Isle of Wight

Discover gardens, forts and a windmill on the Isle of Wight – not to mention 17 miles of beautiful coastline and more than 5,000 acres of countryside. Find out what to see and do on this treasure island.

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The white cliffs of Tennyson Down seen above the cold wintry blue water of Compton Bay

Place

Compton Bay and Downs

One of the Island's favourite beaches and biggest expanses of open downland

Sunset over the Needles headland coast, Isle of Wight. The Needles lighthouse and rocks can be seen in the shade, leading up to the coastline.

Place

The Needles Headland and Tennyson Down

Beautiful open downland,sheer chalk cliffs and dramatic sea views

Visitors at The Needles Old Battery and New Battery, Isle of Wight

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The Needles Old Battery and New Battery

Victorian coastal defence and secret rocket testing site perched high above the Needles Rocks

Cormorant and oystercatchers at Newtown National Nature Reserve, Isle of Wight

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Newtown National Nature Reserve and Old Town Hall

A quiet backwater with a busy Medieval past, now bursting with wildlife and a town hall with no town...

The landslip at Redcliff above sandy Yaverland beach on a calm autumn afternoon

Place

Bembridge and Culver Downs

Dramatic chalk cliffs and open downland with coastal views, military history and wildlife.

Image of windmill in background with blue sky behind and white clouds.

Place

Bembridge Windmill

The only surviving windmill on the Isle of Wight

A view down a gravel pathway with flower borders on either side and the stone house in the far distance at Mottistone Garden and Estate

Place

Mottistone Gardens and Estate

Enchanting gardens set in a sheltered valley and surrounded by rolling downland

Dappled summer sunlight on a magnificent spreading oak tree in Borthwood Copse

Place

Borthwood Copse

Paths wind through ancient oak woodland with sunny glades

St Catherine's lighthouse seen far below from coast path at the top of Gore Cliff, near a concrete plinth for surveying equipment to check the cliff is not moving

Place

St Catherine's Down and Knowles Farm

A wild rocky coast with jutting cliffs, a windswept down and sheltered wooded valley

Teasels and other spring wildflowers bloom by St Helens lagoon at low water

Place

St Helens Duver

Sand dunes with a royal history and great coastal views

Low winter sunshine highlights the undulations in the lower slope of Chillerton Down, where white chalk down merges into very green grassland

Place

Chillerton Down

An impressive flank of open downland

Paths criss-cross the slopes of Coombe Bottom near Ventnor with radar masts in the distance

Place

Ventnor Downs

Dramatic views from the highest point on the Island

Looking west from the sandy beach at Compton Bay on the Isle of Wight, with white cliffs, Tennyson Down and Afton Down, divided by Freshwater Bay, in the distance

Coast and beaches on the Isle of Wight

Visitor leaning on the rail of the boardwalk looking out over the marsh at sunset at Newtown National Nature Reserve, Isle of Wight

Countryside and woodland on the Isle of Wight

Walkers looking out over the sea towards Tennyson Down, Isle of Wight

Walking on the Isle of Wight

Family at Newtown National Nature Reserve, Isle of Wight

Family-friendly places to visit on the Isle of Wight

A family group with a dog on a lead stand on top of coastal downland, lit by late sun, as they look out to sea

Dog-friendly places on the Isle of Wight

A blond woman in her 30s or 40s wearing a yellow coat and carrying a rucksack with her back to the camera walking along a grass path on a cliff headland on a cloudy day

Outdoor activities on the Isle of Wight

A volunteer pruning flowers at Mottistone Gardens

Volunteering on the Isle of Wight

A teapot, teacup, scone with cream and jam on a table with a floral arrangement

Places to eat on the Isle of Wight

Close view of fossils at the disused Loftus Alum Works, North Yorkshire

Compton Bay fossil walks

Various dates throughout the spring and summer. Join award-winning Wight Coast Fossils for guided walks at Compton Bay and discover evidence for dinosaurs once roaming the Island. Compton beach is one of the best places to encounter the Island’s rich geological past. During one of the walks, you'll learn more about this amazing history; have an opportunity to find fossilised bone, teeth and wood; and even see huge dinosaur foot casts laying on the beach. Booking is essential. Please follow the link for more information.

Searchlight at the searchlight emplacement Needles Old Battery, Isle of Wight.

Discover the Secrets of The Needles: Guided Walks at the Old Battery

Experience the history of The Needles in a whole new way as our knowledgeable guides take you around the Old Battery. Learn about the daily life of those who lived and worked in the battery and discover its key features that played a crucial role in defending the Needles passage. Hear about lesser-known parts of the battery, such as the boiler rooms and sea-level tunnels featuring wartime stories on World War II, the recovery of its guns, and the shipwrecks that lie in the surrounding waters.

