, if you can combine it with a train journey and avoid peak times. It's often cheaper to book a short train journey, even if you don't actually use the train part of the journey. Book Lymington (Town) to Yarmouth or Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Esplanade.

There are also some better options if you travel to or from the Isle of Wight fairly regularly. Anyone with an Isle of Wight residence (including second home owners) can get the Multilink deal for cars, which works out as about £84 return. There's also a version of Multilink for foot passengers, which is available where you live on the Island or mainland. It gets you a discount of about 50%. The exact discount varies depending on how you travel, such as whether you are doing day returns or period returns.

]]><![CDATA[Yes, Isle of Wight residents can get cheaper ferry fares (with a bit of effort)]]>Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/blog/yes-isle-of-wight-residents-can-get-cheaper-ferry-fares-with-a-bit-of-effort**Red Funnel offer: 10% off Red Funnel via this exclusive link**

Before we get into the meat of this Solent-sandwich let's make it clear that there isn't currently a simple fixed price discount which every Isle of Wight resident receives on every vehicle crossing on the Isle of Wight ferries. You can’t just turn up at the ferry, shout a secret phrase ("alright nipper!") and help yourself to a £50 return journey without any effort or commitment.

However, with a bit of investment, faffing or forward planning then most people can make some good savings on the ferry if they're an Isle of Wight resident.

This blog post will focus on car ferry travel but there are deals for Isle of Wight foot passengers such as My Link and the HoverBlue Card. You can find separate guides for Wightlink, Hovertravel and Red Funnel in our ferry section.

Anyway, let’s start with Wightlink car ferry travel.

Wightlink's Multilink Deal for residents

If you’re an Isle of Wight resident or a second homeowner then you are entitled to buy a Wightlink Multilink pass.

The idea is that you buy a book of ten crossings for a car and passengers. At the time of writing, it costs £400, so a return journey is £80 regardless of when you travel or how many passengers you have. During the peak of summer that will probably save you more than £100 per crossing. In some instances it will save you more than £200.

Each ferry crossing has a number of spaces reserved for Multilink passes so you need to book early if you’re planning to use the ferry on a Saturday lunchtime in August. The Wightlink website says it is at least 15% of the available space on a ferry. That is only about 10 cars on the ferries on the Lymington crossing, but is more on the bigger ferries from Portsmouth.

There are some key bits of smallprint – some of which make it more appealing and some of which make it less appealing.

The main downside is that you need to use the journeys within one year of topping up. You may conclude that since you only manage two or three return journeys with a car each year, that it’s not worth it.

But wait, dear reader!

There are a couple of bits of juicy smallprint which will make your heart race.

Firstly, you can share a Wightlink Multilink pass with two other people who live at the same address and you don’t have to be the driver. They aren’t tied to one vehicle, so a parent could share a pass with a son and daughter who are away at university.

Secondly, if you don’t use all your journeys within one year you can carry over spare credit by topping up another five journeys. This works well if you have a year of minimal travelling followed by a year of more regular journeys.

Thirdly, if you decide you don’t need your pass anymore and it has credit left, you can apply to get 75% of the cost back. There are some bits of smallprint to abide by but it’s not too complicated and it means that you’ll still get a good price if you only use three or four crossings and then cancel the pass.

Wightlink reserves at least 15% of space for Multilink users - or 27 cars on this ferry

Red Funnel's offers for residents

Let’s move on to Red Funnel, which takes a completely different approach.

Their travel deals for regular car ferry travellers are available to Islanders and Mainlanders (20% off if you prepay £1000). However, they do send out something called the Red Funnel Big Book of Savings to Isle of Wight residents (71,000 homes apparently).

These books are sent out five times a year and offer special deals and discounts for residents. You can use the discount codes a limited number of times (usually three times), which is why we don’t share them on this website.

The deals either offer a fixed price or a percentage discount. As you’ll see from this marketing website the deals can be pretty good – during 2025 they offered 25% off vehicle ferry crossings or Red Funnel car ferry day returns for about £50 - £60. Read our full guide to the Big Book of Savings.

The upside with these deals is that they will sometimes trump the Wightlink Multilink price and there’s no commitment or upfront payment.

The downside is that they are usually designed to steer customers towards lower demand sailings, whereas the Wightlink deal potentially lets you travel any time. You can’t rely on these discounts if you’re planning a trip to the mainland long in advance.

It's not big and it's not a book, but the Big Book of Savings gives good discounts

Cheap ferry travel for residents on low incomes

Besides those deals from Wightlink and Red Funnel, there are also generous discounts for Isle of Wight residents who have low incomes.

To qualify, you need to either be receiving ‘Local Council Tax support’ or housing benefit. The press release announcing the scheme back in 2018 said there are about 14,000 eligible people.

Once you’ve applied for the scheme, you can get Red Funnel return car ferry travel for a maximum price of about £60. They call it the Assisted Fares Scheme. Wightlink also offer a discount under the name of the Discounted Fares Scheme, although I couldn’t see prices.

There are also foot passenger discounts for people on low incomes from Red Funnel, Wightlink and Hovertravel which is somewhere around half price. Hovertravel call it the IOW Council Affordable Fares Scheme.

Discounts for residents travelling to hospital

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that there are schemes in place for Isle of Wight residents who are visiting hospitals on the mainland.

At the time of typing, you get a 50% discount with Wightlink if you're going for an NHS appointment and they also have a maximum fare of £70 in place. Red Funnel do a fixed price hospital trip deal whilst Hovertravel offer discounts to foot passengers under their Hovercare scheme.

If anyone knows of other discounts and deals that are exclusively for Isle of Wight residents, please add a comment below. We cover all the deals and offers that we know of in our ferry discounts guide.

]]><![CDATA[What's The Best Isle of Wight Away Resorts Holiday Resort?]]>Sun, 21 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/blog/whats-the-best-isle-of-wight-away-resorts-holiday-resort**Away Resorts Discount Code: Save up to 10% via this link with discount code DOGFRIENDLY10 or AWRAF7 + cheap ferry travel**

Away Resorts now owns four different holiday parks and lodge resorts with hot tubs on the Isle of Wight. They're a popular choice, partly because they'll get you a hefty discount on the Isle of Wight ferry if you stay with them.

Away Resorts has run Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park in the East Wight for donkeys' years, but in 2022 they merged with Aria Resorts and took on three other lodge parks including:

The Bay Colwell in the West Wight
The Lakes Rookley in Central Wight (no-one normal actually uses the phrase 'Central Wight', but it's a short way of saying that it isn't by the sea)
St Helens Coastal Resort in the East Wight (this one has also been known as St Helens Holiday Resort)

They're all dog friendly and offer hot tubs and a range of different types of accommodation, but which is best?

The short answer (for those who don't want to read all my waffle) is that St Helens Coastal Resort gets the best reviews but it's small and simple, whilst Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is the best for a beach holiday and has the best facilities. The Lakes Rookley is cheapest in our price comparison.

Here's our guide to which is best Away Resorts for you, along with a price comparison:

Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park - Best Beach Location, Biggest, Best For Busy Families, Some Sea Views

Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is a big, busy, family-friendly holiday park on the outskirts of Bembridge in the East Wight.

Over the last few years they've spent a lot of money adding flash new accommodation with cool names like TriBeCa and Rockstar. They even featured on a Channel 5 TV programme where Shane Ritchie larked around on the Isle of Wight and said things like "Corrrrrrr, look at that, me old mucker!". If that doesn't convince you, I don't know what will.

Whitecliff Bay no longer offers touring, but they do have simple camping pitches during July and August.

There's a much bigger choice of accommodation types at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park than there are at the other Away Resorts on the Isle of Wight.

If you want plenty to do onsite then Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is your best bet out of the four Away Resorts holiday parks on the Isle of Wight.

It's got indoor and outdoor swimming pools, as well as minigolf, a playground and an arcade.

During term time they have things like Tots Breaks, which are aimed at pre-schoolers, whilst during the summer holidays they put on outdoor cinema where you can sit outside and hope it doesn't rain. In peak season, there are free daily activities for kids such as a toddlers' disco as well as things you pay for, such as arts and crafts, archery, disc golf and baby ballet (more details on the entertainment programme here). There's also evening entertainment for grown ups.

The onsite restaurant is a good size and there's also a beach café during peak season.

However, the very best thing about Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is the location. When the sun shines, the beach at Whitecliff Bay is truly gorgeous and even muscles its way into my top 5 Isle of Wight beaches. It's hard to access unless you are staying at an adjacent holiday park, so it doesn't get unpleasantly busy.

One downside is that the slope down to it is ferociously steep and has claimed the good-natured attitude of many a beach-goer. My wife's language changed from Stepford-Wives-Esque to Tarantino-Esque in the time it took to get from the bottom of the slope to the top.

It's also worth looking at the map to figure out where your accommodation is. The site is split into two with a road going through the middle. That's not a big problem but if you're in the furthest away point then it's getting on for 15 minutes to walk to the beach.

Customers give Whitecliff Bay an average review score of 4/5 on TripAdvisor or 4.2/5 on Google Reviews (82% overall). That puts it in the middle compared to the other Away Resorts on the Isle of Wight.

Read the blog about our stay at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park.

Whitecliff Bay Isle of Wight sandy beach

Whitecliff Bay is one of my favourite beaches...and it's right next to some of the holiday park accommodation

Lodge at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park on the Isle of Wight

The more expensive accommodation at Whitecliff Bay is called 'Exclusive' whilst the caravans are cheaper

Search latest deals at
Whitecliff Bay + up to 10% off
(use code DOGFRIENDLY10 or
AWRAF7)

St Helens Coastal Resort - Best Accommodation, Best Reviews, Quietest

There's no kids' club at St Helens...so this sort of parental enthusiasm is required

Lodge at St Helens Holiday resort isle of Wight

The lodges at St Helens Coastal Resort are modern and more spacious than a caravan

St Helens Coastal Resort has changed its name a few times. For a while it was called a 'retreat' but it doesn't have the range of facilities you might expect at a 'retreat'. It's also not as coastal as you might imagine - the beach is about a mile away.

However, it's got a lot going for it once you get past the name. For starters, it is the highest rated Away Resorts site on the Isle of Wight, according to customer reviews (4.5/5 on TripAdvisor or 4.5/5 on Google Reviews or 90% overall).

A lot of the lodges and caravans have been added in the last few years, so you've got a good chance of a very modern property that isn't looking like it's been lived in by a parade of holidaymakers with hairy dogs.

We made use of the outdoor swimming pool, which is small but good fun (and it was heated). There's also a small playground that was completed shortly after we left.

The location is at the end of a wiggly road past some houses. It's within a pretty coastal village called St Helens in the East Wight, which has a large village green. Walking down to St Helens beach will take you about 15 minutes. If you're a bit more determined, you can walk to the sandy paradise of Priory Bay.

