Sandown Bay Holiday Centre, Self Catering accommodation Isle of Wight

 

Please find below, useful information for getting to our self catering accommodation, with ferry information, train & bus information to help you get around the Isle of Wight and enjoy your holiday while staying in our Sandown holiday accommodation.

The Isle of Wight has long been an excellent place for an upmarket but traditional seaside holiday, and has a number of individual beaches and towns that were very popular with the Victorians. However, it is also becoming a must visit destination for young people seeking water sports and outdoor activities generally . Cowes is a famous yachting centre and attracts the 'London set' together with members of the worldwide sailing fraternity during Cowes Week  in August. The island has a similar atmosphere to Guernsey or Jersey yet is much closer and is three times the size. Despite being only 15 miles across the sea from Southampton or 6 miles from Portsmouth it is a world apart in terms of scenery, culture and pace of life. Known as England In Miniature it offers an incredible amount of variety with the landscape changing dramatically in the space of a few miles and each town and village offering something different. Beaches are fantastic and the water quality is good. Historically the local economy has moved from being dependent on smuggling and farming to tourism with the coming of the railways.

Getting to

Access to the island is across the Solent, a stretch of sea between the UK mainland and the island, by regular ferry, hovercraft or fast-cat from the mainland. Many of the ferries carry cars, but this can be expensive, the alternative is to travel by foot passenger and use buses and trains on the island but this will limit access to more rural locations and beaches. Car ferry travel tickets are for car plus four passengers and depending on the size of your party, bringing a car may actually work out cheaper than the passenger ferry. Hovercraft and fast cat fares are comparable, but the Hovercraft does not run very late and does not connect as easily with the trains. Crossing time to the island is as follows.

• From Southampton: 55 minutes by ship or 30 mins by Red Jet
• From Portsmouth: 45 minutes by ship or 15 mins by Fast Cat
• From Lymington: 35 minutes by ship
• From Southsea: 10 minutes by hovercraft

The major ferry routes are:

• Wightlink Fastcat passenger ferry from Portsmouth Harbour rail station on the mainland to Ryde Pier Head on the island
• Wightlink car ferry  from Portsmouth to Fishbourne Creek (near Ryde) on the island.
• Wightlink car and passenger ferry  fromLymington on the mainland to Yarmouth on the island
• Red Funnel jetcat passenger ferry  from Southampton Town Quay on the mainland to west Cowes on the island
• Red Funnel conventional car and passenger ferry from Southampton Town Quay to east Cowes
• Hovertravel passenger hovercraft from the Southsea district of Portsmouth to Ryde

Whilst on the ferry remember to pick up a free guide of things to do and if possible another of places to eat. These are updated twice a year and give useful information and phone numbers.

Weather

Thanks to a southerly latitude and sheltered location, many parts of the Isle of Wight enjoy a very mild and sunny climate. The south-east of the island in particular is known for its high sunshine records and warm air. In winter, frost is rather rare. As at May 2008, the warmest month of the year so far was May with an average high of 20C (68F) and the coolest was January with an average high of 10C (50F) and the warmest day of the year enjoyed a high of 27C (81F). However, June to September are the warmest months.

 Get around

 By bus

The island has is covered by a wide but expensive bus service (by the standards of a rural area) run by Southern Vectis including spectacular open-top services in West Wight and near Ryde. Additonal buses are run by Wightbus - run by the IoW County Council but do not have actual timetable information on their website as such. Buses run to Ventnor, Havenstreet and Brading.  Day & week rover tickets available which also include travel on the Island Line

 By train

There is a single public service railway line on the island, with a limited service running from Ryde Pier Head (connections with Portsmouth fast-cat) to Sandown  for local bus service to Dinosaur Isle, and Shanklin, for connecting buses to Ventnor. It is run by Island Line and through tickets can be booked from any manned UK station.

