​Robin Hill Country Park is back for 2025! Here's what we know so far

This blog post is old and crusty - read this one instead, which tells you about the new attractions at Robin Hill

I care more about Robin Hill than a middle-aged man should

Things were looking pretty bleak for Robin Hill a few months ago. The owners of Blackgang Chine put it up for sale for a couple of million pounds and we all feared it might never return as a public attraction.

Ill-informed sorts speculated that it would turned into a housing estate. Others speculated that Center Parcs would swoop in - despite Robin Hill being a quarter of the size of an average Center Parcs in England.

Thankfully, the pessimists were wrong. A local chap called Lee Priddle saved the day by buying Robin Hill Country Park. His other business interest includes renting out toilets, but we will avoid making lazy puns about him feeling flushed (Ed: *rolls eyes*).

The park is now due to re-open at Easter 2025. We don't have exact date yet.

​Here's what we know so far:

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Which attractions have been removed from Robin Hill?

A few attractions won't be at Robin Hill when the park re-opens. No flowers please.

• Colossus - the swinging pirate ship - is moving to Blackgang Chine for its new life as the Jolly Robin. It was due to open for the 2024 season but that didn't quite happen. It's now due to arrive for 2025. Colossus first arrived at Robin Hill in 2000, so it served for 23 years.

 

• The Ripple has left Robin Hill and is now Blackgang Beach. It only arrived in 2023 according to my excessively detailed timeline. The good news is that a very similar red water pillow has been put in its place.

 

• The 4D Cinema has gone. We aren't sure if it was sold or scrapped. I worked at Robin Hill for a few years when this was known as The Time Machine. It had been in the park since 1999.

 

• The Cows Express has apparently gone, although I've not seen this for myself. It had been in the park since 2009.

 

• There was also a big shelter near the African Adventure playground, which we believe has moved to Tapnell Farm. 

The Colossus is gradually moving to Blackgang Chine, where it will be the Jolly Robin

The Ripple is proving entertainment as Blackgang Beach

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What new attractions are coming to Robin Hill in 2025?

​We already know that lots of new things are planned for Robin Hill. This is exceedingly exciting, although I would caution that they may not all be instantly available on the first day of opening (based on my experience of how these things usually go, rather than any inside information).

It seems to me that the new owners are moving away from the theme park vibe, and moving more towards an adventure park and country park vibe.

This is from the official website, with my comments:

• Mini Diggers – operate real mini diggers in the woodland - there were some mini diggers near to the toboggan run at one stage, but these might be something new. There are also some wooden diggers in the woods, so perhaps they are going to appear there.
  
  
• Climbing Boulders for kids - no idea what these are but I am a big fan of anything that doesn't require staff and which just allows my children to play without queueing. 
  
  
• Indoor Ice Rink - the new owners have confirmed that this will be a 100m2 rink in the 4D cinema building and will be the sort with plastic sheeting rather than real ice. They've said that 'It happens to also be one of the best synthetic ice rinks on the market and even EuroDisney has one!' If I was being a pedant, I would point out that EuroDisney changed its name to Disneyland Paris in 1994, but let's not get bogged down.
  
  
• Boat Safari – drive your own mini boat. They have since confirmed that they will be '6 Miniport safari river boats that will be available to drive on the lake in Africa World!'. Back in the day, I believe the original boating lake was the main lake that became Carp Quay and was split in two when they added The Parting in 2016. Read our history of Robin Hill if this sort of thing interests you.
  
  
• Tubing Slides - no idea what this is, but I've enjoyed saying 'tubing slides' as it has a nice ring to it. If I was speculating, I might suggest that they were using the black tubes that have recently been removed from Blackgang Chine's play area but I am almost certainly wrong.
  
  
• Slide Adventure Area - are these the same as the tubing slides? Who knows, but I'm sure it will fill a few minutes with my children.
  
  
• Underground Adventure Tunnels - I assume this is the old rabbit run that is near to the lookout tower, and was added in 1997 by the Dabells. From what I recall, this had been closed off when we last visited so it will be good to see it revived.
  
  
• New play structures - we shall have to wait and see what this looks like!
  
  
• Mini Net Adventure - presumably this is an addition to the bouncy nets in the woodland, which I personally think are one of the best things at Robin Hill. 
  
  
• More water jump pillows - they have already added a red pillow at the site of the Ripple but it sounds like another one is coming
  
  
• Crazy golf - this sounds exciting and is something that I've often felt would work well at Robin Hill. We don't yet know if this will be a small course constructed from drainpipes and plyboard or whether they have grand plans to compete with the dinosaur and pirate courses on Shanklin and Sandown seafront. We also don't know where this will be in the park. 

The website also says that they plan to add 'a new high adrenaline adventure space in 2025 which will be ticketed separately and is not included in the membership pass'.

My best guess is that this will be a high ropes attraction, along the lines of Go Ape or the aerial adventures that you get at Center Parcs. Could there perhaps be a great big zip wire over the top of the trees? Am I just making this stuff up without any facts or details to go on? Definitely.

The only similar thing that I know about on the Isle of Wight is at PGL Little Canada, which is mostly a residential place for school parties. There are also plans for a high ropes course at Parkdean Resorts' Thorness Bay Holiday Park, but this hasn't happened yet. Fun fact - the bouncy nets at Sandham Gardens were originally going to be a high ropes course, but the plans were changed.

One of our favourite games at home is to discuss what we would add to Robin Hill. Little Miss Guru and myself both agree that the key is to add things that don't require lots of staff. One of my suggestions was minigolf, which looks to be happening.

I also thought that a series of slacklines in the woodland would work well. These cost next-to-nothing and don't really require any staff and only minimal maintenance. 

We also thought that that it would be rather cool to have a free-play arcade in one of the woodland buildings. 

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​How much is entry to Robin Hill going to cost?

The entry price for 2025 is going to range from £14.99 to £21.99, depending on what time of year you visit. There is also going to be a concession price of £9.99. The season ticket is about £47 including booking fees and children under one metre will get in free.

That entry price is lower than it was under the previous owners in the last few years. At one stage, the entry price reached £35 - although there were many ways to save money and you got free returns. We don't yet know if the seven day free returns offer will stay.

I haven't quite figured out if they are still going to charge for the toboggan run. The advert for the annual passes says 'Free toboggan rides' but it's not clear if that's unlimited or perhaps just the first ride each day - and whether it will apply to day visitors.

Events have been a big part of Robin Hill for many years. Back in the 1980s, it had midsummer fairs whilst more recently it hosted Bestival, the Spring Garden Festival, the Isle of Wight Hot Air Balloon Festival and so on.

We know that the new owners are keen on hosting events - many of which will be run by external companies rather than by themselves.

Events so far have included the Warrior Festival and a Halloween event. 
 
Upcoming events include a Sausage and Cider Festival and a Summer in Nashville event, both of which are planned for July 2025.

​Anyway, best of luck to the new owners of Robin Hill!