Isle of Wight Guru
  • Home
  • Why you should visit the Isle of Wight
  • Ferry travel advice & discounts
    • Discount Isle of Wight ferry travel
    • Isle of Wight ferry beginners guide
    • Wightlink's Tesco Clubcard deal – is it the best discount?
    • Using Wightlink’s Multilink deal for cheap ferry travel
    • Cheap Isle of Wight ferry travel for caravans
  • Holiday parks, hotels, camping & cottages
    • Family holiday parks & caravans >
      • 10 of the best Isle of Wight caravan holiday parks
      • Park Resorts and Parkdean Resorts Isle of Wight holiday parks
      • Which Isle of Wight holiday park should I stay in?
      • Last minute deals and discounts at holiday parks
      • Is there a Haven holiday park on the Isle of Wight?
      • Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park reviews and facilities
      • Lower Hyde and Landguard Holiday Park review
    • Hotels & guest houses >
      • Isle of Wight Hotels - a beginner's guide
      • 10 of the best Isle of Wight luxury hotels
      • 5 Ventnor hotels and guest houses
      • Warner's Bembridge Coast & Norton Grange hotels
      • 5 best Isle of Wight coach tour holidays and trips
      • Romantic Isle of Wight holidays for couples
      • 5 best Isle of Wight spa break hotels and spa days
    • Camping & glamping >
      • 20 Isle of Wight camping and touring parks
      • Isle of Wight Glamping
    • Cottages & self catering >
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Shanklin
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Cowes
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Newport
      • Dog friendly Isle of Wight accommodation
      • 10 Isle of Wight wheelchair accessible & disabled friendly holidays
      • Brambles Chine and Linstone Chine self catering
    • Lodges & hot tub holidays >
      • 5 best Isle of Wight holiday lodges
      • 10 best Isle of Wight hot tub holidays
    • Quirky & AirBnbs >
      • 20 quirky places to stay on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 best Isle of Wight Airbnb holiday homes
    • Group accommodation >
      • 10 of the best places to stay for large groups
      • 7 best Isle of Wight manor houses for hire
    • Accommodation advice >
      • What time of year should I visit the Isle of Wight?
      • Which Isle of Wight town should I stay in?
      • Where is the cheapest place to stay?
      • Dog friendly Isle of Wight holidays
  • Festivals, days out & attractions
    • Festivals & carnivals >
      • Major festivals and carnivals
      • Isle of Wight Festival 2021 lineup and tickets
      • 10 unforgettable Isle of Wight Festival moments
      • Isle of Wight Festival History
      • Cowes Week - attractions and accommodation
    • Free days out & attraction discounts >
      • Free days out on the Isle of Wight
      • Discounts to Isle of Wight attractions
      • Itinerary for a budget Isle of Wight holiday
      • 10 ways to save money on Isle of Wight holidays
    • Attractions for children, teenagers, adults >
      • Activities for toddlers on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for children and families on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for teenagers on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for adults on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for an Isle of Wight stag do
      • Surviving an Isle of Wight holiday with a toddler
    • Quirky days out >
      • 10 quirky days out on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 things you can't do on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 things you can only visit on the Isle of Wight
      • Isle of Wight TV & Movie Tour
      • 10 reasons to visit the Isle of Wight
    • Days out in Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor >
      • 10 things to do in Bembridge, St Helen's and Seaview
      • 10 things to do in Cowes and East Cowes
      • 10 things to do in Newport and Carisbrooke
      • 15 things to do in Ryde
      • 15 things to do in Shanklin and Sandown
