My first observation was that Goodleaf Tree Climbing is a much more traditional style of tree climbing than I was expecting. What I had envisaged was that we would be walking along branches, with some kind of automatic harness to catch up if we slipped (the kind they use at Clip 'n Climb).

Instead, we were offered a series of ropes that were hanging from different branches. The idea is that you clip yourself on and then pull yourself up the rope with the help of another rope that you stick your foot into. 

On the way up, you pass hammocks and branches that you can stop off at but you are mostly floating through the tree rather than climbing up it.

I was pleased to find that it's a lot easier than climbing a rope in a PE class at school (which I could never do). Strength in your legs is more important than strength in your arms.

The whole thing is held together with knots. In our case, the red ropes pulled you up and you could lower yourself down by loosening a blue rope. We were also asked to tie a knot every metre or so, which presumably was an added safety technique.

We spent a happy couple of hours climbing up and down the ropes. The highlight for me was making it up to a hammock where I breathed a sigh of relief and stared up through the tree at the blue sky.

At one stage, Goodleaf offered camping in treetop hammocks where you slept in a harness, just in case you rolled over during the night. I probably could have dozed off in the hammock but was aware that I'd paid £35 for two hours and like to get my money's worth.

After some time in the hammock, my brain adjusted a little to the idea of being up high and I kept climbing to the top of the rope I had chosen. I would estimate that it was about 10 metres high. My mum later claimed that it was the same height as her conservatory, which caused me great offence.

Needless to say, child one climbed much higher than me. She got to the top of the second-highest rope (from memory), which was around 14m high.

We returned to the ground where we were offered a piece of flapjack.

We greatly enjoyed our time at Goodleaf tree climbing. Obviously, it won't be for you if you're scared of heights but as a quirky activity I can see why it gets such impressive reviews. I'd also recommend it for teenagers or if you're organising a civilised stag do (i.e. the outdoorsy and wholesome sort, rather than three days of binging in an eastern European city). 

It'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

​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?).

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.

​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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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. 

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

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.

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"'. 

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." 

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'.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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'"

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

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'.​

​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.​

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.

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).​

​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.

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. 

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.

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...

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

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.

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.  ​

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'.

​​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.

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. 

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.

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

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.

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

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.
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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.

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. 

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.
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​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.
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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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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 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. 

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.

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.

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.​

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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%

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Somewhere 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 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. 

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.

**Away Resorts Discount Code: Save up to 10% via this link with discount code ISLEGURU10 + 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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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.

As of December 2025, the review scores for the Away Resorts on the Isle of Wight look like this:
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1. Away Resorts St Helens Coastal Resort - 4.4/5 on TripAdvisor, 4.5/5 on Google Reviews - total of 89%
2. Away Resorts Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park - 4/5 on TripAdvisor, 4.2/5 on Google Reviews - total of 82%
3. Away Resorts The Bay Colwell - 4/5 on TripAdvisor, 4.2/5 on Google Reviews - total of 82%
4. ​​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.

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). 
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• 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.

• Our guide to Away Resorts Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park
• Saving money on Isle of Wight holiday parks
• 10 best Isle of Wight holiday parks
• All our guides on where to stay in one place