Inside the New Battery, on a separate site further up the headland from the Old Battery, Isle of Wight

Discover the Secrets of The Needles: Guided Walks at the New Battery

Join our guides on a journey through time and discover the history of the New Battery. Learn why the New Battery was built and what life was like here during World War II, including its vital role in radar operations. Hear fascinating stories about shipwrecks in the bay and the lighthouse that once stood on the cliffs. Then, journey to the High Down site, where Saunders-Roe - a pioneering aviation and engineering company - helped shape Britain’s space programme. Learn how they built and tested rockets, leading to the historic launch of Prospero, the UK’s first satellite. Next, explore the New Battery’s former ammunition storage area, where ground-breaking advancements once took place.

Family walking through the gardens at Mottistone Manor and Gardens

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Things to see and do for families in Mottistone Gardens

Discover the family-friendly things you can get up to in Mottistone Gardens. From exploring the gardens and woods, to ever changing trails, there's always something to keep little visitors entertained.

Family learning how flour is made at Bembridge Windmill, Isle of Wight

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Family friendly things to do at Bembridge Windmill

Discover the family-friendly things to do at Bembridge Windmill, from searching for the mice to dressing up as a miller and making mud pies in the mud bakery.

Family walking together by the harbour at Newtown National Nature Reserve, Isle of Wight

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Things to do at Newtown National Nature Reserve and Old Town Hall

Spend a day at the Isle of Wight’s only nature reserve and discover wildflower meadows, a network of secluded creeks and waterways, and a town hall without a town.

Visitors at the searchlight emplacement at the Needles Old Battery and New Battery, Isle of Wight

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Visiting the Needles Old Battery and New Battery

Explore the defensive site that helped protect a nation from invasion. See guns, underground tunnels and the secret rocket testing site plus views across the Solent.

A visiting family touch the machinery inside Bembridge Windmill, Isle of Wight. Built around 1700, it last operated in 1913 but still has most of its original machinery intact

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Things to see and do at Bembridge Windmill

Discover the highlights of Bembridge Windmill, the last surviving windmill on the Isle of Wight. Climb to the top, play in the Mud Bakery or make friends with a tree in the grounds.

An image of a small single storey wooden building called The Shack in the grounds of Mottistone Garden and Estate, which is stood on stone pillars and clad in wooden singles

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The Shack at Mottistone Gardens and Estate

The Shack was a neat, compact retreat for 1930s architects Seely & Paget where they designed projects like Eltham Palace. It is still furnished as it would have been in their time.

Winter sunshine over still waters in Sandown Bay seen from just above the beach at Yaverland

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Bembridge Fort

Bembridge Fort is an unrestored Victorian fort set on dramatic chalk cliffs. You can see the outside of this fascinating example of military architecture on a walk around Bembridge and Culver Downs.

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Needles Old Battery and New Battery

Explore the defensive site that helped protect a nation from invasion. See guns, underground tunnels and the secret rocket testing site plus views across the Solent.

The exterior of Mottistone Manor Farmhouse, Mottistone, Isle of Wight

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Holiday cottages on the Isle of Wight

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Large cottages and group getaways on the Isle of Wight

Millbeck Towers, near the Skiddaw range and Derwent Water, sleeps 12 people and welcomes two dogs, Cumbria

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Dog-friendly holiday cottages

Our holiday cottages are set in scenic locations, by rugged coastline and wild countryside. Bring your dog along for the adventure in one of nearly 300 dog-friendly cottages.

Visitors on a guided tour with the head gardener at Mottistone Gardens, Isle of Wight

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Supporter groups on the Isle of Wight

Join the Isle of Wight Association to get involved in local events, meet like-minded people and support the upkeep of National Trust places.

See all events

Event

New Battery Open Days for Cold War Heritage Week

The Needles Old Battery and New Battery, Alum Bay, Isle of Wight

Go underground and uncover Britain’s Cold War space secrets.

Event

Radar, Bunkers & UFOs – The Hidden History of St. Boniface Down

St Catherine's Down and Knowles Farm, Blackgang, Isle of Wight

Join us for an eye-opening journey into the hidden history of St. Boniface Down!

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Discover the Secrets of The Needles: Guided Walks at the New Battery

The Needles Old Battery and New Battery, Alum Bay, Isle of Wight

Uncover the rich history and hidden secrets of The Needles New Battery with educational and fascinating guided walks led by our knowledgeable walking team.

Event

Compton Bay Fossil Walks

Compton Bay and Downs, Isle of Wight

Various dates through the summer holidays. Join Wight Coast Fossils at Compton Bay and travel back in time 130 million years to the Cretaceous period as you discover the fossils of the Compton coast.

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'Newtown: From a Medieval town to a saltmarsh' Guided Walk

Newtown National Nature Reserve and Old Town Hall, Newtown, Isle of Wight

An educational and enjoyable walk around Newtown National Nature Reserve

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Afton Down Nature Rambles: Spring Birds

Compton Bay and Downs, Isle of Wight

Join us for a series of guided nature walks at Afton Down, starting with birdwatching and exploring the wildlife of this beautiful landscape, led by expert birder Nick Lever.

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Discover the Secrets of The Needles: Guided Walks at the Old Battery

The Needles Old Battery and New Battery, Alum Bay, Isle of Wight

Uncover the rich history and hidden secrets of The Needles Old Battery with educational and fascinating guided walks led by our knowledgeable walking team.