      • 15 things to do in Ventnor and South Wight
      • 15 things to do in Yarmouth and West Wight
    • Rainy day & winter attractions >
      • Rainy day activities on the Isle of Wight
      • Itinerary for a rainy Isle of Wight holiday
      • Winter days out on the Isle of Wight
    • Zoos, historic attractions, gardens >
      • Isle of Wight zoos and animal attractions
      • Historic attractions on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 Isle of Wight Gardens and Parks
    • Day trip itineraries >
      • Day trips from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight
      • Day trips from Southampton to the Isle of Wight
      • Day trips from Lymington to the Isle of Wight
    • Car journey games & viewpoints >
      • 5 Isle of Wight car journey games
      • 15 of the best Isle of Wight car park viewpoints
      • The Isle Spy car journey game
  • Beaches, tides & weather
    • Which is the best Isle of Wight beach for...
    • Isle of Wight Beaches Interactive Map
    • Isle of Wight tide times
    • Isle of Wight weather forecast
    • Isle of Wight surf forecast
    • The beach holiday checklist - 5 accessories
    • Mobile version of Isle of Wight Best Beaches
  • Cycling, walking & public transport
    • Public transport
    • Cycling holidays on the Isle of Wight
    • Walking the Isle of Wight Coastal Path
  • Food & drink
    • Eating out on a budget
    • Pubs and restaurants with a sea view
    • Isle of Wight Supermarkets
  • Useful information
    • Boring & practical stuff >
      • FAQ
      • Which mobile phone network has the best signal on the Isle of Wight?
      • Cheap parcel delivery and sending mail to the Isle of Wight
      • Isle of Wight Map
      • Isle of Wight newspapers, news websites and radio stations
    • About >
      • Who is the Isle of Wight Guru?
      • Contact us/about/disclaimer
    • Souvenirs
    • Should I move to the Isle of Wight?
    • Les vacances sur L’île de Wight
  • Blog
  • Advice for plagiarists
  • Privacy policy and cookies policy
  • Home
  • Why you should visit the Isle of Wight
  • Ferry travel advice & discounts
    • Discount Isle of Wight ferry travel
    • Isle of Wight ferry beginners guide
    • Wightlink's Tesco Clubcard deal – is it the best discount?
    • Using Wightlink’s Multilink deal for cheap ferry travel
    • Cheap Isle of Wight ferry travel for caravans
  • Holiday parks, hotels, camping & cottages
    • Family holiday parks & caravans >
      • 10 of the best Isle of Wight caravan holiday parks
      • Park Resorts and Parkdean Resorts Isle of Wight holiday parks
      • Which Isle of Wight holiday park should I stay in?
      • Last minute deals and discounts at holiday parks
      • Is there a Haven holiday park on the Isle of Wight?
      • Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park reviews and facilities
      • Lower Hyde and Landguard Holiday Park review
    • Hotels & guest houses >
      • Isle of Wight Hotels - a beginner's guide
      • 10 of the best Isle of Wight luxury hotels
      • 5 Ventnor hotels and guest houses
      • Warner's Bembridge Coast & Norton Grange hotels
      • 5 best Isle of Wight coach tour holidays and trips
      • Romantic Isle of Wight holidays for couples
      • 5 best Isle of Wight spa break hotels and spa days
    • Camping & glamping >
      • 20 Isle of Wight camping and touring parks
      • Isle of Wight Glamping
    • Cottages & self catering >
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Shanklin
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Cowes
      • 10 of the best places to stay in Newport
      • Dog friendly Isle of Wight accommodation
      • 10 Isle of Wight wheelchair accessible & disabled friendly holidays
      • Brambles Chine and Linstone Chine self catering
    • Lodges & hot tub holidays >
      • 5 best Isle of Wight holiday lodges
      • 10 best Isle of Wight hot tub holidays
    • Quirky & AirBnbs >
      • 20 quirky places to stay on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 best Isle of Wight Airbnb holiday homes
    • Group accommodation >
      • 10 of the best places to stay for large groups
      • 7 best Isle of Wight manor houses for hire
    • Accommodation advice >
      • What time of year should I visit the Isle of Wight?
      • Which Isle of Wight town should I stay in?
      • Where is the cheapest place to stay?
      • Dog friendly Isle of Wight holidays
  • Festivals, days out & attractions
    • Festivals & carnivals >
      • Major festivals and carnivals
      • Isle of Wight Festival 2021 lineup and tickets
      • 10 unforgettable Isle of Wight Festival moments
      • Isle of Wight Festival History
      • Cowes Week - attractions and accommodation
    • Free days out & attraction discounts >
      • Free days out on the Isle of Wight
      • Discounts to Isle of Wight attractions
      • Itinerary for a budget Isle of Wight holiday
      • 10 ways to save money on Isle of Wight holidays
    • Attractions for children, teenagers, adults >
      • Activities for toddlers on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for children and families on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for teenagers on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for adults on the Isle of Wight
      • Activities for an Isle of Wight stag do
      • Surviving an Isle of Wight holiday with a toddler
    • Quirky days out >
      • 10 quirky days out on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 things you can't do on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 things you can only visit on the Isle of Wight
      • Isle of Wight TV & Movie Tour
      • 10 reasons to visit the Isle of Wight
    • Days out in Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor >
      • 10 things to do in Bembridge, St Helen's and Seaview
      • 10 things to do in Cowes and East Cowes
      • 10 things to do in Newport and Carisbrooke
      • 15 things to do in Ryde
      • 15 things to do in Shanklin and Sandown
      • 15 things to do in Ventnor and South Wight
      • 15 things to do in Yarmouth and West Wight
    • Rainy day & winter attractions >
      • Rainy day activities on the Isle of Wight
      • Itinerary for a rainy Isle of Wight holiday
      • Winter days out on the Isle of Wight
    • Zoos, historic attractions, gardens >
      • Isle of Wight zoos and animal attractions
      • Historic attractions on the Isle of Wight
      • 10 Isle of Wight Gardens and Parks
    • Day trip itineraries >
      • Day trips from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight
      • Day trips from Southampton to the Isle of Wight
      • Day trips from Lymington to the Isle of Wight
    • Car journey games & viewpoints >
      • 5 Isle of Wight car journey games
      • 15 of the best Isle of Wight car park viewpoints
      • The Isle Spy car journey game
  • Beaches, tides & weather
    • Which is the best Isle of Wight beach for...
    • Isle of Wight Beaches Interactive Map
    • Isle of Wight tide times
    • Isle of Wight weather forecast
    • Isle of Wight surf forecast
    • The beach holiday checklist - 5 accessories
    • Mobile version of Isle of Wight Best Beaches
  • Cycling, walking & public transport
    • Public transport
    • Cycling holidays on the Isle of Wight
    • Walking the Isle of Wight Coastal Path
  • Food & drink
    • Eating out on a budget
    • Pubs and restaurants with a sea view
    • Isle of Wight Supermarkets
  • Useful information
    • Boring & practical stuff >
      • FAQ
      • Which mobile phone network has the best signal on the Isle of Wight?
      • Cheap parcel delivery and sending mail to the Isle of Wight
      • Isle of Wight Map
      • Isle of Wight newspapers, news websites and radio stations
    • About >
      • Who is the Isle of Wight Guru?
      • Contact us/about/disclaimer
    • Souvenirs
    • Should I move to the Isle of Wight?
    • Les vacances sur L’île de Wight
  • Blog
  • Advice for plagiarists
  • Privacy policy and cookies policy
Isle of Wight Guru

