Holiday Homes and Cottages Isle of Wight
No further than 10 miles away from the coast of southern England, bed and breakfasts and self catering holiday homes on the Isle of Wight have provided the basis of many happy family vacations for decades, and are in particular demand during Cowes Week at the beginning of August when yachtsmen and women descend on the island from all over the world, boosting the population by several thousand! Boasting some of the finest and most reliable summer weather in the UK, people from right across Britain - and beyond - continue to make the Isle of Wight a regular holiday destination, not just for guaranteed heat and sunshine but because the island promises such excellent opportunities for sport, recreation, leisure and entertainment that visitors of all ages and interests are sure to find fun and adventure, or simply the chance to relax in an atmosphere of peace.
While Osborne House in East Cowes is now open to the public, Queen Victoria's former holiday home on the Isle of Wight is a prime example of the wealth of architectural heritage that still remains from an era when the island was a prestigious, fashionable resort for royalty and the rich and famous, although it wasn't long before the Isle of Wight became more readily accessible to the more ordinary residents of Britain and Europe. With regular ferry and hovercraft crossings available from various points along the Hampshire coast of southern England, holiday cottages on the Isle of Wight are now amongst some of the most popular types of vacation accommodation in the country, and as easy to get to as it would be to drive or catch the bus to work, especially for those living in Southampton or Portsmouth!
Even though you'll first arrive on the Isle of Wight in Cowes, Yarmouth, Fishbourne or Ryde, holiday cottages can be found scattered island-wide as far south, east and west as it's possible to go, and unless you're adamant about being located just moments from the sea, many situations towards the centre of the island can offer the chance to enjoy an authentic slice of rural life and all the rustic character and charm that a traditional country cottage on the Isle of Wight promises. Travel south through Newport towards Ventnor and you'll pass the kind of rolling green landscapes that contrast with the rugged cliffs of the coast, which are nowhere more dramatic than along the western shores where a journey from Yarmouth round to Freshwater will take you past the Needles - a distinctive row of chalk stacks within sight of the coloured sands of Alum Bay, and one the most photographed landmarks on the Isle of Wight.
With a rich and diverse natural heritage that can be thoroughly investigated in the course of one holiday, you'd need more than a comfy bed and hearty breakfast to set you up for a day devoted to exploring the Isle of Wight's incredible variety of landscapes and environments. Where over half the island is a recognised Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the rest of it doesn't do badly either when it comes to spectacular scenery! When you'll never be far from the nearest sandy beach, cliff top walk or bustling harbour, anyone with a love of the sea will find a holiday cottage on the Isle of Wight that was made just for them, and when you can easily lose yourself amongst the field and forests that carpet the island's interior without having to rely on the car, it won't be long before you realise that this could become your favourite destination for a break away from the same old routines of home and a vacation solution that will suit your whole family.