St Helens Coastal Resort is a much smaller resort than nearby Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park, so it's a good choice if you want a quiet base for exploring the Isle of Wight.

There isn't a restaurant onsite, but Bembridge has a good choice and there are plenty of other good places to eat depending on whether you prioritise a sea view or occupying the children whilst you enjoy a glass of Merlot.

Save up to 10% via this link
at St Helen's with code
AWRAF7

The Lakes Rookley - Best for Island Wide exploring, Cheapest In Our Price Comparison, 76% review score

The Lakes Rookley is equipped with indoor and outdoor swimming pools...

...and the Lakehouses have good views

The Lakes Rookley is something of a rarity on the Isle of Wight - a holiday resort that isn't by the beach.

There are plus sides to that, assuming that you've bought a car with you.

You can explore a lot of the Isle of Wight with a short drive. The seaside resorts of Shanklin, Sandown and Ventnor are all about 15 minutes away in the car, whilst Compton Bay in the West Wight and Cowes in the North Wight are both 20 minutes drive.

The absolute longest drive from The Lakes Rookley is the 35 minutes to Alum Bay and The Needles lighthouse. Most Islanders wouldn't drive this far unless it was a very special occasion (e.g. a family wedding or perhaps a funeral of a relative, at a push). If you're a hardened mainlander then you'll be used to drives of more than half an hour so it will be fine.

Anyway, back to The Lakes Rookley. In terms of scale, it is bigger than The Bay Colwell and St Helens Coastal Resort but it's smaller than Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park.

There are two swimming pools, including one indoors and one outdoors. The Lakes are also used for watersports such as kayaking and paddleboarding. Of course, you could do these on the seafront at Shanklin or St Helens but there's less risk of being dragged out to France from a lake in Rookley.

You can eat onsite at The Lakeside Bar and Eatery. Rookley itself doesn't have a huge amount to it (there's a car dealership, but I doubt that would entertain the kids). However, Shanklin, Sandown and Ventnor have lots of places to eat with a sea view. If you are after chain restaurants and fast food then Newport is your best bet (Beefeater, Pizza Hut, McDonalds, KFC, Burger King).

The poshest and most expensive accommodation at The Lakes Rookley are the Lakehouses, which have a pleasant view. At the other end of the accommodation range, we found that The Lakes Rookley was the cheapest of all four Away Resorts on the Isle of Wight (see further down for our price comparison).

Reviews of The Lakes Rookley are a little bit behind the other three Away Resorts on the Isle of Wight. Customers on TripAdvisor give it 3.5/5. On Google Reviews it scores higher with a score of 4.1/5 (76% overall). A lot of the older reviews will be from several years ago when it was Rookley Country Park. I would read through the more recent reviews for a more accurate summary.

Search latest deals at
The Lakes Rookley + up to 10% off
(use code DOGFRIENDLY 10
or AWRAF7)

The Bay Colwell - More Accessible Beach, Quiet, closest to a ferry port

Finally, The Bay Colwell which is a bit of an all rounder.

It is certainly smaller and less well equipped than Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park and The Lakes Rookley.

However, it does have an indoor swimming pool (unlike St Helens Coastal Resort, which has an outdoor pool). It's also much close to the beach than The Lakes Rookley and St Helens Coastal Resort. You can get to Colwell Bay in about five minutes on foot.

There's bike hire, soft play and a coffee shop onsite.

The accommodation is mostly rows of two bedroom chalets which have been much improved in recent years. They're described as 'Cottages' on the website and some of them have hot tubs. The more expensive accommodation are 'Lodges', some of which have an extra bedroom.

It's also the only Away Resorts site in the West Wight. Generally speaking, the West Wight is prettier and less developed than the East Wight (complaints from East Wighters to the usual address, please).

Colwell itself is developed, but the nearby West Wight coastline which runs from Freshwater Bay to Chale in the South Wight is populated by more cows than people.

If you are coming from the Westcountry, then The Bay Colwell is convenient to reach via Wightlink's Yarmouth to Lymington crossing. The ferry takes 40 minutes and then it's a seven minute drive to the resort.

The Bay Colwell scores 82% from reviewers, including 4/5 on TripAdvisor and 4.2/5 on Google Reviews.

Search latest deals at
The Bay Colwell + up to 10% off
(use code DOGFRIENDLY10
or AWRAF7)

Away Resorts ISle of Wight Price Comparison

We started by looking for a week for the cheapest accommodation available in August 2026. We searched for a seven night holiday. Prices don't include ferry travel, although you can get it for around half price if you book through Away Resorts. Expect to pay about £70 - £150 for the ferry depending on when you travel and how long you stay. From cheapest to most expensive:

Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park - £844
The Lakes Rookley - £854
St Helens Coastal Resort - £989
The Bay Colwell - £1152

We then looked for the same holiday but a lodge with a hot tub. So, it's a holiday in August 2026 for four people, staying for a week, excluding the ferry:

The Lakes Rookley - £1530
St Helens Coastal Resort - £1572
The Bay Colwell - £1737
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park - £1918

So, based on our mini price comparison, The Lakes Rookley is the cheapest of the four Away Resorts on the Isle of Wight and The Bay Colwell and Whitecliff Bay tend to be the most expensive. I would caution that prices vary a lot depending on when you visit and what accommodation you choose.

