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Holiday Cottages & Self Catering Apartments With Sea Views 2025
There's nothing more appealing in a holiday cottage than a sea view - except if you are a teenager, in which case Wifi is the most important thing in the world.
The Isle of Wight has an excellent choice of holiday cottages and self catering apartments with a sea view (including about 40 here)...but they are rather bunched together in certain areas.
The dream ticket for me is seafront or esplanade accommodation - so I've included lots of holiday homes that are genuine beachside apartments or coastal cottages rather than distant sea views. Being able to hear the sea whilst you lie in bed is rather nice.
I've split our guide to Isle of Wight self catering properties with a sea view into:
The Isle of Wight has an excellent choice of holiday cottages and self catering apartments with a sea view (including about 40 here)...but they are rather bunched together in certain areas.
The dream ticket for me is seafront or esplanade accommodation - so I've included lots of holiday homes that are genuine beachside apartments or coastal cottages rather than distant sea views. Being able to hear the sea whilst you lie in bed is rather nice.
I've split our guide to Isle of Wight self catering properties with a sea view into:
Don't worry if these place names are meaningless to you - I've added in a little bit of local waffle about each area.
1. Holiday cottages with sea views in Ventnor and the South Wight
Ventnor is stuffed full of holiday cottages with an elevated sea view. It is built on the side of the Isle of Wight's biggest hill (St Boniface Down), so a good number of houses in the town have a sea view of some sort. You can either get a closeup view from a holiday home near to Ventnor's attractive esplanade or a wider view from further up the hill. Personally, I prefer a close sea view where you can hear the sea rather than a distant view.
Properties on the Esplanade in Ventnor include:
Properties on the Esplanade in Ventnor include:
- Vitamin Sea (sleeps 8)
- Wight Riviera (sleeps 8)
- Beyond The Sea (sleeps 6)
- Villa Amanti (sleeps 4)
The south-facing balcony at Vitamin Sea is over the road from Ventnor's beach
If you are happy to move a little further back from the seafront then HolidayCottages.co.uk has a choice of about 15 Ventnor holiday cottages and apartments with a sea view. Most of the apartments in Ventnor on Booking.com have a sea view (although I couldn't find a way to filter by sea views).
I like the location of Cliff View Apartment (sleeps 4) and Distant Shores (sleeps 4), which are still close enough to the esplanade for an evening stroll. If you prefer a wider and more distant view, try Seaview House (sleeps 8).
I like the location of Cliff View Apartment (sleeps 4) and Distant Shores (sleeps 4), which are still close enough to the esplanade for an evening stroll. If you prefer a wider and more distant view, try Seaview House (sleeps 8).
Ventnor has an abundance of holiday homes with sea views (this is Cliff View Apartment)
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The view from Ventnor is of a wide open empty sea, with occasional ships passing. This is The Lookout
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Adjacent South Wight villages like Bonchurch and St Lawrence have sea views from some properties - if not quite so abundantly. There is also a gathering of holiday homes right on the coastal path between Ventnor and Bonchurch at Wheelers Bay. They have a 'chalet' look about them but the proximity to the sea is really impressive (e.g. Seaglass, which sleeps 4).
Wheeler's Bay View is one of several chalet-type holiday cottages on the coastal path at Bonchurch
Meanwhile, the cute little beach of Steephill Cove has a handful of properties for hire including The Beach Hut (sleeps 4) and Sandpipers (sleeps 6). It is a car-free beach and is often described as a 'hidden-gem' by broadsheet newspapers, despite it featuring in every single guide to the Isle of Wight I've ever read.
The Beach Hut is in the secluded Steephill Cove
At St Catherine's Lighthouse in the South Wight there are some nice self catering cottages overlooking a very rustic bit of the Isle of Wight's coastline. That includes Ocean View (sleeps 2) and St Catherine's Lookout (sleeps 6).
The National Trust has a cottage with a sea view called Knowles Farm Cottage where Marconi stayed to carry out early telecommunications experiments.
There are also three cottages which were once used by the lighthouse keepers called Gurnard (sleeps 5) Landward (sleeps 4) and Penda (sleeps 5). I'm not sure that you would get a terrific sea view from these, as they aren't particularly elevated but they are metres from the lighthouse, which is on the cliff edge.
