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A Tour Of The 8 Wonders of the Isle of Wight
The 'eight wonders' of the Isle of Wight has been appearing on tea towels and postcards since about 1908.
Well, it actually started as 'five wonders' but we shall move onto that shortly.
A few years ago, I wrote a puff-piece for a local news website about the Wonders. I argued that the Isle of Wight's biggest selling point was its variety of landscape rather than crusty old puns.
Without giving it much thought, I suggested we should retire the 'eight wonders' marketing campaign and focus on the Isle of Wight as "all-of-England in one holiday".
I touched a nerve and was soon faced with the reaction you might expect if you suggested replacing Stonehenge with an ice rink. Long time friends ignored me in the streets, news helicopters flew overhead and I feared for the safety of my family. I truly was in the eye of the storm.
It turns out that a lot of people do quite like this nostalgic stuff. My own view has softened over the years.
After several hundred therapy sessions (shout-out to Dr Yennifer Flinkompop), I am ready - finally - to write a guide for those who wish to do a tour of the eight wonders of the Isle of Wight.
Well, it actually started as 'five wonders' but we shall move onto that shortly.
A few years ago, I wrote a puff-piece for a local news website about the Wonders. I argued that the Isle of Wight's biggest selling point was its variety of landscape rather than crusty old puns.
Without giving it much thought, I suggested we should retire the 'eight wonders' marketing campaign and focus on the Isle of Wight as "all-of-England in one holiday".
I touched a nerve and was soon faced with the reaction you might expect if you suggested replacing Stonehenge with an ice rink. Long time friends ignored me in the streets, news helicopters flew overhead and I feared for the safety of my family. I truly was in the eye of the storm.
It turns out that a lot of people do quite like this nostalgic stuff. My own view has softened over the years.
After several hundred therapy sessions (shout-out to Dr Yennifer Flinkompop), I am ready - finally - to write a guide for those who wish to do a tour of the eight wonders of the Isle of Wight.
How many wonders does the Isle of Wight have?
The elephant in the room with the wonders of the Isle of Wight is that no-one can agree on how many there are. A rummage through the bargain bins on eBay comes up with results that are reminiscent of a song by Steps with options including 5,6,7 or 8 wonders.
A few options on eBay at the time of writing
I'm something of a completist, so I will cover all eight wonders of the Isle of Wight, split into a four day tour.
A few options on eBay at the time of writing
- 5 wonders of the Isle of Wight on a rather old black and white postcard, including: Needles you cannot thread, Freshwater you cannot drink, Cowes you cannot milk, Lake you can walk through and Newport you cannot bottle
- 6 wonders of the Isle of Wight on a tasteful ceramic dish, with the addition of Ryde where you walk
- 7 wonders of the Isle of Wight as a cross-stitch pattern, with the addition of Newtown, 'which is ancient'
- 8 wonders of the Isle of Wight on a 1980s era postcard, with the addition of Winkle Street 'where there are no winkles. Lake has changed to 'where there is no lake'.
I'm something of a completist, so I will cover all eight wonders of the Isle of Wight, split into a four day tour.
Day one - The Needles you cannot thread and Freshwater you cannot drink
Let's begin our wondrous tour with a visit to the West Wight, which is probably my favourite part of the Island.
Freshwater itself is a pleasant village with a few shops and cafes, but the nicest part is Freshwater Bay so I would stretch the eight wonders a little and head straight for the coastal bit.
The beach of Freshwater Bay is one of my favourites, as it has a main beach which gets good waves and a smaller beach round to the right which is more sheltered. You can get an ice cream at the lifeboat shop or walk five minutes to Dimbola, which is a museum and a separate café. We often have a panini at Dimbola, as our holiday let is next door (Ed: subtle advertising, nice work). Some parts of Freshwater Bay are dog friendly all year, whilst other bits have restrictions.
If you can cope with a walk, then head up the hill to the Tennyson monument. It's about 1.5 miles each way and it's wide enough that you can keep a good distance from the cliff edge. The alternative is a walk towards Compton Bay. That one requires you get a bit closer to the edge so it isn't one for Nervous Nellies or windy days.
Freshwater itself is a pleasant village with a few shops and cafes, but the nicest part is Freshwater Bay so I would stretch the eight wonders a little and head straight for the coastal bit.
The beach of Freshwater Bay is one of my favourites, as it has a main beach which gets good waves and a smaller beach round to the right which is more sheltered. You can get an ice cream at the lifeboat shop or walk five minutes to Dimbola, which is a museum and a separate café. We often have a panini at Dimbola, as our holiday let is next door (Ed: subtle advertising, nice work). Some parts of Freshwater Bay are dog friendly all year, whilst other bits have restrictions.
If you can cope with a walk, then head up the hill to the Tennyson monument. It's about 1.5 miles each way and it's wide enough that you can keep a good distance from the cliff edge. The alternative is a walk towards Compton Bay. That one requires you get a bit closer to the edge so it isn't one for Nervous Nellies or windy days.
Freshwater you cannot drink
On the second part of day one of our tour of the eight wonders of the Isle of Wight, head for The Needles.
There are two choices here.
The souvenir-tea-towel-hook-a-duck-box-of-fudge-for-grandma option is the Needles Landmark Attraction. You pay £6 to park (see our free parking guide if that gives you clammy palms) and then pay per attraction. The chairlift and boat trips are my favourite bits, but the children enjoy the thing where you buy sand (at a beach!) and carefully layer it into a plastic teddy bear. The chairlift is actually quite high and the only thing holding you in is a metal bar, so I would only take children onboard if you know they will behave. We once stood underneath the chairlift with the children but had to move along because they were learning too many swear words from the terrified riders.
The second option at the Needles is the Old Battery, which is a National Trust attraction. It's not a huge site but you can wander through a tunnel that overlooks the Needles and then get a great view from the tea rooms. You park in the main Needles car park, whilst casually showing your National Trust membership card to get a discount. It's then a walk of about half a mile.
My personal preference for seeing this part of the Isle of Wight is on the open top bus, called The Needles Breezer. It only runs in the warmer months, for the obvious reason that no-one wants to see the Isle of Wight in the wind and rain. Read our blog about the Needles Breezer.
It does a circle that includes Freshwater Bay, The Needles, Colwell, Totland and Yarmouth. Besides the views, two of the biggest plus points are that you a) don't pay to park at the Needles and b) can get a lift right to the door of The Old Battery.
See our guide to days out in the West Wight for a more detailed guide of things to do.
There are two choices here.
The souvenir-tea-towel-hook-a-duck-box-of-fudge-for-grandma option is the Needles Landmark Attraction. You pay £6 to park (see our free parking guide if that gives you clammy palms) and then pay per attraction. The chairlift and boat trips are my favourite bits, but the children enjoy the thing where you buy sand (at a beach!) and carefully layer it into a plastic teddy bear. The chairlift is actually quite high and the only thing holding you in is a metal bar, so I would only take children onboard if you know they will behave. We once stood underneath the chairlift with the children but had to move along because they were learning too many swear words from the terrified riders.
The second option at the Needles is the Old Battery, which is a National Trust attraction. It's not a huge site but you can wander through a tunnel that overlooks the Needles and then get a great view from the tea rooms. You park in the main Needles car park, whilst casually showing your National Trust membership card to get a discount. It's then a walk of about half a mile.
My personal preference for seeing this part of the Isle of Wight is on the open top bus, called The Needles Breezer. It only runs in the warmer months, for the obvious reason that no-one wants to see the Isle of Wight in the wind and rain. Read our blog about the Needles Breezer.
It does a circle that includes Freshwater Bay, The Needles, Colwell, Totland and Yarmouth. Besides the views, two of the biggest plus points are that you a) don't pay to park at the Needles and b) can get a lift right to the door of The Old Battery.
See our guide to days out in the West Wight for a more detailed guide of things to do.
Needles you cannot thread
Day Two - Cowes you cannot milk and Newtown which is very old
For the second part of our tour of the eight wonders of the Isle of Wight head for Cowes and Newtown, which are fairly close to each other.
Cowes is the sort of place to go for a nice potter. The high street doesn't look like every other high street just yet, as there are quite a few independent shops including a couple of art galleries. Yes, there is a Costa Coffee and several chain shops but there are also plenty of independent coffee shops and sailing shops.
My favourite walk in the area is from Cowes to Gurnard, which is about a mile each way. There's a playground and free parking at the Gurnard end so we usually start there (near the Woodvale pub).
The beaches at Cowes and Gurnard are quite shingly. You can swim there, but there are certainly nicer beaches for swimming on the Isle of Wight (see our main beaches guide). During Cowes Week in early August, there's a nice buzz of activity in Cowes.
See our guide to days out in Cowes.
Cowes is the sort of place to go for a nice potter. The high street doesn't look like every other high street just yet, as there are quite a few independent shops including a couple of art galleries. Yes, there is a Costa Coffee and several chain shops but there are also plenty of independent coffee shops and sailing shops.
My favourite walk in the area is from Cowes to Gurnard, which is about a mile each way. There's a playground and free parking at the Gurnard end so we usually start there (near the Woodvale pub).
The beaches at Cowes and Gurnard are quite shingly. You can swim there, but there are certainly nicer beaches for swimming on the Isle of Wight (see our main beaches guide). During Cowes Week in early August, there's a nice buzz of activity in Cowes.
See our guide to days out in Cowes.
Walking from 'Cowes you cannot milk' to Gurnard
Newtown is a very different place to Cowes. Hundreds of years ago it was a town, but now it's a nature reserve with a few houses and a church. The walk along the boardwalk is nice and it's very peaceful, at least until my children turn up and scare away all the birds.
National Trust fans may recognise the boardwalk at Newtown from the front of the National Trust guide a couple of years ago (Ed: this is getting very niche).
National Trust fans may recognise the boardwalk at Newtown from the front of the National Trust guide a couple of years ago (Ed: this is getting very niche).
Newtown, where there is no town
Day 3 - Winkle Street where there are no winkles and Newport you cannot bottle
I'll be honest, our third day of exploring the eight wonders of the Isle of Wight is far less interesting than the first two. I've bundled them together because they aren't too far apart but I would be tempted to visit these whilst passing through other places. Alternatively, jumble up day three and four so you see Newport and Lake in one day and then Ryde and Winkle Street on another day. You'll drive a bit further but will get a better mix of beach trips with inland trips.
Perhaps I'm being swayed by the fact that Winkle Street has clearly been added as the eighth wonder, even though it's not really a good pun and it doesn't obey the same grammatical rules. Charming puns such as 'Needles you cannot thread' and 'Cowes you cannot milk' both rely on a noun, followed by a verb. 'Winkle Street where there are no winkles' follows a completely different format (Ed: I think you need to let this go).
It also doesn't really work as all the other places are towns and villages, whereas this is a street. Once we start including the names of streets, it's a slippery slope to the '100 wonders of the Isle of Wight' (Ed: really, it's time to move on).
Anyway, I will get off my high horse and apologise for ruining the third day of the tour. I had better call the therapist again.
Calbourne - home of Winkle Street - is a lovely little place. Winkle Street itself is also very attractive with a stream trickling past thatched cottages. But once you've taken the photo, that's about it and you can get back in the car. Don't expect rows of shops selling Winkle Street souvenirs or a gondola taking you over the stream. It really is just an attractive street in a pretty village.
At Easter, they hold a duck race in Winkle Street where you can pick a plastic duck and see hundreds of them bobbing down the stream.
Newport is the second stop today. It is the place to go if you want to pick up a large mug from Sports Direct or browse the lightbulbs section in Halfords but it is certainly not as pretty as the beaches of the West Wight and it doesn't have the traditional holiday vibe of Shanklin or Ventnor.
There are plenty of good things about Newport, including bus links, an excellent cinema, a big M&S, an arts centre by the river and the Isle of Wight Festival in June (see our Newport guide for more details). If you do want to spend a good chunk of time in Newport, I would do a Treasure Trail which will give you a bit of local history.
Alternatively, travel one mile up the road to Carisbrooke Castle, which is a great day out with views for miles and activities for children.
Perhaps I'm being swayed by the fact that Winkle Street has clearly been added as the eighth wonder, even though it's not really a good pun and it doesn't obey the same grammatical rules. Charming puns such as 'Needles you cannot thread' and 'Cowes you cannot milk' both rely on a noun, followed by a verb. 'Winkle Street where there are no winkles' follows a completely different format (Ed: I think you need to let this go).
It also doesn't really work as all the other places are towns and villages, whereas this is a street. Once we start including the names of streets, it's a slippery slope to the '100 wonders of the Isle of Wight' (Ed: really, it's time to move on).
Anyway, I will get off my high horse and apologise for ruining the third day of the tour. I had better call the therapist again.
Calbourne - home of Winkle Street - is a lovely little place. Winkle Street itself is also very attractive with a stream trickling past thatched cottages. But once you've taken the photo, that's about it and you can get back in the car. Don't expect rows of shops selling Winkle Street souvenirs or a gondola taking you over the stream. It really is just an attractive street in a pretty village.
At Easter, they hold a duck race in Winkle Street where you can pick a plastic duck and see hundreds of them bobbing down the stream.
Newport is the second stop today. It is the place to go if you want to pick up a large mug from Sports Direct or browse the lightbulbs section in Halfords but it is certainly not as pretty as the beaches of the West Wight and it doesn't have the traditional holiday vibe of Shanklin or Ventnor.
There are plenty of good things about Newport, including bus links, an excellent cinema, a big M&S, an arts centre by the river and the Isle of Wight Festival in June (see our Newport guide for more details). If you do want to spend a good chunk of time in Newport, I would do a Treasure Trail which will give you a bit of local history.
Alternatively, travel one mile up the road to Carisbrooke Castle, which is a great day out with views for miles and activities for children.
Winkle Street, where there are no winkles (and there usually aren't any people)
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Newport you cannot bottle, home of a massive Sports Direct
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Day 4 - Ryde where you walk and Lake where there is no lake
There are various versions of Lake as a 'Wonder of the Wight'. Some say that you 'won't get your feet wet', which is a strange claim for somewhere which is basically a row of shops and a few houses with a beach attached. Others go for Lake 'where there is no lake'. Let's not get too hung up on details.
If you want to visit Lake, as part of our tour of the wonders of the Isle of Wight then there are a couple of options. One option is to park in the housing estate near to the cliff path and walk down to Dunroamin Beach. I like this beach very much, as it has the pleasant sands that you get in Shanklin and Sandown but it doesn't have many people.
The alternative is to visit Shanklin or Sandown and walk to Lake along the sea wall. Personally, I prefer Shanklin but others prefer Sandown so let's not fall out about it.
Shanklin is a classic seaside resort, but it is faring better than some, particularly on the esplanade which has minigolf courses, several places to eat and a good amusement arcade. In the old village part of Shanklin, there are thatched cottages, tea rooms and novelty shops selling sticks of rock and Christmas decorations in July.
Here's our guide to Shanklin and Sandown days out.
For our final outing, we will head for Ryde. The outskirts of the town are not particularly interesting but the seafront sections are great if you like busy beaches and there are quite a good number of independent shops, as well as loads of places to eat.
