Isle of Wight trip 2021

Last week, I went on a holiday with my wife, daughter (Anya) and son (Reuben) to the Isle of Wight, a small island off the coast of mainland Britain in the south of the country. This was my third visit to the island in twenty years and, just like previous times, I enjoyed it very much. Here's trip report.

Monday 2 August 2021

Drove down to Portsmouth to catch our 11.40am carry ferry to Fishbourne. Despite a longer than expected queue of cars at the ferry port, we made it onto our ferry on time. I've never seen the ferry so busy before. Perhaps a lot of UK holidaymakers have chosen to stay in the country, deterred by the costs and complexities of going abroad during this COVID-19 pandemic. Our ferry, called St Clare, took forty minutes to do the crossing across the Solent (strait of English Channel between the mainland and the Isle of Wight). The weather, which was windy and rainy during the journey, thankfully cleared up by the time we disembarked.

We headed straight to the Isle of Wight Animal Sanctuary, previously known as the Isle of Wight Zoo, in Sandown. This is not a big zoo. One can walk around it within half an hour. Yet it was charming with it's collection of different animals and feeding times with running commentary. The main attraction were the big cats: lions and tigers, all of which had been rescued from captivity. We stayed for the big cat feeding time to watch the lions being fed, and then headed to our hotel, Premier Inn Isle of Wight Sandown (Merrie Gardens).

The hotel staff were friendly enough. Our family room was sufficient, albeit a bit small, and there were some shops like Aldi and Morrisions nearby. After unloading our luggage, we drove to Sandown Beach. Anya and Reuben enjoyed playing on the beach for a little while. Then when hunger pangs set in, we went in search of some place to eat. 

Walking through the streets of Sandown, one could see a number of desolate shops and hotels. Did they close because of the pandemic I wonder? I guess things must have been pretty tough for an island so dependent on tourism. We ended up back at the beach by the pier where we bought burgers and chips, which we ate in our car together. The long wait for the food was worth it in the end, for it was filling indeed, putting to shame what we normally get from McDonalds. Finally we retired to our hotel room.

Tuesday 3 August 2021

Enjoyed a hearty full English breakfast in the hotel breakfast room. There was a good selection of full English and continental items, and I just couldn't help treating myself to a second serving. Then we drove across the island, along meandering roads past woods and countryside, to the Needles Landmark Attraction on the west coast. The weather, bright and sunny, was just perfect. One of the first things we did was take the chair lift down to the beach. Reuben sat with his mum on the chair lift so coolly. I was pleased to see that he wasn't frightened. He played with his sister once he got onto the beach, throwing pebbles into the water. We could see the Needles in the distance and it made for a beautiful sight. We took a boat ride out to the Needles and back with other tourists. That was fun. Then we returned to the Needles park where we took Reuben to the sand shop. There he filled a star shaped glass container with different coloured Allum Bay sands. This was a souvenir for him to take back home.

By early afternoon, the Needles park was getting quite busy and we were quite happy to leave the place to go over to Havenstreet in the east to catch our Isle of Wight Steam train. Nestled in a wooded area, Havenstreet Station was an oasis of calmness and a throwback to a bygone era of steam railway. Our train left Havenstreet at 2.33pm and went to Smallbrook Junction, crossing beautiful countryside and woods. At Smallbrook Junction, the steam engine changed ends and the train went back along the same track to Havenstreet and then to Wootten. Then at Wootten, the engine changed ends again and took us back to Havenstreet. Sitting in our compartment, watching the scenery roll past, listening to the hiss of the engine and the occasional whistle, made for a most relaxing and enjoyable journey. The Isle of Wight Steam Railway is manned by retired volunteers and they are generally quite friendly.

In the evening, we visited Shanklin Beach, not far from Sandown. Memories of my last trip with Mum and Dad came back to me. I missed my Mum, who sadly passed away three years ago. Like Sandown, Shanklin is a sandy beach but, unlike Sandown, it seemed much more alive. Along the promenade I saw lots of restaurants, shops and hotels, all buzzing with life. Anya and Reuben again played in the sand before we sat down and ate our sandwiches.

Wednesday 3 August 2021

After breakfast, we made our way to Tapnell Farm Park near Yarmouth in the west of the island. Reuben was in for a real treat here. Tapnell Farm Park is a great place for kids with loads of things to do, surrounded by nice countryside and sea views. There are animals such as wallabies, goats and donkeys in paddocks, as well as indoor and outdoor play areas. Reuben liked the soft play area, the bouncy pillow, zip wire and go karting. He was less interested in the animals. After a good two hours of fun, we headed over to Appleby beach on the north side of the island near Ryde.

Appleby Beach, another sandy beach, with a nice paved promenade and green park beyond is a treat to the eye. Facing north, we could see Portsmouth across the Solent. In between, there were yachts, ships and other vessels of various sizes crisscrossing the water. When we arrived, the tide was low. So Anya and Reuben could have an extended period of play in the shallow water. Sitting on a bench in the shade of the park, I savoured the scene; it was so nice and relaxing. A welcome break from London life.

Thursday 4 August 2021

At breakfast this morning, we met a waitress who had just moved to the Isle of Wight from Oxford. She said she used to enjoy visiting the island when she was young. We checked out of our hotel and travelled north to the ferry port in Fishbourne. Although we were booked for the 10.40am ferry, we were early enough for the 10am ferry and were allowed to board that. The ferry, called the Victoria of Wight, was far less busy than the one we took to the island. We also enjoyed some good weather during the crossing, which meant we got a good view across the Solent.

Once we reached Portsmouth, I drove around the city where I once worked. We passed the area where I used to jog along the beach and stopped in a car park next to Clarence Pier, an amusement pier, where Anya and Reuben enjoyed a ride on the Flying Dumbos. From a stall I bought doughnuts and churros before finally heading back home to London.

Final thoughts

Overall, a very enjoyable holiday. It was the just the right place for our young Reuben, who had a great time. It was nice to get away from busy London and the usual routine for just a week. The break was quite rejuvenating, epecially after one year of the pandemic.