The National Trust has a cottage with a sea view called Knowles Farm Cottage where Marconi stayed to carry out early telecommunications experiments.
There are also three cottages which were once used by the lighthouse keepers called Gurnard (sleeps 5) Landward (sleeps 4) and Penda (sleeps 5). I'm not sure that you would get a terrific sea view from these, as they aren't particularly elevated but they are metres from the lighthouse, which is on the cliff edge.
Knowles Farm Cottage combines history with a sea view
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The lighthouse keepers' cottages are the white buildings on the right
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is VEntnor and the South Wight a good choice for a holiday?
Ventnor is remote, even by Isle of Wight standards. The town's beach is intermittently sandy and it has a nice esplanade with some places to eat and an Isle of Wight shaped paddling pool. The coastal path is very pretty, particularly the walk from Ventnor to Steephill Cove (where you will find a few more properties with sea views).
The town has a strong Victorian holiday-vibe about it, which you wouldn't really get if you stayed in Newport. However, you will spend a bit more time in the car getting to other attractions and resorts. Shanklin is only 10 minutes away but Osborne House is a whopping 40 minutes away, which is an unfathomable journey for most Islanders.
Much of Ventnor is built on iffy ground so homeowners occasionally say things like: "Barry, was that hole in the wall there yesterday?" Hopefully this won't concern you on your holiday.
Ventnor looks towards France, so the view is generally devoid of things to look at, apart from the glistening sea. Some people love this, others prefer to have constant action and activity to look at (see Cowes and Wootton further down the page if that's what you prefer).
See our guide to things to do in Ventnor and the South Wight.
The town has a strong Victorian holiday-vibe about it, which you wouldn't really get if you stayed in Newport. However, you will spend a bit more time in the car getting to other attractions and resorts. Shanklin is only 10 minutes away but Osborne House is a whopping 40 minutes away, which is an unfathomable journey for most Islanders.
Much of Ventnor is built on iffy ground so homeowners occasionally say things like: "Barry, was that hole in the wall there yesterday?" Hopefully this won't concern you on your holiday.
Ventnor looks towards France, so the view is generally devoid of things to look at, apart from the glistening sea. Some people love this, others prefer to have constant action and activity to look at (see Cowes and Wootton further down the page if that's what you prefer).
See our guide to things to do in Ventnor and the South Wight.
Ventnor's beach huts were once bathing huts with wheels
2. Holiday cottages with a sea view in Sandown and Shanklin
The adjacent seaside towns of Sandown and Shanklin have loads of self catering holiday homes - but you'll need to be choosy if you want the best sea view. A lot of the best spots are reserved for hotels and guest houses.
Sandown has a fairly flat section of seafront, so you will only get a decent sea view if you stay on the esplanade. There are a couple of blocks of swanky modern apartments looking out to sea from Sandown, which would be my first port of call.
The Royal Cliff Apartments can be found at the Lake end of the town, up on the cliffs. They are individually owned but you can find them on sites like Hoseasons and Holiday Cottages. There are some which sleep four people (Lookout, Bonview, Shoreside) and some for couples (Bayview).
Sandown has a fairly flat section of seafront, so you will only get a decent sea view if you stay on the esplanade. There are a couple of blocks of swanky modern apartments looking out to sea from Sandown, which would be my first port of call.
The Royal Cliff Apartments can be found at the Lake end of the town, up on the cliffs. They are individually owned but you can find them on sites like Hoseasons and Holiday Cottages. There are some which sleep four people (Lookout, Bonview, Shoreside) and some for couples (Bayview).
Shoreside is one of several modern apartments with sea views in Sandown's Royal Cliff Apartments
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The apartments are close to a footpath which leads down to a sandy (and busy) beach
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You will also find a few swanky apartments in Sandown on the seafront at the Yaverland end of Culver Parade called Breakwaters. Within that block you'll find Colonel's Apartment (sleeps 4) and 25 Breakwater (sleeps 4).
The Breakwater apartments overlook the sandy beach at Sandown
Other self catering properties on the esplanade in Sandown include two called called Nemo and Dory (sleeps 6) and another called Belle Vue (sleeps 6), which is within a very tall apartment block near to Sandown Pier.
Several more Sandown holiday cottages with sea views can be found here.
Several more Sandown holiday cottages with sea views can be found here.