Raindrops and Red Squirrel spotting at Parkhurst Forest

27/7/2020

0 Comments

 
Red Squirrel
Not my photo...obviously
One of the silver linings of the grim and worrying time of the last few months has been the discovery that my children don't mind woodland walks. I assumed they'd complain endlessly like I did as a child whenever I wasn't staring at a screen or kicking a ball but they just plod along in wellies and only start to whine when they get tired or hungry.

On previous wet days we would have headed for the clinkety-clankety arcade machines in Shanklin or the glorious comfort and extortionately priced popcorn of the cinema but we're now one of those irritating families who puts on raincoats and look like they're enjoying themselves outdoors. 

With this newfound enthusiasm we headed for Parkhurst Forest on a wet day in search of red squirrels. 
​
After an argument about whether a summer dress was appropriate clothing for a walk in the rain we headed left out of the main car park as you face the forest (just off Forest Road) and discovered a board with a suggestion of where to walk.
Map of parkhurst forest
Like the mindless lemmings that we are, we followed the map through a wiggly bit of forest before emerging at a larger track.

Well, that's not quite true. The first time we tried to follow the map we took a left turn down a small track which wasn't the right one at all. The left turn you want is actually by a bench, so keep an eye out for that if you attempt to follow the same route.
Bench at parkhurst forest
The route emerges at this bench and then you turn left...
footpath at parkhurst forest
...onto this track...
Red squirrel hide sign at Parkhurst Forest
...before reaching signs which take you...
Red squirrel statue in parkhurst forest
...past a couple of rather nice sculptures of squirrels
After about 20 minutes of walking we arrived at the red squirrel hide. I reckon you could have done it in half that time if you didn't take a wrong turn like we did and if you walked at a good pace. We wandered along at a slow pace partly due to the children having small legs and partly because there were people in front of us and we were trying to keep our distance.

We had the hide to ourselves, so we sat and waited...
Outside red squirrel hide at parkhurst forest
The outside of the red squirrel hide at Parkhurst Forest is surrounded with feeding stations...
Inside red squirrel hide at parkhurst forest
...whilst the inside has information for parents who like to enforce education on their children during school holidays.
So did we spot a family of red squirrels feasting on nuts mere metres from our enraptured faces? Did we see them playing gleefully in the forest as shards of light shone through the canopies above? 

No, of course we didn't. The youngest child lost interest after 30 seconds and started walking off so we gave up and went back to the car. 

But did we fill an hour on a wet day without resorting to another hour of telly? Yes, we did and I'm sure we'll come back again for the same reason on another day.
0 Comments

How to avoid people on the Isle of Wight’s quietest and most remote beaches

3/7/2020

4 Comments

 
People are overrated aren’t they? They’re always blathering on about this and that when really you’d rather just have a quiet sit down and a chance to listen to the waves lapping on the shore.

Sometimes you need a beach without loads of people. Sandown, Shanklin, Ryde, Ventnor and Colwell are unlikely to offer you that unless it’s 3am on a wet Wednesday in November.

Here are some of our favourite spots for avoiding people on an Isle of Wight beach holiday. Apologies in advance if this page leads to a mass influx of visitors to previously quiet locations but I think that's unlikely.

If you've got your own favourites, please share them in the comments.

1. Chilton Chine, South West Wight

To be fair, most of the Isle of Wight’s South West coast is as empty as it is beautiful. However, some beaches are easier to access than others.

Chilton Chine has a small car park next door to Isle of Wight Pearl on the Military Road. You clamber down a few steps and then you’ve got a pleasant stretch of beach which is sort-of-sandy and sort-of-stony. If you look carefully, you might discover an enormous dinosaur bone and become world famous. Or more likely, you won’t.

Whale Chine on the same coastline used to be a favourite of ours before the steps disappeared and the council were forced to block it off and put up enormous red signs saying things like “DANGER OF DEATH”. I do wonder whether the phrase "danger of death" helps the Island’s tourist industry, but I’ll let that one go.
Chilton Chine
Chilton Chine offers a much smaller danger of death than nearby Whale Chine

2. ​Gurnard’s hidden beach, North Wight

Gurnard and Cowes beach both get pretty busy on a sunny day, but we usually head for the ‘hidden’ beach in Gurnard which is quieter although not completely empty. Take the footpath round the back of Gurnard’s sailing club and you get to a rocky and sandy-ish beach. You can park quite nearby with this one, which is a bonus.

I did swim there on our last visit but the tranquillity and peace was destroyed when I stood on a jagged rock under the water.
Gurnard's hidden beach
This is quite a high tide at Gurnard's hidden beach, it's usually a lot less squashed

3. Far end of Compton Bay, West Wight

​The Hanover Point end of Compton Bay is not a good choice for avoiding people on a busy day. The car park overflows, the ice cream van has a queue like Primark after lockdown ended and there’s an awkward back and forth as you work out whose turn it is to use the steps.

