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Isle Spy game for an Isle of Wight car journey

Isle of Wight roads are not great. They are mostly pretty bumpy, very swervy and a bit slow. As a result you may have to endure children (or spouses) sat in the back whinging that they feel sick even though you are only travelling four miles down the road.

To help pass the time, here's our Isle Spy game for Isle of Wight car journeys. It's not exactly complicated:

1. Print off this page or the printer friendly PDF version which fits on two pages.

2. Tick them off as you see them on the roads around the Isle of Wight

3.  If you spot 10 you get a bronze medal, 12 for silver or all 15 for gold. Don’t come to us asking for an actual medal, it’s just to distract the children…although feel free to leave a comment on our Facebook page declaring your brilliance.

1. Get a wave from a passing ferry

As you cross the Solent head onto the top deck and wave frantically at other Wightlink and Red Funnel ferries as they pass. Unless the other passengers are miserable because they are going home, they will wave back.

Award yourself a bonus point if you hear a car alarm going off on the ferry, as that is another regular occurrence.
Woman and child waving at a Wightlink ferry
Get a wave from a passing ferry for 1 point

2. ‘Woah! Red squirrels’ sign

Around the Island you’ll occasionally see signs warning you to watch out for red squirrels. I’m not quite sure what you are supposed to do with that information, but give yourself a point if you see a sign.
Red squirrels warning roadsign
Woah! Red Squirrels!

3. Isle of Wight personalised number plate

Normal Isle of Wight number plates start HW or end DL, but hardcore Islanders with more money than sense get personalised number plates including either IW or IOW. Award yourself a point if you see a personalised IOW or IW plate.
IOW car number plate
Can you see an IW or IOW number plate?

4. An orange VW campervan

In the summer, the Isle of Wight is full of motorhomes. Award yourself a point if you see an orange VW campervan of any vintage.
Orange VW motorhome at Compton Bay
There are plenty around, but can you see an orange one?

5.  The only dual carriageway

Just off Coppins Bridge in Newport is the Isle of Wight’s only dual carriageway. It doesn’t last for long, and it isn’t particularly attractive but give yourself a point anyway.
Isle of Wight dual carriageway in Newport
The boring dual carriageway

6. An open top bus

In the summer months there are open top buses, leading to men losing their wigs and women complaining that they are too cold. Award yourself a point if you spot one (an open top bus I mean, not a bald man).
Open top bus on the Isle of Wight
Bonus point if you see a man losing his wig

7. The Freshwater dinosaur sign

In the 1990s a big chunk of rock fell over in Freshwater Bay during a storm. Soon after, some wag altered the welcome sign to incorporate a dinosaur – it’s been there ever since. Things don’t change too quickly around these parts…
Freshwater sign with a dinosaur
The Freshwater dinosaur sign

8. The UK’s oldest phonebox

Outside the fishmongers in Bembridge High Street is the UK’s oldest working phonebox. Award yourself a point if you can spot it.

Read about our attempt to call from the UK's oldest phonebox
K1 phonebox in Bembridge High Street
Ring ring! One point for the Bembridge phonebox

9. Kitesurfers falling over

If you’re travelling along the Military Road (near Brook) or around Gurnard, peer out towards the sea and you might just see a kitesurfer attempting to catch some gnarly waves, dude.

Give yourself a point if they fall over.
Kitesurfer at Gurnard
One point for a kitesurfer falling over

10. Ridiculously steep roads that require first gear

Around the South Wight (Ventnor, St Lawrence etc.) are a series of roads that are so steep that you’ll have no choice but to stick the car in first gear and rev like there’s no tomorrow. 

If you've got an automatic I guess you can have a point for a sign which says 'low gear now'.
Roadsign showing a steep hill at Ventnor
Woah nelly! Switch to 1st gear for a point

11. The rear end of a tractor

Being stuck behind a tractor is an Isle of Wight tradition, usually when you are rushing to catch the ferry on the way home. Compensate for your road rage with an Isle Spy point.
The back of a tractor
A familiar Isle of Wight view

12. The rear end of a lycra-clad cyclist 

Once you've overtaken the tractor (see #11) you can be fairly confident there will be a cyclist up ahead, wiggling their bottom frantically as they climb a hill. In September you will see flocks of cyclists taking part in the Island's annual cycling festival. Please give them a wide berth, they really are lovely people and they aren't destroying the planet like you and me.
Cyclist in hi-vis jacket on the Isle of Wight
A cyclist peddling along Forest Road

13. Click it or ticket signs

This road safety campaign can usually be found in the USA, but for some reason it also runs on the Isle of Wight. Try not to concentrate so hard on looking for it that you crash the car.
Click it or ticket road sign
One of the Isle of Wight's road safety schemes

14. Ramblers looking at a map

Walkers seem to spend most of the day looking at maps (often in the rain), even if they are walking the Isle of Wight Coastal Path which generally doesn't require much navigation, besides walking as close to the cliff as possible without falling off.

Give yourself a point if you see ramblers looking at a map.
Coastal path sign at Bembridge
A sign explaining the blindingly obvious

15. The great big multicoloured cone/koan

Is it a wonderful piece of contemporary art that brightens the lives of hospital patients and visitors, or is it a great big piece of junk which cost tens of thousands of pounds of public money and stopped spinning soon after it was first installed? 

Make your own mind up, but award yourself a point if you see Liliane Lijn's 'Land Sea Light Koan' outside St Mary's Hospital in Newport. I quite like it.
The Koan at St Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight
The Koan which sits outside St. Mary's Hospital

Related guides from Isle of Wight Guru: