We have spent much time on this blog jabbering on about the Military Road. It features in our guide to the Isle of Wight's best driving route (The Wighty 90) and it also stars in a few films, as explained in our Isle of Wight TV and Film Tour. The end of the road?It seems inevitable that you soon won't be able to enjoy the Military Road in its current form. I've heard gossip about various options, including moving part of the road back a bit or just leaving it to be dragged into the sea like a sandcastle constructed over several hours by a proud dad. Whatever happens, it won't be the exact same drive or cycle that it is now. We took Tony the Drone for an early morning flight last month to see some of the points where the road is particularly close to the edge. Good times on TarmacForgive me for a little nostalgia, but if you aren't interested in waffle about Isle of Wight life then you shouldn't really be on this website. Feel free to watch a video of a cat on a skateboard instead.
When I was growing up, Compton Bay became our go-to beach - and generally the Compton end rather than the Hanover end. I'm not sure what year this started, but I would think it was when we were old enough to climb down the steep steps without falling over. My parents were not keen to pay to park, so my father would drop us off by Compton Farm on the Military Road and we would start walking down the steep steps whilst carrying a cool box and a windbreak. He would then park for free at the car park at the top of the Military Road and cross the field to join us. I also suspect he enjoyed five minutes to himself so he could smoke his pipe and admire the view whilst we walked ahead. As we grew up, trips along the Military Road continued with friends, often at night after an evening on the beach. On one occasion, shortly after I had passed my test, we were met with a herd of cows which had wandered onto the road. My friend Stuart climbed out of the car and started running at the cows...before they started running at him. He swiftly retreated, but not quite as swiftly as my car, which was reversing at pace. He caught up eventually and we decided the best bet was to call my mother. In the end, we found a number for Newport police station, who seemed happy enough to help. A few years later, I proposed to Mrs Guru about 20m from the Military Road on the Compton cliffs. A couple of cars drove past and honked. I had written a message in the sand for her to view from the cliffs, but the tide had come in and left a message saying 'MARR ME'. More recently, the Military Road served as a highlight of long drives spent trying to get children to either fall asleep or stay asleep. As the children have grown up, I often take a detour over Compton Down when travelling from Freshwater Bay to Carisbrooke - just to admire the view. They don't show as much interest in the view as I would like, but I suspect I was the same. Anyway, if your favourite road is also the Military Road, please share your love stories in the comments below. If you've got another favourite road, such as a M6 or the A1...please keep it to yourself, I'm really not interested.
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This is just a quick blog post to shout about a ferry deal that I suspect lots of people don't know about. It is what the kids call a gamechanger for anyone on things like Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Jobseekers Allowance, Pension Credit and Council Tax Support. It is only available to people who live on the Isle of Wight. If you have stumbled on this page and don't fit into those categories that you need one of these guides instead:
(Yes, we've written a lot about the Isle of Wight ferries). Anyway, back to the main subject of this blog post. The Discounted Fares Scheme For Low Income HouseholdsSix years ago, a discount scheme was created for people on the Isle of Wight who receive benefits (we will move onto the small print of what that means shortly). One guide I read suggested that is 14,000 people - or about 10% of the Isle of Wight's population. (The exact figure is hard to work out, as the eligibility varies depending on which ferry company you are using). Each of the three ferry companies operate a similar scheme for low income households. However, they all use different names for it:
How much money will I save?A lot! Current prices that we've been able to find are:
who is eligible and how can I apply? Is it lots of faff?Each ferry company has a different criteria but the amount of paperwork and faff is not that significant:
Can friends and family visit me with these discounts?No, I don't think so. I'll update if I hear otherwise.
Fear not, this isn't going to be another one of those nauseating Easter guides with endless puns about 'cracking' events and 'eggcellent' activities. We know that such things are beneath you and fail to even raise a titter. I would encourage you to confidently condemn such behaviour.
Anyway, here are some of the events that we know about on the Isle of Wight for Easter 2024. Please add your comments below if you know of other events that we've missed. Or just leave a comment to tell me how handsome I am, that's fine as well. 1. Alice in Wonderland at Tapnell Farm Park
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Tapnell Farm Park's Alice in Wonderland event last year. It's returning for 2024 with things like potion making, circus games and a maze. Tapnell's events take place indoors, although I can 100% guarantee that there will be zero rain on the Isle of Wight in April (Ed: you really can't say that...).
2. Easter Egg Hunt at Brading Roman Villa
What better way to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour than a hunt for chocolate at the home of some Romans?
Brading Roman Villa is holding an egg hunt to raise money for a charity called Daisy Chains. There's a magic show, Peter Rabbit and hidden letters around the grounds. I've not been to this one, but it is obviously popular as you can 'pre buy your hunt to avoid the queue on the day'. I am glad to see they haven't turned it into an Alton Towers style experience where there's an express queue for people who paid extra because their children whined the loudest. It takes place on Saturday 30th March. 3. Easter Egg Hunt at Ventnor Botanic Garden
You might not find what you're looking for at the Easter egg hunt at Ventnor Botanic Garden, but as the saying goes...nothing Ventnored, nothing gained.*
Anyway, this a good one for those towards the South Wight. It takes place on Easter Sunday (March 31st). *I've been waiting weeks for a chance to use this pun and am very proud of it. I thought of it whilst standing in the shower and immediately leapt out to write it down. You're probably thinking it wasn't worth it. 4. Great Railway Easter hunt at Isle of Wight Steam RAilway
The Easter event at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway is a two week thing, rather than a one off thing. It will combine chocolate and trains, which covers the key interests of most of my family. They will have giant eggs around the site and falconry displays.
It's called The Great Railway Easter Hunt. 5. Easter Fireworks in Sandown
Sandown's popular New Year's Day fireworks were rescheduled to Easter.
You'll get a good view anywhere along the Esplanade, it tends to be particularly busy around the Pier (they launch off the end of the Pier). Last time we went, we parked at the big car park by Sandham Gardens and walked along. It was chocca blocka but we weren't waiting too long to get out as we could escape in the Culver direction rather than driving through Sandown. 6. Easter Eggs in the West Wight
So, we've had an Easter Egg hunt in the East Wight and another in the South Wight... Here's one for the West Wight, organised by the people who run that splendid double decker bus at Freshwater Bay. If the weather is good, this will be a great location. Hopefully the eggs aren't all grey, or you've got no chance of finding them amongst the pebbles.
7. The Big Brick Build at Osborne House
We are obsessed with Lego in our house. Sometimes I even let the kids play with it as well. Osborne House is capitalising on such things with a week and a bit of Lego-related things happening at Easter. I'm not really sure what Lego has got to do with Easter, but then I'm not really sure what chocolate and rabbits have got to do with Jesus either.
8. New stuff at Blackgang Chine
Not exactly an event, but Easter will be our first chance to see the new stuff at Blackgang Chine. We now know that Colossus is being moved from Robin Hill (*wipes away tear*), and will be pirate-themed in its new home. The fort near to Pirates Cove has been removed to make way for it. There is also something else appearing for younger children at Blackgang Chine. My best guess is that Robin Hill's The Ripple will appear at the former Cliffhanger site, but that's just a guess. I'll be editing this blog post in a few weeks when it turns out I was wrong.
9. Calbourne's Duck Race
Calbourne's Duck Race is great fun. We got there rather late last time, but we still got the general idea. It takes place in Winkle Street, which is the place that is constantly being photographed for calendars they sell in garden centres. Here's our blog from last time.
At the time of typing, I can't find a lot about it happening in 2024 but I assume it is. Keep an eye out for the sign that appears on the Middle Road with more details. We took the drone out for a fly this morning, after reading about "ground movement and cracks" at Rylstone Gardens in Shanklin. A friendly chap working at the boat club directly below helpfully pointed me in the right direction. He suggested that the crack is near to the Elvis plaque. I avoided making any gags about him being All Shook Up about it, as it didn't quite seem appropriate when there are businesses and clubs underneath. The first photos show the cordoned off area, with a few people having a nosey. You can download HD versions of the file below.
The next photo is a closer view of the plaque. The friendly chap at the boat club and I agreed that we couldn't really see anything notable. There are lots of small cracks in the footpath, but he suggested they had been there a while. I'll upload my video at some point, so that others can see if they can spot anything. You can download an HD version of this image below
The friendly chap at the boat club then suggested that I look at the protective mesh that is in place to reduce the risk of debris falling onto anyone's head. He suggested that there is fresh dust/debris that has fallen on the left and right of this photo. I don't know for sure if this is new or old movement. Download an HD version below to get a better idea of what I'm talking about:
Finally, the friendly man pointed me in the direction of a summerhouse, which is now perilously close to the cliff near to Luccombe Manor Country Hotel (200m along the coast from where the cordoned off area is). He wasn't suggesting that it has moved this week, but it is a reminder that movement along this part of the Isle of Wight is pretty frequent. He also told me that it previously housed a webcam showing the sea view. And here's the same summerhouse from the other side. Room with a view anyone? You can download an HD version below.
Note for editors: You are welcome to publish these photos elsewhere, but we require you to credit us with a link to https://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk. Contact me for further high resolution images and videos (currently raw, but I'll edit them once the children are occupied).
I have big concerns about AI. I'm not too worried about the possibility of robots taking over and becoming our masters, but I am wary of cleverly disguised plagiarism which will put millions of people out of work. Anyway, let's put such fears to one side and see how successfully Chat GPT can generate Isle of Wight related AI images. Here's what it spat out when I gave it a few Isle of Wight themed image requests: Create a picture of Elvis Presley visiting the Needles on the Isle of WightOK, so Elvis looks like Elvis but what has happened to the Needles? Where's the lighthouse? The first chalk stack looks like Freshwater Bay's Stag Rock but other than that it's a total mess. I give it 4/10 Create an image of The Beatles visiting Blackgang ChineWe all know that Ticket To Ride has Isle of Wight links, and that John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr attended the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival. But what would happen if they visited Blackgang Chine? Well, we shall never know as Chat GPT just produced a picture of four random guys standing in front of some dinosaurs. The sign at the back doesn't even say 'Chine', it says CHNE. If you've booked these guys for a Beatles weekend at Blackgang Chine, ask for your money back. It's 3/10 from me. Create an image of King Charles and Camilla building a sandcastle on Sandown beachWhy does Charles have a beard? Why does Sandown Pier look like Brighton Pier with a new sign? What is going on with Camilla's left hand? It's a 2/10 from me, since neither the people nor the background looks right. Create an image of Tom Cruise visiting VentnorI can only assume that Chat GPT hasn't been to Ventnor. The Spyglass has become a hotel, the hills aren't high enough. Tom Cruise is stood in a field which doesn't exist. I'm giving this one 4/10. Create an image of Princess Diana enjoying an ice cream at Carisbrooke Castle whilst Harry and Meghan do a high fiveCrumbs, these are getting worse. Diana looks unwell. Harry looks like Harry, but Meghan doesn't look right at all. And no, that's not Carisbrooke Castle. That's not even a high-five, it's a wave. 2/10.
Well, that was a waste of time. Wightlink has announced three changes to its Multilink pass for regular travellers. Two of the changes probably won't affect vast numbers of people but I thought it was worth highlighting the third one - which could save you a lot of money if you're a couple who visit (or leave) the Isle of Wight at least twice a year. Here's my main point for those who don't want to read the full waffle. If you travel as a foot passenger on the Ryde Pier Head to Portsmouth Harbour crossing as a couple twice a year, then it is now almost certainly worth getting a Multilink passenger pass. Anyway, on with the main waffle.