Shanklin also has a good choice of self catering properties with sea views - but again, you really need to be on the front row of properties to get the best sea view.
We once stayed in The Adelaide, which is a modern block of apartments right on the seafront in Shanklin. The view is pretty special and you can hear the waves whilst sat on the balcony in your pants. The apartments are owned privately but some can be hired as holiday homes including Piers End, Culver View, Lower Chine Apartment, Tides Reach and Vue de Mer Ella, which all sleep four. I can't help feeling Vue de Mer Ella may cause some geographical confusion with its Gallic name.
Check for parking spaces at The Adelaide, as some apartments have them and some don't. Shanklin in summer is a real bunfight.
We once stayed in The Adelaide, which is a modern block of apartments right on the seafront in Shanklin. The view is pretty special and you can hear the waves whilst sat on the balcony in your pants. The apartments are owned privately but some can be hired as holiday homes including Piers End, Culver View, Lower Chine Apartment, Tides Reach and Vue de Mer Ella, which all sleep four. I can't help feeling Vue de Mer Ella may cause some geographical confusion with its Gallic name.
Check for parking spaces at The Adelaide, as some apartments have them and some don't. Shanklin in summer is a real bunfight.
The Adelaide is one of the newer apartment blocks on Shanklin seafront
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The view from apartments at The Adelaide on Shanklin seafront is top notch
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Front row seafront properties in Shanklin that we've found also include Chine Bluff (sleeps four) and the optimistically titled Sunny Beach Apartments (sleeps four).
Meanwhile, several of the Shanklin Villa apartments have sea views - although they aren't front row.
Meanwhile, several of the Shanklin Villa apartments have sea views - although they aren't front row.
Sunny Beach Apartments can guarantee a sea view, even if it can't guarantee sunshine
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Shanklin Villa Apartments aren't front row but several have a sea view
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HolidayCottages.co.uk has a further choice of about 15 Shanklin holiday cottages and apartments with a sea view (note that some of these actually have a lakeside view because of the way the filtering works!).
are Sandown and Shanklin good choices for a holiday?
These two towns tend to get bundled together because they share a long stretch of sandy beach (and probably because they both start with S).
Sandown and Shanklin are both traditional seaside resorts where you can play games on a pier, buy a bubblegum flavoured ice cream or putt a red golf ball through a windmill. See our guide to days out in Shanklin and Sandown.
Of the two, I prefer Shanklin. It has a thatched village, which is charming and jam packed in summer (by which I mean it is packed full of scones covered in jam). The seafront has a decent amusement arcade, watersports for hire from a man with a flag and a bumbag, as well as some nice cafes and restaurants.
Sandown has some of the best sand you will find and it has other good points. The Yaverland end has a good mix of playgrounds and decent attractions and it also has a surf school and the Isle of Wight's only pleasure pier. However, it is suffering from too many empty hotels on the seafront at the moment. Several of them have caught fire in recent years, meaning that a section of the seafront has something of a burnt-out warzone vibe. That's certainly not the case with all of Sandown, but it's jarring against the beautiful sandy beach on the other side of the road.
Both Sandown and Shanklin have a railway station, which gives extra options for getting around.
Sandown and Shanklin are both traditional seaside resorts where you can play games on a pier, buy a bubblegum flavoured ice cream or putt a red golf ball through a windmill. See our guide to days out in Shanklin and Sandown.
Of the two, I prefer Shanklin. It has a thatched village, which is charming and jam packed in summer (by which I mean it is packed full of scones covered in jam). The seafront has a decent amusement arcade, watersports for hire from a man with a flag and a bumbag, as well as some nice cafes and restaurants.
Sandown has some of the best sand you will find and it has other good points. The Yaverland end has a good mix of playgrounds and decent attractions and it also has a surf school and the Isle of Wight's only pleasure pier. However, it is suffering from too many empty hotels on the seafront at the moment. Several of them have caught fire in recent years, meaning that a section of the seafront has something of a burnt-out warzone vibe. That's certainly not the case with all of Sandown, but it's jarring against the beautiful sandy beach on the other side of the road.
Both Sandown and Shanklin have a railway station, which gives extra options for getting around.