Review comparison of Away Resorts ISle of Wight Holiday REsorts

As of December 2025, the review scores for the Away Resorts on the Isle of Wight look like this:

Away Resorts St Helens Coastal Resort - 4.4/5 on TripAdvisor, 4.5/5 on Google Reviews - total of 89%
Away Resorts Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park - 4/5 on TripAdvisor, 4.2/5 on Google Reviews - total of 82%
Away Resorts The Bay Colwell - 4/5 on TripAdvisor, 4.2/5 on Google Reviews - total of 82%
Away Resorts The Lakes Rookley - 3.5/5 on TripAdvisor, 4/5 on Google Reviews - total of 75%

There's a notable caveat with the review scores for three of the four Away Resorts holiday parks and lodge resorts on the Isle of Wight.

All three of the parks have seen big changes in the last few years, so the older review scores are not particularly relevant.

St Helens Coastal Resort, The Lakes Rookley and The Bay Colwell have all changed hands twice in the last few years. They were previously known as St Helens Holiday Park, Rookley Country Park and Colwell Bay Holiday Park until they were bought by Aria Resorts in 2017. Aria Resorts invested a lot of money in the sites and then the company merged with Away Resorts in 2022 (Ed: will there be a test on this at the end?).

My advice is to look at some recent reviews, rather than going on the overall score.

Distance from the ferry ports

You can save money on the ferry if you stay with Away Resorts

The Isle of Wight is not vast, so travel times from the ferries are not a major factor if you are bringing a car. However, if it's a weekend visit or if you have children who don't travel well (i.e. all children) then it's something to consider.

The Bay Colwell is in the West Wight so it is seven minute drive to Wightlink's car ferry which links Lymington and Yarmouth. That crossing is quieter and less regular than the other two but it's more convenient if you are coming from the Westcountry. It's a longer drive to the other car ferries. It takes about 35-40 minutes to get to Red Funnel's ferry which connects Southampton to East Cowes or Wightlink's car ferry which connects Portsmouth to Fishbourne.
The Lakes Rookley is about 20 minutes drive from the busier car ferries (Red Funnel's Southampton to East Cowes route and Wightlink's Portsmouth to Fishbourne route). It is 30 minutes drive to Wightlink's Lymington to Yarmouth Route.
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is 25-30 minutes from the two busiest ferry ports (Southampton to East Cowes with Red Funnel or Portsmouth to Fishbourne with Wightlink). Wightlink's quieter crossing from Yarmouth to Lymington is a colossal 45 minutes drive from Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park. Please, please, please don't attempt a drive of that distance without packing a snow shovel and enough food to last you for three days - even if it's a baking hot day (Ed: I think you're getting carried away again. I'll call your mother).
St Helens Coastal Resort is close to Whitecliff Bay, so it's a similar distance from the ferries. It is 20 minutes from Wightlink's Fishbourne - Portsmouth Route or 30 minutes to Red Funnel's East Cowes - Southampton crossing. Much like Whitecliff Bay, it is 45 minutes to Wightlink's Yarmouth - Lymington crossing. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Also, make sure that you use the Away Resorts ferry discount. It'll save you as much as 50% compared to going direct.

See our full guide to the Isle of Wight ferries for beginners.

Related Guides:

]]><![CDATA[Cheap And Free Parking On The Isle Of Wight]]>Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/blog/cheap-and-free-parking-on-the-isle-of-wight

Parking meter in Cowes on the Isle of Wight

Does the sight one of these make you feel ill? Fear not...help is at hand

Here's my guide to some cheap and free places to park on the Isle of Wight including free parking in Ryde, Newport, Sandown, The Needles, Ventnor and Shanklin. It is ideal for anyone - like my mother - who is willing to walk some distance to avoid paying to park. I really don't like paying to park, but I usually cough up now that we have children and 14 bags on every beach outing.

It is also worth trying Your Parking Space and Just Park for events such as Cowes Week or for parking near a ferry port. You can rent out someone's driveway for a few hours or days via the website.

Quite a lot of Isle of Wight seafront parking is free in the depths of winter but I won't bother listing all of those, as most people visit the Island in spring, summer and autumn. I've focused on the places where you might have a day out.

There's also the controversial topic of whether it's acceptable to park in a permit-free residential area as long as you aren't blocking someone's drive. Personally, I have no problem with this (and don't mind people parking near my house) but I do whoosh off pretty quickly when I return to the car in case an angry resident has been waiting for me with a rolling pin...

This guide will probably go out of date before I hit publish, so please comment at the bottom if a) somewhere is no longer free or b) you've found somewhere else free or cheap to park on the Isle of Wight. Also, please check signs for yourself when you park somewhere as I may have got things wrong. And for any grandmas reading, the best way to suck an egg is at the pointy end.

Free and cheap parking for Alum Bay and The Needles

Let's start with one of the trickiest places to visit without paying for parking.

The road leading to Alum Bay and The Needles has double yellow lines that seem to go on for miles. Last time we visited, the only car park was £6. That's not exorbitant for all day parking but it's a bit pricey if you only stay for 10 minutes before one of the children has a meltdown.

Islanders may be aware that if you pay to park at The Needles once then you can use the car park again for free for the rest of the year. You need to show proof of address.
National Trust members get £2 off at the official car park. This is not advertised very widely but it mentions a discount on the National Trust website and I phoned The Needles to confirm it. You just show the attendant in the booth your National Trust card. Give them a wink and a thumbs up just to make sure.
Some people park in the layby on a right turn as you approach The Needles. It's then about five minutes' walk to the foot of the steps near to Alum Bay. I am not 100% sure that this is a) still an option and b) a legitimate place to park. Please leave a comment below if you try this option or give us a call from the police station if it doesn't work out.

(Update: Alex got in touch to say that this road is the access road to six properties and it is often getting blocked during holidays and litter is being left. Please park with consideration if you go for this option - see Alex's comment below for more details).
Alternatively, you could combine a trip to The Needles with one of the best walks on the Isle of Wight. There's a free National Trust car park near to the Tennyson Monument. Climb up to the monument and then walk for about 1.5 miles along the footpaths to the Needles. It's a great walk, but it would be a hard sell to my children even with the promise of the Hook a Duck at the Needles.

The footpath mentioned above comes out quite near to this much-photographed spot

Free and cheap parking in Bembridge and St Helens

There's free parking at the council car park at Steyne Park (PO35 5SL). The playground is good too! It's 15 minute walk to the beach from here.
There's sometimes a little bit of parking on Lane End Road as you approach the beach, but it's pot luck. It has a 'stick or twist' feeling to it as you have to decide whether to drive past a space in the hope of getting one nearer to the beach. If you reach the pay and display car park at the end of the road then there's a high risk that your less-frugal spouse will say "oh, let's just pay to park now that we're here".
You can test out your suspension at a free car park near to the Pilot Boat Inn and the Harbour View Café at Bembridge Harbour. There are half a dozen spaces visible from the road. I believe it is provided for free by the RNLI, as there's a place for donations. You can find it here. Previously, we parked in a larger car park behind this section, but it has been blocked off.
If you visit St Helens beach, use the National Trust car park by driving past the road that leads to the Council Car Park. It is free for members. Last time I visited it was better value than the council car park for non-members as well. There's a cut-through to the beach.
The Isle of Wight Council car park on St Helens Green is free. It's about 15 minutes walk to the beach.

Free parking in Brighstone

Brighstone has a free car park on Warnes Lane. It's not exactly a heaving metropolis so free parking isn't difficult in Brighstone. It's a good base for a West Wight walk.

Free parking at Colwell Bay

There are some free on-street parking spaces on Colwell Chine Road that lead to Colwell Bay. You're a lucky fella if you manage to find a spot on a sunny day.
A better bet is the parking around Colwell Common. It's about 5 minutes walk down to the beach.
There's an entrepreneurial home-owner on Colwell Chine Road who offers all day parking for a fixed price. At the time of writing, it is cheaper than the council car park if you stay for more than one hour. I'm struggling to remember if it is £3 or £4 now but it's still a good price. They have seven spaces and ask for money to be put through a letterbox. If this was my house, I would be thrilled to come home and find a mountain of pound coins on the doormat each day.

Look out for this entrepreneur near Colwell Bay (I think it might have gone up to £4 since I took this).

Free and cheap parking at Compton Bay

There's a free car park at the very top of Compton Down (i.e. the road which connects Freshwater Bay to Compton Bay). You can then walk along a footpath and down some steep steps to get to the far end of Compton Bay. I wouldn't attempt this with young children as the steps are precarious.
Compton Bay, Hanover Point and Brook Chine car parks are all free for National Trust members.
Visitors to Hanover Point regularly park on the verge just outside the car park - but watch out for signs that tell you where you can and can't do this.

Free parking in Cowes and Gurnard

Cowes gets pretty ruthless when it comes to summertime parking, particularly in Cowes Week.

You can park for a couple of hours for free on Park Road, alongside the big pay and display car park for Northwood House. Nearby, Ward Avenue has some free on-street parking but I've never had much luck finding a space in summer.
There is also free parking on the esplanade at the Gurnard end, at the time of typing. You may end up walking for a mile, but it's a beautiful walk so stop complaining. There has been talk of this free parking ending, so don't take my word for it! Head for the Woodvale Pub and start driving towards Cowes and there might be an on-street space.
The car park next to the M&S Food Hall is free for the first hour or £1 for two hours. You can access it via Denmark Road, rather than round the front of the store.
Northwood House has a fairly hidden car park called the Rotunda Short Stay car park, which is a little cheaper than council car parks in Cowes. It was £2 for 3 hours or £3 for 4 hours when I checked a couple of years ago. Don't confuse it with the massive car park next to Northwood House. The Rotunda Short Stay car park one is accessed by driving down the road that leads to the main entrance.

Gurnard has some free on-street parking (at the time of typing)

Free and cheap parking at Freshwater Bay

There's a little bit of free on street parking as you approach Freshwater Bay on Afton Road. Outside of summer, you can park on the single yellow lines on Gate Lane (near the car park for The Albion).
The National Trust has a free cliff top car park, which is part way up the hill towards Compton Bay. It is free regardless of whether you are a National Trust member but it has colossal bumps in it. The walk down to the beach has terrific views. Just don't tell the children that they'll need to walk back up the hill afterwards.

Free parking in Godshill

If you've paid to park in Godshill then something has gone wrong. There's a colossal free car park in Godshill near to the Griffin pub. It provides proof that offering a free car park and coach park leads to people turning up and happily spending money. Who knew?!

Free and cheap parking in Newport and Carisbrooke (including Isle of Wight Festival parking)

There are some residential roads on the edges of the town centre which are free, but a lot are now resident permit areas.