The first two changes that Wightlink has made are to do with the Multilink vehicle passes. You can now have three people on your pass instead of two, as long as you live at the same address. For example, a mum and dad living on the Isle of Wight and their grown-up daughter could share a pass if she still lives at home. You don't need to travel together, so it is now easier to use up several journeys between you. The second change is that you need to cancel Multilink vehicle bookings with 24 hours notice, rather than with an hour's notice. However, it seems you can still amend bookings so it's not a big deal. I think some people were booking several crossings on the same day and then cancelling the ones they didn't need. The first two changes only affect those with an Isle of Wight residence (permanent residents or second home owners). The third change is to the Multilink foot passenger pass, which is available to anyone - whether you have an Isle of Wight address or just enjoy visiting. So, if you live in Portsmouth and pop over on a sunny day then this deal is for you. You can now have two names on a Multilink passenger pass instead of one, as long as you are part of the same family. The minimum number of passes you can buy is 10 singles which are valid for 12 months. So, previously you would need to visit the Isle of Wight five times in a year, whereas now it is two or three times per pass holder. Let's crunch some numbers for visitors from Portsmouth:
For Isle of Wight residents, it is quite similar:
It gets a little more complicated once you factor in discounts, concessions and the different fares for the Lymington and Fishbourne ferries. For example:
Anyway, I'll leave you to chew over those numbers. Yes folks, Blackgang Chine has released its prices for 2024 and it has actually lowered its admission prices. This does seem to be a genuine reduction rather than a bit of PR-puff that disappears when you scratch at the surface. Standard entry prices for Blackgang Chine in 2024 look like this:
There is also a concessions price of £15, which is for over-65s. In the last few years, prices at Blackgang Chine had increased quite a bit. The peak time price was up to £35 in 2022 if you didn't book in advance, so dropping to £24.50 is a significant saving of 30%. As far as I can remember, there wasn't a concession price before so a granny taking a couple of grandchildren and paying on the day in August will now pay £64 instead of £105. Blackgang Chine has also kept the free return within seven days deal. We constantly tell people that it is a really good idea to visit at the start of your week's holiday and then come back a couple of days later for an evening event. The summertime clifftop parties and fireworks are great fun, particularly if you get in for free. The only real downside I can see is that you can no longer buy joint passes with Robin Hill, as the park is closed and up for sale. I also can't see a 'saver' ticket for groups, but that only really saved you money if you had the right number of people and it was more than the cost of four standard tickets at the new price. The other big change won't affect many people but it's worth mentioning. Young children now get in free if they are under one metre rather than under four years old. An average four year old is about one metre tall so it's not a huge change. I guess it's easier to enforce on the gate ("honestly, I know he's six foot tall but he's only three"). The waterslide has a minimum height of one metre, so I can see why they've done this. I am sure there will be the usual Facebook whingers who will say that £24.50 is still too much. Honestly, I think these people would still complain if it was free. I looked at look at a couple of other theme parks for my own curiosity:
Anyway, that's enough ranting. I'll meet you by Pirates Cove for the summer foam party. What about Blackgang Chine Annual passes? Are they worth it in 2024?At the moment, annual passes/season tickets/frequent visitor passes for Blackgang Chine are £49. This is being promoted as an early bird price so it might increase.
At current prices, if you are visiting twice in a year and are under 65 then it's probably worth getting a pass. For example, if you visited at Easter and August then you would pay £42.50. I would personally pay the extra £6.50 so that I could do some unplanned visits without feeling I need to stay all day and get my money's worth. This blog has now been updated 94 times, as offers keep changing. It also used to incorporate Robin Hill but rather tragically it is up for sale and isn't open. Anyway, hopefully it still makes sense and will save you some money. We are big fans of Blackgang Chine with its oddball collection of moving dinosaurs, talking bins and waterslides. Many of our best days out have been held there, particularly now child one and child two are tall enough to go on most things. For many of us, it offers both nostalgia and new curiosities each time we visit. Prices went up quite a bit from £35 for a family in 2008 to £126 in 2022. However, they have now dropped to £15-£25 per person, which is excellent news. To be fair, a lot has been invested in the last 15 years. For example, back in 2008 Blackgang Chine didn't have big evening parties included as part of the price. Also, they didn't used to have peak and off-peak prices, so it's not a very fair comparison. I’m sure there are also multiple other expenses that have increased and Blackgang Chine always looks clean and freshly painted, unlike the