Shanklin and Sandown both have a higher than average level of parasol ownership
3. Holiday Cottages With A Sea View In Freshwater Bay and the West Wight
Generally speaking, the West Wight's coastline has fewer holiday homes with sea views - despite it being a really beautiful part of the Isle of Wight (or perhaps it is beautiful because it isn't full of buildings!).
There are very few that are actually on the seafront as the beaches haven't really been developed in the same way as Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor. The South West coastline is disappearing into the sea so it's not ideal for building on. Also, the National Trust has done an excellent job of stopping grubby property developers from building all over it by buying up huge chunks of land. Three cheers for the National Trust!
However, you can find some holiday homes in the West Wight with sea views with the help of a Guru.
I have a strong bias towards Freshwater Bay, as we have a holiday home there with a sea view called Bayclose (Ed: was this entire page building up to you plugging your own apartment?).
There are a couple of other blocks of flats and cottages which overlook the bay in Freshwater from closer locations such as Tennyson's View Cottage and Ocean View. However, I doubt these ones have the classy John Lewis velvet sofa we bought for our flat...
There are very few that are actually on the seafront as the beaches haven't really been developed in the same way as Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor. The South West coastline is disappearing into the sea so it's not ideal for building on. Also, the National Trust has done an excellent job of stopping grubby property developers from building all over it by buying up huge chunks of land. Three cheers for the National Trust!
However, you can find some holiday homes in the West Wight with sea views with the help of a Guru.
I have a strong bias towards Freshwater Bay, as we have a holiday home there with a sea view called Bayclose (Ed: was this entire page building up to you plugging your own apartment?).
There are a couple of other blocks of flats and cottages which overlook the bay in Freshwater from closer locations such as Tennyson's View Cottage and Ocean View. However, I doubt these ones have the classy John Lewis velvet sofa we bought for our flat...
Our apartment isn't right by the beach but it has views of Freshwater Bay
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Tennyson View is right by the beach in Freshwater Bay
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There's a very prominent building called Fort Redoubt that overlooks Freshwater Bay from the high cliff. It has some self catering cottages called Upper Caponier (sleeps 6), Lower Caponier (sleeps 6) and Moonfleet Cottage (sleeps 2). They aren't exactly the sort of places where you can sit on a balcony and admire the view but you will get sea views from the grounds around the properties.
Fort Redoubt overlooks an isolated (and inaccessible beach) called Watcombe Bay
Similarly, there are very few properties with a view of the sea around Compton Bay, which is where I asked Mrs Guru to marry me. Exceptions are two National Trust properties which are imaginatively called 1 Compton Farm Cottages and 2 Compton Farm Cottages.
The sea views are a bit distant and you don't have a balcony as it's an old farmhouse.
Another old property overlooking Compton Bay is called Compton Grange (sleeps eight). Again, it wasn't built right by the beach - otherwise it would have slid into the sea years ago.
The sea views are a bit distant and you don't have a balcony as it's an old farmhouse.
Another old property overlooking Compton Bay is called Compton Grange (sleeps eight). Again, it wasn't built right by the beach - otherwise it would have slid into the sea years ago.
Compton Farm Cottages are one of the only properties near to Compton Bay
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Compton Grange is another West Wight holiday cottage with a sea view
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There are surprisingly few Isle of Wight holiday cottages that offer a view of the area around Alum Bay and The Needles - despite it being one of the Isle of Wight's headline attractions. One exception is a set of three National Trust properties called Varvassi, Irex and Pomone. They were coastguard cottages.
This is one of the National Trust properties overlooking the sea near The Needles
The West Wight town of Yarmouth is lovely but it doesn't have loads of holiday cottages with sea views. It is more of a harbour than a beach and most of the best spots are taken up with a) castles b) hotels and c) second homes belonging to hedge fund managers. Exceptions include Tovah (sleeps 6), which has quite decent views from the roof garden or Sail Loft (sleeps 4) and Sail Loft Annexe (sleeps 2), which are right on the stony beach near to Fort Victoria. I had a nice panini in the café next door recently (Ed: truly fascinating).
Sail Loft is on the beach in Yarmouth, just round the corner from Fort Victoria
Totland and Colwell are both pretty little places with nice beaches but holiday homes with front row sea views are hard to come by.
In Totland, I would look at the Promenade Apartment (sleeps 4) or Pilots Point (sleeps 8), which are both metres from a really picturesque bay.