The lower car park at Cineworld cinema offered three hours free parking last time I visited (PO30 2TA). Heidi got in touch to say that it is only for people using the shops, restaurants and cinema and that you'll get a ticket if you leave the site.
Morrisons supermarket in Newport town centre gives two hours free parking.
Asda supermarket on the outskirts of Newport gives four hours free parking for customers.
The Royal Exchange car park on the edge of Pan Estate is free. It's not huge but it's only 8 minutes walk to Newport's Guildhall and it's also close to County Hall.
There's a free car park opposite Carisbrooke Priory on Whitcombe Road. It's a good place to park if you want to walk round the outside of Carisbrooke Castle without using the English Heritage pay and display car park.
During the Isle of Wight Festival, the local housing estate is blocked off so there's not a lot of free parking for those who are doing day trips to the site. We tend to park at the Coppins Bridge Long Stay Car Park. It's a pay and display car park but last time I visited it was free after 6pm, so it might work if you are just turning up for the evening acts. It's about 15 minutes walk to the festival entrance from here.
The council car park in Seaclose Park is rather pricey. The prices suggest it's a bustling seaside resort rather than somewhere to walk the dog. The car park for Beefeater in Seaclose Park is better value. It's free for customers or £2 for 3 hours if you faff around with an app.
There is quite a bit of parking around Field Place and Caesars Road that is free for two hours. These are residential areas, so there's an elevated risk of a ranting resident as you drive off.
If you are visiting in an evening, look out for the loading bays in Newport High Street. I found one that was free after 6pm, whereas the on street parking spaces wanted me to pay an evening charge. Pah!

Free Parking in Ryde

You can park for free for an hour in Union Street, which is the main shopping street. However, nearby George Street has some on street parking which is either two hours or four hours for free (depending on which part of the street you parked in). From George Street, it's about a 20 minute walk to the nicer part of Appley Beach.

Someone who lives on George Street got in touch to say that it's hard for residents to find space to park here, so you might want to avoid this area at busier times.
The town centre Co-op in Ryde offers one hour of free parking. Thanks to Lindsay and Liz who both suggested this one. I believe you have to get a ticket, but it's free.
East Hill Road has some free parking and is about 10 minutes walk to the seafront/canoe lake. Thanks to Pat for that excellent suggestion!
For a beach day out...there are 5 or 6 spaces on Puckpool Hill at the entrance to Puckpool Battery. From there, it's a very pleasant six minute walk through Puckpool Park and through to Appley Beach by the Dell Cafe. Or walk down Puckpool Hill and turn left along the coastal path. It takes a couple of minutes longer but has nicer views.
There's some free parking on Springvale Road, which is about six minutes walk through to Appley Beach along the coastal path.
Ryde St Johns Road railway station has dirt cheap parking. At the time of writing, it is £1.20 - £1.80 per day or £7 per week. That's right, £7 for a week of parking. If you're going to the mainland, you could park here and pay about £1.50 - £3 to get the train up the pier to the ferry. Walking to the beach from the railway station takes about 15 minutes - but it's very hilly.
There's a private car park on Buckingham Road, which is cheaper than the council car parks. When I checked in November 2024 it was £1 for two hours, £2 for four hours or £3 for 6 hours. They also did a seven day permit for £15. The dry end of Ryde Pier is about five minutes walk from here.
You can park for free on some parts of Spencer Road in Ryde. I would caution that this is very much a residential area so the risk of a fist-shaking or a twitching-net-curtain is significantly elevated. Do I need to remind you to park courteously or is that just patronising waffle? It'll take you about 10 minutes to walk to the bus station at the end of Ryde Pier from here.

Free and cheap parking in Sandown

Parking at Sandown Railway Station is £1.20 - £1.80 and I think it's valid all day. The seafront is about 12 minutes walk, so it may be a case of a parent dropping off everyone else and then parking (I secretly enjoy doing this as it gives me 15 minutes of peace).

Free and cheap parking in Shanklin

Parking on Shanklin Seafront is a competitive and expensive experience. We once stayed in a flat on the seafront which didn't have parking and I spent the whole week moving the car or driving round looking for a space whilst crying (and I spent £50 on parking). Some options:

There are some spaces on the clifftop above the seafront esplanade, which are free for a couple of hours. Aim for somewhere around Osborne Road and then walk down the path. It's a good workout on the way back up the hill.
You can park for free at Big Mead, which is a playground and playing field with a duck pond in Shanklin near to St Blasius church. It's a walk of about 10 minutes to Shanklin old village or 20 minutes down to Shanklin esplanade. Last time we visited, there were ducklings to admire. You wouldn't get that in your average pay-and-display money trap.
Shanklin Railway Station is only £1.20 - £1.80 for all day parking, at the time of writing. It's a 12 minute walk to the seafront or a similar distance to the old village.

Seafront Pay and Display parking spaces in Shanklin are quickly gobbled up during the summer

Big Mead park has a free car park, plus the added bonus of occasional ducklings

Free Parking at Totland Bay

There are a couple of good options for those who don't want to pay for seafront parking at Totland Bay. Seafront parking was free a few years ago, which makes paying for it all the more painful.

Cliff Road has free on-street parking. Take the steps down leading to The Waterfront.
Alternatively, park on Granville Road and take the footpath that comes out by Totland Pier.

Free parking in Ventnor

There's a free car park called Eastcliff Car Park, which is up on the cliffs. It's a real hidden gem but it's very small and only has space for about 12 cars so it's often full in summer. It's a five minute walk to Ventnor seafront.
The Leeson Road car park in Ventnor is also free but it's about 25 minutes walk to the seafront and it's very hilly.
The Wheelers Bay car park in Ventnor is free. It takes ten minutes to walk to the seafront from here, but it's a scenic route. This is what we tend to do.
If we are visiting Steephill Cove then we tend to park on Steephill Road as you approach the turning for the beach from Ventnor. It's a bit of walk along a road without a pavement. In such circumstances I spend the whole time shouting "carrrrrrrr" every 30 seconds.