flaky-paint you find at some cheaper parks. Discount codes and money off vouchers for Blackgang are rarer than the residents of Dodo Valley but there are several ways to get better value out of a trip to Blackgang Chine: 1. Visit at the start of your holidayBlackgang Chine offers a 7 day free return. You can probably see all of the park in a day, but you may want to revisit things if a rain cloud arrives twenty seconds after you’ve coughed up £100 (the weather is weird at Blackgang Chine). Most things operate in the rain but the snakes and ladders slide at Blackgang Chine shuts - and of course it’s utterly miserable walking round a theme park whilst raindrops drip off your nose and the map turns into a soggy mess. You’ll feel better about it if you come back at the end of your week for another go, even if you do end up spending twenty quid on unicorns and plastic cap guns in the gift shop. 2. Arrive early and then Come back in the eveningDuring the summer months Blackgang Chine puts on excellent evening shows, which are included in the ticket price. Some people visit the park during the day and then return for an evening show later in the week. We went along to one of Blackgang Chine's foam parties and fireworks displays in summer 2023 and enjoyed it greatly. If you consider it two different family days out for the price then it starts to feel like much better value. It's also worth arriving at 10am when the park opens and then heading for the most popular rides to avoid wasting time in queues. Double check that the opening time hasn't changed before you go. There's a golden hour between 10am and 11am when Blackgang Chine is much quieter because most parents are still arguing with their children about getting out the house/caravan/tent. I would head right as you come in the Blackgang Chine entrance and head for the waterslide and other rides. Most of the stuff on the left hand side of the park is imaginative play stuff that you walk through so you don't need to queue for it. 3. Visit with a 99cm tall childBlackgang Chine has changed its pricing structure so you pay based on height rather than age. Children under one metre get in free whereas it used to be free for under fours. This is probably a fairer system, as it reflects what you will able to do at the park. Generally, a child reaches one metre around their fourth birthday so it won't make much difference to most people. You may wish to turn up wearing well worn shoes... 4. Buy an annual passThis one’s no use to most holidaymakers, but an annual pass may be better value for some. As I write this, Blackgang Chine is offering annual passes for £49. Standard entry prices for 2024 look like this:
For most people, you will need to visit three times in a year to make an annual pass worthwhile. Also remember that you get free returns within seven days. 5. Don't Buy in advance!Our advice on this one keeps changing. For a couple of years, booking online was a whopping saving of £20 for a family of four. However, for 2024 they have scrapped this and the price you pay at the gate is the same price as you pay online. Personally, I would avoid booking too early as you may decide to change your plans depending on the weather. Blackgang Chine is OK in the rain, but it's certainly preferable on sunny days. 6. Visit off peak (and then return on peak)Not much use to most holidaymakers, but Blackgang Chine is considerably cheaper outside of school holidays when there aren’t the evening events. Many years ago, it was the same price all the time. During 204, an off-peak ticket to Blackgang is £15, compared to £24.50 on-peak. If you have different school holiday dates to most people then you may be able to pay the off peak prices. There is also a little loophole that I haven't tested myself, but which I think will work. Thanks to Dan for pointing this out (please blame him if it doesn't work). If you visit for the first time on an off-peak date, then I think that you can use your free return on a peak date as long as it is within seven days. My hesitation with this is that I have a vague memory of some special events being excluded from the seven day free return offer. Please leave a comment below if you have tried this! 7. Get your in-laws to payRuthless pennypinchers on a family holiday with the wider family should attempt this strategy:
Got any other suggestions for discounts at Blackgang Chine? Please feel free to comment below... Returning visitors will notice a few changes on the Isle of Wight in 2024. Some things have disappeared, some are due to re-appear. Here are five big things to look for. We will alternate between good news and bad news for a bit of balance... 1. The return of Totland PierA few years ago, Totland Pier looked destined to go the same way as Shanklin Pier and Ventnor Pier. The metal structure was increasingly holey. It's now been rebuilt and is due to open as a restaurant at the wet end of the pier with hotel rooms at the dry end of the pier. The latest information we have is that it will open at Easter 2024. 