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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.

Places to visit

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Top places to visit on the Isle of Wight

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

Compton Bay and Downs 

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

Isle of Wight

Fully open today
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
Place

The Needles Headland and Tennyson Down 

Beautiful open downland,sheer chalk cliffs and dramatic sea views

Isle of Wight

Fully open today
Visitors at The Needles Old Battery and New Battery, Isle of Wight
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Place

The Needles Old Battery and New Battery 

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

Alum Bay, Isle of Wight

Closed now
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...

Newtown, Isle of Wight

Partially open today
The landslip at Redcliff above sandy Yaverland beach on a calm autumn afternoon
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Place

Bembridge Fort and Downs 

An unrestored Victorian fort set on dramatic chalk cliffs and open downland with coastal views

near Bembridge, Isle of Wight

Partially open today
View of Bembridge Windmill, Isle of Wight from the rear, and surrounded by trees.
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Bembridge Windmill 

The only surviving windmill on the Isle of Wight

Bembridge, Isle of Wight

Closed now
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
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Place

Mottistone Gardens and Estate 

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

near Brighstone, Isle of Wight

Partially open today
Yellow and red autumn colours in the trees alongside a path leading on through Borthwood Copse
Place
Place

Borthwood Copse 

Paths wind through ancient oak woodland with sunny glades

near Winford, Isle of Wight

Fully open today
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
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Place

St Catherine's Down and Knowles Farm 

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

Blackgang, Isle of Wight

Fully open today
Autumn colours in the leaves of the trees at St Helens Duver behind the wall of the tidal lagoon
Place
Place

St Helens Duver 

Sand dunes with a royal history and great coastal views

St Helens, Isle of Wight

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

Chillerton Down 

An impressive flank of open downland

Isle of Wight

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

Ventnor Downs 

Dramatic views from the highest point on the Island

Wroxall, Isle of Wight

Fully open today

Winter adventures on the Isle of Wight

A close up of a Victoria sponge cake on sale in a cafe
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Needles Old Battery tea-room winter opening 

Open each weekend 11 Nov - 17 Dec and each day Boxing Day to 1 Jan, 11am-3pm. Warm through in our cosy tea-room after a bracing winter's walk. Enjoy a selection of hot and cold drinks, light bites and tasty cakes, all served with dramatic views.

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

Compton Bay fossil walks 

9 & 22 Dec, 6 & 20 Jan, 3 & 17 Feb, 9 & 23 March. Award-winning Wight Coast Fossils are holding guided fossil walks at Compton Bay this winter. 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.

Buildings on the Isle of Wight

Learning how flour is made at Bembridge Windmill, Isle of Wight
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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.

Forts on the Isle of Wight

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 explore this fascinating example of military architecture on pre-booked tours.

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

Places to stay on the Isle of Wight

Pet dogs and their owners outside a holiday cottage on the Holnicote Estate, Somerset
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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 more than 160 dog-friendly cottages.

Upcoming events

Event

Compton Bay Fossil Walks 

Compton Bay and Downs, Isle of Wight

9 & 22 Dec, 6 & 20 Jan, 3 & 17 Feb, 9 & 23 March. Join Wight Coast Fossils at Compton Bay this winter and travel back in time 130 million years to the Cretaceous period as you discover the fossils of the Compton coast.

Event summary

on
9 Dec 2023 to 23 Mar 2024
at
13:00 to 14:00
+ 7 other dates or times
Visitors at the Christmas market at Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire

Where will you visit next?

Discover lots of gardens, historic houses, days out at the coast and more.