Personally, I would park at Puckpool Battery, and walk through to the beach at Appley. It's got terrific golden sands (on a sunny day) and loads of space. There are a couple of playgrounds in the area and the beach backs onto Appley Park. You can then walk along the seafront towards Ryde Pier (the UK's oldest and second longest pier) or turn right and walk along the coastal path towards Seaview.
See our guide to days out in Ryde.
If you want to visit Lake, as part of our tour of the wonders of the Isle of Wight then there are a couple of options. One option is to park in the housing estate near to the cliff path and walk down to Dunroamin Beach. I like this beach very much, as it has the pleasant sands that you get in Shanklin and Sandown but it doesn't have many people.
The alternative is to visit Shanklin or Sandown and walk to Lake along the sea wall. Personally, I prefer Shanklin but others prefer Sandown so let's not fall out about it.
Shanklin is a classic seaside resort, but it is faring better than some, particularly on the esplanade which has minigolf courses, several places to eat and a good amusement arcade. In the old village part of Shanklin, there are thatched cottages, tea rooms and novelty shops selling sticks of rock and Christmas decorations in July.
Here's our guide to Shanklin and Sandown days out.
For our final outing, we will head for Ryde. The outskirts of the town are not particularly interesting but the seafront sections are great if you like busy beaches and there are quite a good number of independent shops, as well as loads of places to eat.
Personally, I would park at Puckpool Battery, and walk through to the beach at Appley. It's got terrific golden sands (on a sunny day) and loads of space. There are a couple of playgrounds in the area and the beach backs onto Appley Park. You can then walk along the seafront towards Ryde Pier (the UK's oldest and second longest pier) or turn right and walk along the coastal path towards Seaview.
See our guide to days out in Ryde.
Dunroamin Beach in Lake...where there are no lakes
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Ryde...where you can walk
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Are the 8 Wonders of the Wight the best way to see the Island?
No, probably not. Sorry, I should have mentioned that at the start but it's too late to go back now.
The eight wonders look good on a tea towel but they miss out many of the nicest bits of the Isle of Wight and send you off to some of the less interesting bits.
Some highlights that are missed out by the eight wonders:
The eight wonders look good on a tea towel but they miss out many of the nicest bits of the Isle of Wight and send you off to some of the less interesting bits.
Some highlights that are missed out by the eight wonders:
- Ventnor, which is a Victorian seaside resort with a sheltered seafront. We like to sit on the seafront with a shandy or walk along the coastal path to Steephill Cove or Bonchurch.
- St Catherine's Lighthouse and the isolated bays of the South Wight. There are some really lovely rocky beaches where birds outnumber people, such as Watershoot Bay. An abandoned lighthouse called The Pepperpot also overlooks the South Wight. Perhaps this could be the ninth wonder? The pepperpot where there is no pepper?
- Yarmouth, which is a wealthy little town in the West Wight. It isn't huge, but it manages to cram in a castle, a harbour, several independent shops, a secluded beach called Sandhard Beach, a Victorian fort, a pier and some really good places to eat.
- Bembridge, which is another of the Isle of Wight's posher parts. There's a lifeboat station which is often open for visitors, a dog friendly beach and, er the UK's oldest phonebox.
- Compton Bay, and the beaches of the Military Road. These are unspoilt beaches in the West Wight, that are ideal if you don't fancy amusement arcades or minigolf. Car parks at these beaches get smaller each year, as the cliffs are crumbling.
- Osborne House and the rest of the estate. Queen Victoria chose a nice spot, and the house and gardens are probably the biggest historic attraction on the Island.
- Colwell Bay and Totland Bay. These are two pretty beaches in the West Wight with a walk of about a mile between them.
- Priory Bay and St Helen's Beach. I am particularly fond of Priory Bay, as it is both sandy and secluded. St Helen's is also rather nice as it backs onto The Duver, which has sand dunes.
Compton Bay isn't a wonder of the Wight according to the tea towels - but it's my favourite beach