 Cycling

Cycling on the Island is a fantastic way to get around and keep green. The Island has over 200 miles of cycle ways much of which can be enjoyed by families off road. Major Trails to note are 'The Sunshine Trail' which incorporates Sandown, Shanklin, Godshill and Wroxhall in a 12 mile circular route. 'The Troll Trail' Which leads from Cowes to Sandown or visa versa (90% off road) approx 13 miles either way and 'Round the Island Cycle Route' which circumnavigates the Island on a reported 62 mile ride (not for the amatuer or faint hearted). Cycles can be brought to the Island by foot passengers on any of the car ferries. Hire cycles are also available

 See

• Alum Bay  is famous for the many different colours of sand which appear naturally on the beach. A traditional souvenir of the Isle of Wight is a picture or glass paperweight filled with the different colours - there are many stalls where you can get the wherewithal to make your own if you are so inclined. The bay is close to The Needles (see below) and accessible by stairs or by a ski resort-style chairlift. The self-filling tubes are fun, but when you take them out of the suitcase they are usually all mixed-up. Theere is an extensive "fun-park" including a glass works, which is not quite as good as Isle of Wight Glass at St. Lawrence, but considerably cheaper. Innthe summer there are regular free firework displays on Thursdays. When this finishes everyone wants to leave the car park at once, which can be a  nightmare.

• Blackgang Chine was formerly a dramatic gorge through which one could walk to the sea. Following a catastrophic collapse, the Chine ceased to exist some decades ago, but the  entertainment park there, with its animated figures, is still worth a visit.This is the world's first and oldest theme park.

Osborne House  Although officially a summer home for Queen Victoria, she used it as her main residence for some time after the death of Prince Albert, her husband. Now owned and operated by English Heritage, most of the well-preserved house and grounds are open to visitors year-round. Visitors planning to visit both Osborne House and Carisbrooke Castle should consider becoming members of English Heritage; it can work out cheaper than buying individual tickets for family groups and allows free access to all other English Heritage properities for the rest of the year.

• Carisbrooke Castle  - located in the centre of the island, the castle is well worth a visit. Charles I was held prisoner here. The castle appears in the popular children's story 'Moonfleet', and the well which appears in the story, with a treadmill driven by a donkey (not worked very hard these days) is a popular tourist feature.

• Isle of Wight Steam Railway tel 01983-882204 from within the UK or +44-1983-882204 from outside. A former branch line resucitated to accurately recreate the atmosphere of the island's railways in the pre-war era, when the island was the home of already superannuated locomotives and coaches from the mainland. Accessible by car at the steam railway's Havenstreet Station, or by changing from the island's one remaining public service railway (between Ryde and Shanklin) at Smallbrook Junction. Open weekends and summer; see website or call telephone number above for precise opening days and times. £8 (adult); £4 (child); ticket entitles holder to unlimited travel on day of issue.

• The Needles , a very famous headland and offshore rocks at the extreme western end of the island. Here you will find early sea defences such as the Needles Old Battery , now preserved by the National Trust, and Tennyson Down, the national memorial to Alfred Lord Tennyson, and the sight of spectacular sea and land views. Accessible via Southern Vectis's open-top bus route 42, which runs half-hourly from Yarmouth and connects with the ferries from Lymington on the mainland. You can drive up to the Needles Battery if you are registered disabled, but you need tpo phone ahead to let them know you are coming in order not to face traffic coming the other way.

• Steephill Cove, a cove only accessible by foot at the southernmost tip of the island near Ventnor. There is an incredible seafood restaurant right on the beach - the owners catch their own lobsters and crabs daily, you would find it hard to get fresher seafood anywhere! And the view from the tables over the cove and out to sea is breathtaking.

To Do

Visit Ventnor Botanic Garden - the South Coast of the Island has a warm micro-climate allowing palms, banana trees and cactus to flourish, even in private gardens. It is regularly used by TV and film makers when locations like the South of France are required, in productions like Lady Chatterley's Lover. Much of the road network in the South passes through the lush flora and fauna of an area called the landslip which offers spectacular sea views between Ventnor and Niton.

