This year's must see Isle of Wight bench

​Sure, the Isle of Wight offers zorbing, paragliding, coasteering and the like. But any parent knows the likelihood of orchestrating anything quite so exciting during a normal day out with a toddler is remote. 

Until the little one is less little I settle for the more mundane sport of looking for the Isle of Wight's best benches. The main rule is that it needs to be somewhere public and free rather than in someone's garden or inside Blackgang Chine. 

Last year I confidently declared the number one spot belonged to the bench at the top of the Military Road with views of Compton Bay in one direction and towards Freshwater and Tennyson Down in the other. The bench is a little wobbly but the view is top notch - we thoroughly enjoyed our tin of Sainsburys lager and our tub of flapjack. 

Last week I found another contender. The little one had fallen asleep in the car during an enormous detour we were taking so she could have a go on the carousel at The Needles. My wife had also fallen asleep, so my mother and I took the opportunity to walk towards the Needles Old Battery. 

A little way along was the bench in question with views of Alum Bay and many miles of nothingness beyond. The Needles often has more wind than our house on Christmas Day afternoon, so needless to say it was pretty blowy up there but it was still a spectacular moment.

So, if you happen to meet a member of the Isle of Wight National Trust Association - who stuck the bench there in 2013 - please pass on my thanks. My bottom thoroughly enjoyed it.