Free parking in Yarmouth

One of my mother's favourite tricks is to park at the Bouldner Viewpoint Car Park and then walk along the sea wall past Yarmouth Green and into the town. It's a fairly long walk of about a mile but it's very pretty. Last time I checked, the car park had a five hour limit. Let's be honest though, Yarmouth is not a huge place so five hours should be sufficient!
The Fort Victoria car park is also free, but it's further outside of Yarmouth and not as easy to walk into town. There is also a height limit so some larger vehicles can't use this one.

Free parking in Yaverland

There is some free parking on the residential roads opposite Yaverland's main car park (Yaverland Close, Meadow Way). Any miserable residents who complain can be politely reminded that they live within five minutes walk of a sandy beach, so they really should lighten up and learn to enjoy life. All the same, please don't block their driveway.

Free parking near Isle of Wight ferry ports

If you're looking for free or cheap parking in Southampton, Portsmouth, Lymington or Southsea for a trip to the Isle of Wight then that is covered in our ferries guide. (Spoiler alert: there isn't much).

If you're hoping to find somewhere free or cheap to park near to the ferries from Fishbourne, Cowes, East Cowes, Yarmouth or Ryde then you face a bit of a challenge. Some suggestions:

Your Parking Space and Just Park sometimes undercut official car parks by some margin. You park on someone's drive and pay in advance via the website.
Cowes - there's a park and ride from Somerton that connects with the Southern Vectis Number 1 bus.
Ryde - as mentioned, there's not much that I know of near to Ryde Pier. There are some free spaces around Puckpool, Springvale and East Hill Road (see above) but the free parking within Ryde town centre is on a time limit. I have managed to park on a residential road fairly near to the Pier before but a) I can't remember the name of it and b) I'm not sure if it's still free and c) I don't want angry emails from residents. An alternative plan (mentioned earlier) is to exploit the cheap parking at Ryde St Johns Road railway station (about £1-2 per day) and then get the train up the pier (about £1.50 - £3).
Fishbourne - there are a handful of on street spaces by Fishbourne Beach if you drive past the entrance to the Wightlink terminal and past the Fishbourne pub. However, I'm not sure what the restrictions are on these. I'll check next time I'm passing!
Yarmouth - this is a tricky one. As mentioned above, there's the Bouldnor Car Park, which is about a mile from the ferry. However, it's got a five hour limit. There's also the Fort Victoria Car Park, which is free but limited to 24 hours (and has a height barrier). It is just over one mile from the ferry. Any other ideas? Please comment below.
East Cowes - the esplanade near the playground has some free parking. It's about 12 minutes walk from the ferry. The Isle of Wight Council website says there is a 24 hour limit on these spaces.

]]><![CDATA[1/3 off Isle of Wight Festival Ferry Travel With Wightlink's Early Bird Deal]]>Tue, 07 Oct 2025 13:42:24 GMThttp://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/blog/13-off-isle-of-wight-festival-ferry-travel-with-wightlinks-early-bird-deal

Blue skies are guaranteed at the Isle of Wight (perhaps)

Wightlink has released details of its 'early bird' offer for travel to the Isle of Wight Festival 2026.

The offer is 1/3rd off vehicle ferry travel and you can get it here.

1/3 off Wightlink
ferry travel for
IOW Festival 2026

What does the small print say?

The offer is different to last year, when Wightlink did some fixed priced early bird ferry tickets for the Isle of Wight Festival.

However, 1/3rd off is still a good discount on Wightlink. They often do deals for 10% - 15% off, but this is more generous and will save you a good chunk!

The offer:

includes car ferry or foot passenger travel
is valid for day returns and overnight returns
is valid from 17 June to 26 June (it varies slightly depending on how long you are staying, but that's the gist of it)
can't be used with other offers, such as Wightlink's popular Tesco Clubcard deal.
is only available for a 'limited number' of bookings. It will expire on 3 November 2025 at the latest.

Is this the cheapest way of getting to the Isle of Wight Festival 2026?

Perhaps, but I would also look into these options:

If you've got an Isle of Wight address (either as a resident or second home owner) then Multilink will be cheaper - but you'll need to be quick as there are only limited numbers of Multilink spaces on each crossing.
If you're camping then I would see if you can make do without your car, as it will likely work out cheaper. Trains connect with the Wightlink ferries at Lymington Pier and Portsmouth Harbour and you'll pay about £40 to park at the festival. If you're paying for accommodation near the festival then you'll probably end up using public transport or taxis to get to the site whether you bring the car or not.
Red Funnel is also running an early bird deal. The cheap tickets with a car seem to be in short supply, but you can get a foot passenger return for £20 - which is about 50% off the standard fare. You might decide to park at Southampton railway station (about £12 for a weekend) and then hop on the free bus to the ferry in Southampton. On the other end, you can either cough up for the (quite expensive) shuttle bus or get the 'normal buses' for £3 (or grab a few people and share a taxi)
Wightlink's Tesco Clubcard deal gives you double the value of your vouchers on ferry bookings. I guess it depends whether you would use the vouchers at another time.