The Isle of Wight is- according to National Geographic Magazine- the 4th best location for dinosaurs in the World. Fossil walks can be booked from Dinosaur Isle Museum at Sandown or the Fossil Shop at Blackgang Chine. Walk from Freshwater Bay to the Needles Battery over Tennyson Down. Fantastic views over the west Wight and western Solent.

From May to September the weather is often bright and warm, making a visit to some of the Island's beaches a good idea. Favourites:

• Colwell Bay - NW coast near Yarmouth. good golden sands, shallow shelf nice for family swimming and building sand castles. Can get busy, esp for parking, but there's generally enough space on the beach itself.
• Compton - SW Coast, off the Military Road. Popular for surfing when the wind is right.
• Lake - also on the S coast near ventnor. Windsurfing and sailing hire available.
• Bonchurch - beautiful. Sheltered, shallow coves get nice and warm if the sun's been out for a week or so (August).
• Sandown - although a less classy town than Shanklin, the beach is more extensive and the sand more attractive.

In 2007, Blue Flag status was given to the beaches at Ryde East, Sandown and Shanklin for achieving the highest quality in water, facilities, safety, environmental education and management. Some 13 other Isle of Wight beaches were given Seaside Awards for above average water quality. ENCAMS environmental charity recommends the best 73 beaches in England, of which 11 are in the Isle of Wight. Some of these are subjective, such as "best for a nice seaside stroll", and if anything this is an underestimate.

Walking is promoted by an annual Walking Festival. There is an extensive network of footpaths and bridle ways. The Ordnance Survey 50,000 scale Landranger map is half IOW and half in Hampshire, but the 25,000 explorer map is the same price and only covers the Island. Their are a number of "long distance trails" of which the coastal path is the longest at approximately 73 miles. Wight-cam gives details and photos of hundreds of walks.

 Eat

• Matt and Cat's Isle of Wight eating Out Guide. Over 180 independent reviews of places to eat on the Island - not written by the proprietors either.  
• The New Inn , Shalfleet is an excellent place to go for fresh, locally caught fish. It has a relaxed, traditional pub ambience and friendly service. Local ales and a wide range of wines are available to accompany your meal.
• Lake Fish Bar sells probably the best fish and chips this side of the Blue Dolphin in Hastings.
• You will need to book for the Baywatch at St.Helen's and probably the Crab and Lobster in Bembridge. The other restaurants in St.Helens are good but pricey. The Pilot Boat is fine and you will not usually need to book.
• The Black Cat in Shanklin Old Village does good French cuisine.
• Vernon Cottage in Shanklin Old Village is good for lunches.

 Drink

The Isle of Wight has many country pubs selling food and local real ale. Adgestone Vineyard produces white wine which is used in Government state banquets when English wine is required to show off to foreign diplomats etc.

Historically the local breweries were Mews, Langton at Newport and Burts at Ventnor. Most of the ex-Mews pubs were taken ober by Whitbread, but local breweries have re-opened as Goddards and Yates. There are a few Gales pubs such as the Castle in Ryde.

Isle of Wight tap water is generally very good for making tea. Bottled mineral water is produced under the name "Wight Spring" from Whitwell, where it was formerly a holy well.

Country Pubs with Food - The Hare & Hounds near Newport is sonething of an instution but has become rather oversized by unsightly back extensions. The White Lion at Arreton provides a good alternative. Nearby is The Dairyman's Daughter in the Craft Centre.

The Fighting Cocks on the Newport Road holds a boot sale in the car park in summer

The Crown Inn in Shorwell has fishponds and doves in its garden.

Sleep

There is a Travel Lodge at Newport. There are hotels at all budget levels. The Isle of Wight Tourist Board maintains a vacancy list. There are a number of farms that provide accommodation and holiday cottages. Holiday cottages are often quite difficult to book late and relatively expensive compared with the rest of England. Many pubs also provide accommodation. Saturday night in Newport Town Centre is apt to be quite rowdy and not a good place to sleep near.