In Totland, I would look at the Promenade Apartment (sleeps 4) or Pilots Point (sleeps 8), which are both metres from a really picturesque bay.
Totland Bay has a small number of properties on the esplanade
Near Colwell Bay, there is a little 'village' of traditional style two bedroom chalets that overlook the beach from a distance. They are privately owned and are rented out relatively cheaply. The quality varies - some are modern inside, others look like a living museum of 1970s British tourism ("now with colour TV and hot water!"). Take a look at our guide to Linstone Chine and Brambles Chine where we list some of them.
Brambles Chine is a budget option with distant sea views
is the West Wight a good choice for a holiday?
The West Wight is probably my favourite part of the Isle of Wight - and I'm not just saying that to flog a booking in my flat (Ed: really?).
It doesn't have an abundance of kiss-me-quick attractions (with the exception of The Needles and Alum Bay) but it has some of the best scenery, lovely beaches, good walks and a sloth-like pace of life.
There are things to do in the West Wight beyond the beaches but they aren't quite as signposted as the attractions on the eastern side of the Isle of Wight.
It doesn't have an abundance of kiss-me-quick attractions (with the exception of The Needles and Alum Bay) but it has some of the best scenery, lovely beaches, good walks and a sloth-like pace of life.
There are things to do in the West Wight beyond the beaches but they aren't quite as signposted as the attractions on the eastern side of the Isle of Wight.
West Wight beaches are less developed and carry a risk of a cliff falling on your head
4. Seafront holiday cottages with sea views in Cowes and Gurnard
Cowes and Gurnard should be top of your list if you want a sea view with plenty of activity. HolidayCottages.co.uk has a modest choice of about five Cowes and East Cowes holiday cottages with sea views.
Both Gurnard and Cowes overlook the Solent, which has a near endless parade of Isle of Wight ferries and yachts as well as container ships and cruise liners. Some properties have more of a riverside view, as the River Medina splits Cowes and East Cowes in half and leads into the Solent.
There is quite a good choice of seafront properties around this part of the Isle of Wight but as you get further back, the sea views rapidly become 'sea glimpses' - as an estate agent would say.
You will find several apartments in a modern block called Marinus which overlooks where the river turns into the sea (Ed: you mean an estuary, right? Didn't you do Geography A-Level?). Apartments that we've found in that block include 16 Marinus (sleeps four) and 28 Marinus (sleeps four).
Both Gurnard and Cowes overlook the Solent, which has a near endless parade of Isle of Wight ferries and yachts as well as container ships and cruise liners. Some properties have more of a riverside view, as the River Medina splits Cowes and East Cowes in half and leads into the Solent.
There is quite a good choice of seafront properties around this part of the Isle of Wight but as you get further back, the sea views rapidly become 'sea glimpses' - as an estate agent would say.
You will find several apartments in a modern block called Marinus which overlooks where the river turns into the sea (Ed: you mean an estuary, right? Didn't you do Geography A-Level?). Apartments that we've found in that block include 16 Marinus (sleeps four) and 28 Marinus (sleeps four).
The Marinus apartments in Cowes are a good choice if you want a busy view
In Gurnard - which is a coastal village on the edge of Cowes - there are some one bedroom holiday cottages that are about as close as you will get to the sea without getting wet. I've found one called Cormorant. Gurnard has exceptionally good sunsets. Similarly good views are offered by holiday homes alongside the coastal road between Cowes and Gurnard (e.g. Solent View Apartment, which sleeps four).
There are some one bedroom chalets on the beachfront in Gurnard
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There are some seafront holiday homes between Gurnard and Cowes - such as Solent View Apartment
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If you want a combination of history with a sea view then I would look at the National Trust's properties on Cowes seafront. You can either rent Rosetta Cottage (sleeps 10) or East Rosetta Cottage (sleeps six). Winston Churchill's parents met here during a Victorian era Cowes Week.
The sea views at Rosetta Cottage helped create a romantic scene for Churchill's parents
On the other side of the river in East Cowes, holiday cottages tend to give a view of the River Medina rather than the sea.
East Cowes doesn't have many seafront properties for hire but I did find one on Albany Road (sleeps 4), which is near to a large playground.
East Cowes doesn't have many seafront properties for hire but I did find one on Albany Road (sleeps 4), which is near to a large playground.
is Cowes a good choice for a holiday?