]]><![CDATA[Wightlink Sunset Flyer Discount For Islanders: Extended and Reduced!]]>Sun, 28 Sep 2025 07:14:45 GMThttp://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/blog/wightlink-sunset-flyer-discount-for-islanders-extended-and-reduced

Book Wightlink's
Sunset Flyer

Wightlink's Sunset Flyer is now £80 return instead of £90

I get more excited about a new type of Isle of Wight ferry ticket than I do about my own birthday. That's partly because I don't like being reminded that I'm a year older...and partly because it's a chance to save some money.

The new update is that Wightlink has extended and reduced its Sunset Flyer that has been trialled over the last few months.

What's the deal?

The Sunset Flyer now gives Islanders a return ferry ticket with a car and passenger for £80, if you travel early or late in the day.

You need to travel after 8pm or before 9.05am on each leg of the journey. It can be used for overnight stays of up to a month apart until 10 January 2026.

Pedants might point out that the name worked better in summer when the sun was setting later, but let's not get bogged down in details when there's a good discount.

The previous offer had similar rules but was £90 instead of £80 for a return.

We've hoping that the offer is extended beyond January and offered to visitors, although we have no idea if that will happen.

Is this the best deal around?

Hmm, that depends.

This is a good deal in my opinion, but there is hot competition at the moment, both from Wightlink itself and from Red Funnel (see our main ferry discounts guide).

Other deals to consider:

Red Funnel has a sale at the moment, which has tickets ranging from £59 to £99 for a return. The price varies depending on when you travel and how long you stay. It has the advantage over this Wightlink offer of also being available to mainlanders visiting the Isle of Wight. However, it expires on 3 November 2025, whilst the Wightlink offer also covers Christmas and New Year. Read more here about the Red Funnel sale.
Wightlink's Multilink deal offers ferry travel for a similar price to its own Sunset Flyer deal. The Multilink deal has the advantage of being available at all times of day. However, there are a limited number of Multilink sailings on each ferry (not generally an issue in autumn and winter) and you have to buy a book for ten single journeys up-front and use them within a year.
Wightlink is offering 10% off standard fares over the same dates at the Sunset Flyer (use the code GURU10), or 20% off if you travel midweek. Meanwhile, Red Funnel offers 10% off all year round or 15% off if you are an Isle of Wight Resident.

]]><![CDATA[Exclusive Wightlink Discount Code: 10% off until March 2026]]>Thu, 11 Sep 2025 08:01:36 GMThttp://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/blog/exclusive-wightlink-discount-code-10-off-until-march-2026

Wightlink is offering 10% off for the next six months (ish)

Isle of Wight ferry offers have been coming thick-and-fast over the last few months.

Anyone with a lot of spare time might like to look through the archive of recent blogs to see deals such as Wightlink's Sunset Flyer and Red Funnel's Autumn Sale.

The latest addition is 10% off Wightlink ferry travel, which is valid until 31 March 2026. It works whether you are travelling as a foot passenger or in a car. You need to complete your journey by that date, so you can't use it for spring and summer holidays next year (sorry).

10% off Wightlink
via this link with
code GURU10

How do I use the 10% off Wightlink code?

If you are capable of tying your own shoelaces then you can probably figure this out for yourself, but you need to tick the box that says "I have a promotion code" on step three of this booking form. The same tick box appears on other pages in case you missed it the first time.

Step three of the booking form is called 'Journey extras'

Promotion code section on Wightlink website

Look for the section that says 'I have a Promotion Code'

What are the restrictions?

I'm glad you asked, and might I commend you for doing some research. Here are the terms and conditions from Wightlink:

Valid for bookings and travel until 31 March 2026.
Offer is valid on foot, car and motorcycle products.
Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotional activity, e.g cashback.
Wightlink reserve the right to modify or cancel the offer at any time.
No adjustments can be made on previous purchases.
Wightlink General Conditions for provision of Ferry Services apply and can be found at wightlink.co.uk/terms.
Tesco Clubcard Reward Voucher Codes will not be accepted as part or full payment of tickets.
How to book: Copy the Promotion Code to use in the 'I have a Promotion Code' box at the bottom of the 'Your Details' stage when making your booking online. The discount will be shown at the payment stage of your booking.

Is this the best offer around?

The predictable answer is that "it depends".

If you just want a simple Wightlink discount without any faffing or jumping through hoops then this is a good deal. It will take you three seconds and save you a few quid.

However, if you are more of a bargain hunter then I would also consider these offers:

Red Funnel is also offering 10% off, via this link. Red Funnel operate the ferries from Southampton whilst Wightlink operate ferries from Portsmouth and Lymington. I wouldn't say that either company is always cheaper than the other, as they both offer 'flexible pricing'. Check both prices if they are both equally as convenient for you.
You will almost certainly save more than 10% if you get a bundled deal of accommodation + ferry travel. Some big holiday companies such as Away Resorts and Warner Leisure will often save you 50% or more, but lots of smaller accommodation companies will give a good discount (see more here).
You can't use the discount with other Wightlink offers and schemes, such as Multilink or the Tesco Clubcard deal. If you can use either of those then you will probably save more money.
Red Funnel routinely send out a book of vouchers called its Big Book of Savings. These are sent to every Isle of Wight household, five times a year (read more). The discount vouchers in there often give you 20 - 25% off overnight returns as well as offering fixed price day returns for about £50 - £60 for a car and passengers.
It seems likely that Wightlink and Red Funnel will do a Black Friday offer, as they have done in previous years. If you are planning travel between December and March then I would be tempted to stick rather than twisting at this point.

Swimming pool at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park

Guests at Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park can get a big discount on the ferry

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