Budget - Holiday Chalet Sandown, www.iowaccommodation.com 

Top range - Bembridge Coast Hotel, Priory Bay Hotel (St.Helens), Farringdon [Totland}.

Farms- Newnham Farm, near Ryde.

 Get out

Portsmouth is a good place for a day visit (Victory, Warrior, Mary Rose, Gosport Submarine Museum etc.), but not Southampton. Off-shore sightseeing cruises can be booked from Sandown Pier or East Cowes (Wight Line Cruises aka. Blue Funnel).

Wightbreaks@aol.com       

Please note that all given prices were correct at the time of writing but may have changed since. Please contact the attraction direct if you wish to confirm the prices.

There is plenty to see and do on the Isle of Wight, with activities for young and old. Blackgang Chine is by far the Island’s most famous theme park, is situated on the south-western cliffs of the Island but is slowly dissapearing in to the sea.. It has several different themed lands, including Dinosaur Land, Wild West Town, and Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. It has a maze a waterslide and it will keep the younger ones occupied all day. Early evening sees the lights being switched on, and the whole place takes on a magical feel. A day at Blackgang costs £7.50 per person. (No reductions for children)

The Needles Pleasure Park, at Alum Bay, has been expanded in recent years, and now includes a children’s theme park with bumper cars, and a child-sized rollercoaster. It is free to enter the park, but all-day car parking will set you back £3.00, and you will need to pay for most of the activities on offer. A ‘Saver’ ticket is available, but will only save you money if you take part in all the activities listed. Take the chairlift down to beach, and walk along the beach underneath the famous coloured cliffs, or take a boat trip out to the Needles. Priced at only £4.00, this is well worth it. However, for those of you without your sea legs, steer clear as the sea can get choppy at times, even in the height of the summer. For the adults, there is a glass-making factory across the road, which demonstrates the process from sand to glass. Fascinating stuff, but a bit expensive for a 20-minute demonstration.

Robin Hill Adventure Park is owned by the same people behind Blackgang Chine., It is another theme park that is expanding and in my opinion is better than the rest. It has recently revamped its image and brought in some excellent new rides, including the time machine, the pirate ship and the  Toboggan Ride. At £6.50 per person, (again no reductions for children) and including lovely walks through the woodland & grounds, it has now become an very impressive day out.

For a taste of the islands history, visit Carisbrooke Castle and Osborne House. The former, situated near the main town of Newport it is where King Charles II was held captive and includes the country’s only working donkey in the water mill. The latter was Queen Victoria’s holiday home, a vast, beautiful palace. It is in my opinion fairly expensive but worth a visit, especially to the bedroom where Victoria died. Take a horse and carriage ride to the children’s play-house, Swiss Cottage.

For the grown-ups, there is a wide variety of nightlife on offer. Most hotels invite non-residents to their evenings of entertainment, ranging from comedy shows, to karaoke and discos some being somewhat tacky. There are more and more bars opening up, and Ryde High Street is fast becoming a haven for pubs, bars and late night eateries, with national chains Wetherspoons and Yates joining the set. For post-bar fun, the newly-revamped Balcony club on Ryde seafront offers top music, with themed nights and cheap drinks. Alternatively there’sFlanagans in Pier Street, Sandown for regular live music & excellent food, Colonel Bogeys in Sandown, the most popular club on the island. Each Saturday night of the month offers different music, i.e. 80’s Night and School Night. Again, it offers cheap drinks, (£1.50 a pint) good music and a friendly atmosphere.