Cowes is famous for its yachting history. It's a pleasant little town with a pedestrianised shopping area and a long esplanade leading to Gurnard. I'm a big fan of the view from Cowes as there is always something to look at.
However, Cowes isn't the place to go for sandy beaches or days out with a deckchair. It has a shingly beach and Gurnard has some attractive beach huts but it is better for playing on the water than in it.
East Cowes is a separate town altogether and it doesn't have as many holiday homes. It's certainly got less of a holiday vibe to it than some Isle of Wight resorts and it has even less of a beach than Cowes. However, it does have some holiday accommodation and the whopping great attraction of Osborne House.
See our guide to days out in Cowes.
However, Cowes isn't the place to go for sandy beaches or days out with a deckchair. It has a shingly beach and Gurnard has some attractive beach huts but it is better for playing on the water than in it.
East Cowes is a separate town altogether and it doesn't have as many holiday homes. It's certainly got less of a holiday vibe to it than some Isle of Wight resorts and it has even less of a beach than Cowes. However, it does have some holiday accommodation and the whopping great attraction of Osborne House.
See our guide to days out in Cowes.
Gurnard has a seafront playground and excellent sunsets
5. Holiday cottages with a sea view in Bembridge, Seaview and St Helens
These villages in the East Wight are lovely places, with vicars cycling past on squeaky bicycles and beautiful beaches and harbours.
However, they are not particularly hilly so sea view properties are scarce (and eye-wateringly expensive if you want to buy one). We've found a small number of cottages with sea views in the Bembridge area here.
There are mid-distance sea views from some of the holiday parks in the area including Parkdean Resorts Nodes Point holiday park in St Helens and Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park.
That may not be what you had in mind for a holiday cottage but there are classy lodges with hot tubs at Whitecliff Bay. I would suggest you book a lodge or caravan with a veranda or balcony, as this isn't provided with all properties.
The major advantage with these big-name holiday parks is that you can bag an absolute bargain on Isle of Wight ferry travel. You can often get 50-70% off standard fares by booking ferry travel via Away Resorts.
If you really have nothing better to do, you might like to read about our holiday in a lodge at Nodes Point.
However, they are not particularly hilly so sea view properties are scarce (and eye-wateringly expensive if you want to buy one). We've found a small number of cottages with sea views in the Bembridge area here.
There are mid-distance sea views from some of the holiday parks in the area including Parkdean Resorts Nodes Point holiday park in St Helens and Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park.
That may not be what you had in mind for a holiday cottage but there are classy lodges with hot tubs at Whitecliff Bay. I would suggest you book a lodge or caravan with a veranda or balcony, as this isn't provided with all properties.
The major advantage with these big-name holiday parks is that you can bag an absolute bargain on Isle of Wight ferry travel. You can often get 50-70% off standard fares by booking ferry travel via Away Resorts.
If you really have nothing better to do, you might like to read about our holiday in a lodge at Nodes Point.
About half of the lodges and caravan types at Nodes Point have verandas or balconies
If a holiday park really isn't for you - but you still want a sea view around Bembridge, Seaview or St Helens then some appealing options include:
- Beach Side (sleeps 7), which overlooks Bembridge lifeboat station
- Bay View Cottage (sleeps 8), which has a balcony with a sideways view of Seagrove Bay.
- Houseboat Eleuthera (sleeps 10), which sits on the water in Bembridge Harbour
Beach Side in Bembridge has a front row view of the beach and lifeboat station
are Bembridge, Seaview and St Helens a good choice for a holiday?
I'm a big fan of Bembridge, Seaview and St Helens. They are on the eastern side of the Isle of Wight, so they are closer to most of the ferries and to the Island's railway line than the South Wight. At the same time, they are a bit posher and less bucket-and-spade than Shanklin and Sandown. Stereotypically, Bembridge and Seaview has a lot of second home owners visiting from London but I'm not sure on the actual numbers.
The beaches are excellent, even if they don't have quite as much entertainment as some resorts. My favourites in the area are Priory Bay and Whitecliff Bay and there good dog friendly beaches in Bembridge and St Helens. Personally, I prefer the green hills and crumbly cliffs of the West Wight but I have a lot of time for this part of the Island too.