2. A closed Robin HillWe don't yet know what the future holds for Robin Hill, which was put for sale by its owners a couple of months ago. I have been sending Mrs Guru slightly potty with my 27 point plan of what I would do if I owned Robin Hill. We are just a couple of million short, so if anyone wants to pitch in then please get in touch. Since you asked, my plan includes a series of slacklines in the woodland to make a ninja assault course, as well as a games arcade that takes you through the history of gaming. I would stick a roof on the toboggan run so it can stay open in the rain. The amphitheatre would become a woodland cinema and an army of robotic mowers would cut the grass (Ed: I think that'll do...). Luckily the Isle of Wight has plenty of other activities for primary school and junior school aged children, including Blackgang Chine and Tapnell Farm Park. 3. The revival of The AlbionMrs Guru and I have often looked at the Albion and felt it should have been absolutely buzzing with activity. Its location in Freshwater Bay is probably the most spectacular of any hotel on the Isle of Wight. Yes, there are lots of good hotels with sea views on the Isle of Wight but Freshwater Bay has an all-round appeal. Some Isle of Wight beaches look a bit sad in winter, whereas Freshwater Bay has crashing waves that make it a nice place for a winter walk. We don't have an opening date yet, but there was a post on the Facebook page of the sister-hotel (Sentry Mead) saying that they have 'the target of opening the doors in Spring 2024 still very much in mind'. 4. The death of the Devil's Chimney?The Isle of Wight has suffered a few landslips and cliff falls in recent months, presumably due to the huge amount of rain in late October 2023. The most catastrophic was the December 2023 landslide between Luccombe and Bonchurch, which has left the Smugglers' Haven Tea Gardens perilously close to the cliff edge. Thankfully, no-one was hurt but The Devil's Chimney has either been destroyed, buried or made inaccessible. It was apparently created by a landslip in the first place, but it's still awful to see such a quirky rock formation and walking area disappear. It has caused problems on the roads in and out of Ventnor - which may well drag on for a long time. First time visitors may like to look at some of the alternative walks on offer. 5. A terrific Isle of Wight Festival lineup for 2024I usually get exceedingly frustrated by whingebags who complain about the Isle of Wight Festival lineup. As I've said many times, when I was growing up in Carisbrooke we had to catch a ferry to see anyone we had heard of. The Isle of Wight music scene was limited to folk trios singing sea shanties in pubs. Since the Isle of Wight Festival returned we've witnessed the like of Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Robbie Williams, REM, Jay-Z, The Who, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac and Pink.
And yet, when the Isle of Wight Festival line-up for 2024 was announced the whingers were largely silent. Were all the negative-Nigels on holiday together complaining about something else? Or were they - finally - happy with a line-up announcement that includes Green Day, the Pet Shop Boys and The Prodigy? Take a look for yourself at our Isle of Wight Festival 2024 guide. **Away Resorts Discount Code: Save 10% via this link with discount code IOWGURU10 - expires 31/12/24 + 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:
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 ViewsWhitecliff 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 has recently stopped offering camping and touring and are focusing on their caravans, lodges and glamping. 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. That puts it in the middle compared to the other Away Resorts on the Isle of Wight. St Helens Coastal Resort - Best Accommodation, Best Reviews, QuietestSt 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 4.4/5 on Google Reviews). 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 which 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 which 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 Priory Bay which is a sandy paradise. 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. The Lakes Rookley - Best for Island Wide exploring, Cheapest In Our Price ComparisonThe Lakes Rookley is something of a rarity on the Isle of Wight - a holiday resort which 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 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. 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. The Bay Colwell - More Accessible Beach, Quiet, closest to a ferry portFinally, 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. Away Resorts ISle of Wight Price ComparisonWe started by looking for a week for the cheapest accommodation available in August 2024. 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 £50 - £150 for the ferry depending on when you travel and how long you stay. From cheapest to most expensive:
We then looked for the same holiday but with a hot tub. So, it's a holiday in August 2024 for four people, staying for a week, excluding the ferry:
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 REsortsAs of December 2023, the review scores for the Away Resorts on the Isle of Wight look like this:
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 portsThe 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.
Also, make sure that you get Away Resorts to book the ferry for you. It'll save you as much as 50% compared to going direct. See our full guide to the Isle of Wight ferries for beginners. |
Isle of Wight Guru's BlogTales of Isle of Wight days out, attractions and ferry discounts from a Wightophile. This site uses cookies - see our privacy policy. Ads & links in bold may give us a small payment from the seller, at no cost to the buyer. However, this never affects our views - if we like it, we recommend it. Archives
March 2024
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