For the more active tourist, there are lots of sports and leisure facilities, including crazy golf, tennis and other outdoor activities. The Heights Leisure Centre, in Sandown, offers a 25-metre swimming pool, plus a children’s pool, sauna, spa and steam room. There is also a hair and beauty salon, squash courts, and a fully-equipped gym. There is also a Visitor One Card, which allows unlimited use of the Heights and other council-owned sites, including Sandham Grounds, Browns Golf,  Shanklin Lift, Waterside Pool and Boating Lake at Ryde and the Dotto Trains, (Sandown, Shanklin, Ryde) priced at £14.00 for a week long card. Alternatively, a ‘group’ card, for up to two adults and three children will set you back £38.00 for a week. For the more adventurous of you there is Wight Waters in Lake, which allows you to try out windsurfing, canoeing, surfing, and boating.

With all this to try, it can get pricey, but there are lots of activities you can try out for free. There are plenty of free museums and exhibitions, and with 408-square miles of open space, beaches, cliff paths and parks, there are hours of walks just waiting to be discovered and of course, there is what the Isle of Wight is most famous for; its miles and miles of beautiful beaches.
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Holiday Facts

Travelling by car can be expensive. Wightlink has a standard return ticket for £71.90, mid-July, although if you travel out of season the price drops considerably. Wightlink has crossings between Portsmouth and Fishbourne, near Ryde, and between Lymington and Yarmouth.
Red Funnel, operates between Southampton and Cowes, and costs £69.50 standard return for a car and driver, mid-June. Passengers costs £9.80 per adult, and £4.90 per child.
Alternatively, you could travel as a foot passenger. The Red Jet service from Southampton to Cowes costs £14.00 standard return for an adult, and Wightlink’s FastCat service between Portsmouth and Ryde is priced at £13.00 for a return ticket. Hovertravel operates a 10-minute crossing time between Southsea and Ryde Esplanade, for a standard return price of £11.60 per adult, and £5.90 per child.

If you do choose to travel as a passenger, your stay will undoubtedly involve using public transport. The train, Island Line, runs between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin. An adult day return costs £3.70, and a 7-day return costs £12.60.

Southern Vectis, the island’s bus company, offers a day ‘Rover’ ticket, which allows unlimited use of all bus routes, train journeys, and some cross-Solent travel. It costs £7.50 per adult, or £20.00 for a family ticket. Alternatively, a week long ‘Rover’ ticket for a family of five will set you back £85.00.

In the summer months a fantastic way to travel around the island is to cycle. Rentals are fairly priced, and with scenic routes, it will keep you fit at the same time.

When you arrive on the island, you will need somewhere to stay, and there are basically four options available to you; hotel accommodation, guest house, camping and caravanning or self catering chalets. 

Hotel accommodation is undoubtedly the nicest and most relaxing way to spend your holiday, although you will pay more for the luxury, with prices starting at £60.00 per room per night. (Springvale Hotel and Restaurant, Seaview, in June)

Guest houses can be a bit more affordable alternative to a hotel. There are plenty to choose from, especially in the main resorts of Sandown, Shanklin and Ryde, and prices start from £20.00 for a single room per night, or £32.00 for a double room.

For the more adventurous, you could try camping. There are plenty of campsites around the island, with varying facilities and amenities on-site. There are also caravan sites, such as Lower Hyde Park Resorts, in Shanklin, which is 10-minutes walk from the town centre and beach, and has all the usual leisure, entertainment and restaurant facilities that you would expect. Prices for Lower Hyde start from £271.00, based on a caravan or chalet for a family of four, in June.

Alternitavely there is Self catering chalets in Sandown prices start from £150 per chalet per week that if shared between 6 people makes for a very reasonable holiday. (just over £3 per person per night) based on a weeks stay saturday - saturday.

There are plenty of eateries on the island, whether you are staying in a hotel, or self-catering. Ranging from local cafes and pub meals, to the more expensive restaurant experience, there is something for everyone and to keep the little ones happy, there are several fast food restaurants around the island. Superbowl Café in Sandown does a wide range of food, from burgers to curry with an average price of £4.95 per meal. If you are self-catering there are plenty of supermarkets to buy necessities. A top tip is to make your own breakfast in your accommodation and to take a packed lunch out with you everyday. This will save you a lot of money over a week