There are not a huge number of paid attractions in Bembridge, Seaview and St Helens - but we've cobbled together a few suggestions of things to do in this guide including walks, beaches, a windmill and an old phonebox (Ed: is there also a barrel scraping museum?).
The beaches are excellent, even if they don't have quite as much entertainment as some resorts. My favourites in the area are Priory Bay and Whitecliff Bay and there good dog friendly beaches in Bembridge and St Helens. Personally, I prefer the green hills and crumbly cliffs of the West Wight but I have a lot of time for this part of the Island too.
There are not a huge number of paid attractions in Bembridge, Seaview and St Helens - but we've cobbled together a few suggestions of things to do in this guide including walks, beaches, a windmill and an old phonebox (Ed: is there also a barrel scraping museum?).
Bembridge beach has very shallow water and a lifeboat station
6. Holiday cottages with a sea view in Ryde and Wootton
Ryde is another hilly seaside town but I haven't found an abundance of holiday cottages with good sea views. Much of the esplanade and seafront is occupied with other stuff like car parks, trampolines and a bowling alley. There are some hotels with a sea view, which feature in this riveting guide to Ryde hotels and in this guide to hotels with sea views.
I'm going to throw a curveball here and point you towards Woodside Coastal Retreat near Wootton Creek. They are more like lodges than holiday cottages but the views are terrific and it certainly doesn't feel like a holiday park. There are about 40 lodges at the site and some of them have hot tubs. Look for the accommodation which has the word 'View' in the title.
We've stayed at Woodside Coastal Retreat a couple of times and have managed to book front row properties within a few metres of the beach. The local beach is called Woodside Bay. It isn't particularly sandy but it has good views towards the mainland. I spent many happy hours peering out to sea before anyone else had woken up.
I'm going to throw a curveball here and point you towards Woodside Coastal Retreat near Wootton Creek. They are more like lodges than holiday cottages but the views are terrific and it certainly doesn't feel like a holiday park. There are about 40 lodges at the site and some of them have hot tubs. Look for the accommodation which has the word 'View' in the title.
We've stayed at Woodside Coastal Retreat a couple of times and have managed to book front row properties within a few metres of the beach. The local beach is called Woodside Bay. It isn't particularly sandy but it has good views towards the mainland. I spent many happy hours peering out to sea before anyone else had woken up.
Woodside Coastal Retreat overlooks Woodside Bay
If you want to stick with a holiday cottage then other options around Wootton include Byewater in Wootton Creek (sleeps 8) or there are some houseboats on the creek such as Rena Haus (sleeps 4).
are Ryde and Wootton Creek a good choice for a holiday?
I used to be quite rude about Ryde. It's got a big sandy beach and plenty of character but I always said that it felt too much like the mainland so it has less of a escape-from-reality vibe about it. For example, Ryde has a Wetherspoons and a McDonalds, which you certainly won't find in Ventnor.
However, I have softened over the years and now have a lot more nice things to say about Ryde.
The location is exceedingly convenient, particularly if you are not bringing a car. You've got a choice of two quick foot passenger ferries from Portsmouth Harbour and Southsea and then buses and trains once you get to Ryde.
The beach at Ryde has really lovely sand and it has a good range of entertainment including a small cinema, a seafront swimming pool with a retractable roof, three playgrounds near the beach, lots of places to eat, a bowling alley, an arts centre and so on (see our guide to Ryde).
Wootton and Wootton Creek has the advantage of being convenient for the car ferry from Portsmouth. The beaches around that part of the Isle of Wight are harder to access and are not particularly sandy but the Creek is attractive and has plenty of activity out on the water.
However, I have softened over the years and now have a lot more nice things to say about Ryde.
The location is exceedingly convenient, particularly if you are not bringing a car. You've got a choice of two quick foot passenger ferries from Portsmouth Harbour and Southsea and then buses and trains once you get to Ryde.
The beach at Ryde has really lovely sand and it has a good range of entertainment including a small cinema, a seafront swimming pool with a retractable roof, three playgrounds near the beach, lots of places to eat, a bowling alley, an arts centre and so on (see our guide to Ryde).
Wootton and Wootton Creek has the advantage of being convenient for the car ferry from Portsmouth. The beaches around that part of the Isle of Wight are harder to access and are not particularly sandy but the Creek is attractive and has plenty of activity out on the water.
The golden sands of Appley beach at Ryde