However, if you love that stretch of beach and want to avoid people as much as possible then it is much quieter at the far end. Park at the Compton Farm car park, walk through a field and climb down the steep steps with the gorgeous views down the coastline. The steps are a bit hairy if you’re also carrying three bodyboards, a windbreak and a picnic bag.
Compton Bay
The end of Compton Bay in the distance is much quieter than the Hanover Point end

4. Binnel Bay, South Wight

Most of the South Wight’s beaches are quiet, apart from Ventnor and Steephill Cove.

Binnel Bay is a rocky beach which we’ve had to ourselves before.

When I say that it's rocky, I don't mean it has that tiny shingle which you can sink into. I mean that it has massive great rocks which will poke you in the bottom. Top tip: find a rock with a similar indent to your buttocks for maximum comfort.

Click on the image below and you can have a look around, although this is a bit further along from the bit we have visited.

5. Orchard Bay, South Wight

Orchard Bay in the South Wight gained a bit of local attention about 20 years ago when it turned out it was the landing spot for a massive drug smuggling operation. 

For a while, you couldn't access it because the steps had given way. Thankfully, the St Lawrence Community Association and the landowners worked hard to get the steps re-opened. Three cheers for nice people doing a nice thing!

​Here's a virtual tour thing from On The Wight:

6. Woodside Bay, North East Wight

Woodside Bay is hard to access unless you're staying at Woodside Coastal Retreat and Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat. The bay gets used by residents at the holiday parks but it's a long stretch of beach so it isn't terribly busy.

It's shingly with the occasional patch of sand(ish) and is a bit too stony and seaweedy for swimming. However, it's facing the right way for sunsets. My mother told me 'it has a Robinson Crusoe quality about it' but I didn't see a single cannibal when I was there.

It's also right by the spot where Bob Dylan headlined the 1969 Isle of Wight Festival.

7. Watcombe Bay

Now, this one’s a bit specialist but if you’ve got a kayak and know what you're doing, you can make your way round from Freshwater Bay to Watcombe Bay.

The only other way to access it is by abseiling down from the cliffs so you aren't likely to find many other visitors there.

We visited as part of a trip out with Isle of Wight Adventure Activities so there's a chance that a whole school party will turn up just as you get settled in. There are also some caves which you can explore but I'd caution against doing that unless you are with a guide. Otherwise you'll probably end up as part of a cautionary tale used by the RNLI when they train their coastguards.
Watcombe Bay
Watcombe Bay is only accessible by boat or by abseiling
4 Comments

    Archives

    November 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015

    Isle of Wight Guru's Blog

    Tales of Isle of Wight days out, attractions and ferry discounts from a Wightophile

    RSS Feed

Where to stay

Holiday parks
​
Lodges
Posh hotels
Cheap​
​Quirky
​Big houses
​Camping
​Glamping
​Dog friendly
Last minute
​Coach trips
Airbnb
Accessible
​
Hot tubs
Manor houses

Days out

Adults
Beaches
Bembridge
​Cowes
​Cycling
Day trips
Dog friendly
Families
Festivals
Historic
Newport
​Quirky
​Rainy days
​Romantic
Ryde
​Shanklin
Toddlers
Teenagers
Ventnor​
Walking
Winter
​Yarmouth
​
Zoos

Saving money

Ferry discount codes
​
Tesco Clubcard
​Multilink
Accommodation
​Attraction discounts
Eating out
​
Free attractions

About

Contact
Blog
Who is the Guru?
​Advice for plagiarists
Privacy Policy
​Disclaimer

Some of the links on this site are 'affiliate links' meaning we may receive commission from accommodation providers at no cost to the buyer. We are also an Amazon Associate and earn from qualifying products. 
​
However, we maintain full editorial control and only recommend based on merit rather than whether they offer commission.
​© COPYRIGHT 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.