Isle of Wight, England

What is IOW, you ask.

Well, I just happen to have the answer.

IOW stands for Isle of Wight. Don’t feel badly. Even though we have been to England a few times, neither of us knew what IOW stood for either.

If you did not know, it is obvious you have not been there. So please join me on this mini tour to the Isle of Wight. Even if you did know what IOW stands for, please join in and relive pleasant memories.

How do we get there (Transportation to Isle of Wight) 

We are heading for an island just off the southern coast of England. After landing at Gatwick airport we will buy a train ticket (right there at the airport) that will take us to Portsmouth, across on a ferry to the island, and then on by train to Shanklin. Yes, our train ticket includes the cost of the ferry ride.

The whole trip is 30 pound 40 for one adult one way. (That price was accurate in August, 2012)  Wonder how much that is in our own money. Hmm..not bad!

These automated machines on the left would have allowed us to make the ticket purchase on our own but we went through the manned station so no mistakes were made.  Keeping things as simple as possible for our first trip to the isle, right?

Let’s follow the signs and head through here and down to the tracks. Put your ticket in the turnstile so you can leave the airport property and get into the train station. Marvelous coordination between the airport and train authorities isn’t it. Oh, good…you remembered to retrieve  the ticket when it popped back out of the turnstile. We will need that ticket again when we exit at the other end. You might have been trapped forever within the transportation system if you didn’t have it! (No, not really. But it would be problematic. Likely you would have had to pay the fare again.)

Many, many trains stop at the Gatwick so let’s watch those digital signs carefully so we get on the right train. Here it is. Hop on. They cautioned us that this train will “split” part way through the journey…one set of cars heading to Porstmouth, the other set heading a different direction. So, double check that we’re on the right car. Yes, this is the correct section so find a seat and settle in.

Don’t you just love traveling on this train…comfortable, efficient, on time (most of the time). And just look at that English countryside. I feel like we’re in a scene from a movie as the main character travels across the country.

My,  one hour and twenty-two minutes passed quickly. Portsmouth already.

Have you seen the Portsmouth’s Spinnaker tower in anything but photos before? Well the real thing will be in view in just a moment.

Got all our things? We have to leave the train and go down a few steps and walk right on to the ferry. Just made it, didn’t we. Again that’s the great coordination between rail and ferry authorities making such a short transfer time possible.

Portsmouth harbour. Quite busy, huh. Not unexpected as this is the home of the Royal Navy, but most of the watercraft we are seeing today are private boats, fishing boats, and public transportation craft. Can you imagine all the naval history! Lord Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory, is docked somewhere around here.

Well that did not take long to cross the Solent (that’s what the body of water between the mainland and the island is called. I thought it was the English Channel but maybe the channel is on the other side of the island). From Portsmouth to Ryde Pier Head on IOW in only 22 minutes!

Now to find our next train. It should here right next to where the ferry docked. Oh, look. It is an “antique” train. You’re right, it does sort of look like one of the vintage cars from London’s subway system. All aboard! In 23 minutes we will be in Shanklin.

The ride is considerably different on this train. isn’t it! You can hear the rhythmic clickty-clack as the train rambles on. And yes, you’re right. One can also feel the rocking motion…sideways and up-and-down…as the train rambles on. Somehow it just seems “right” though, doesn’t it.

Arriving in Shanklin

Why Shanklin? and not one of the other  towns the train stops at?

Just a personal choice, I guess. The B&B I picked is in Shanklin. (westbury lodge) But I am not sure whether I booked there after choosing Shanklin or whether I chose Shanklin because the lodge was there. Hmm.

Shanklin is the last stop on the rail line so I thought it might be a more central spot to travel to and fro. (We are not renting a car for this trip…going to try using only the train, buses and shanks’ pony.)

The beach is right there and based on photos I saw on-line looked like somewhere I would like to be.

Whatever the reason I picked it, here we are in Shanklin on the IOW.

Shanklin…good choice? bad choice?

Definitely a good choice.

The beach…beaches have an almost magical, magnetic quality that draws me to them. Shanklin’s beach is all sand (not many pebbles) and quite wide.  A  boardwalk used to jut out into the water but that was destroyed by a hurricane in the 1980s (now that I did not find in my research…hurricane…here!…no, not going to happen again.) Today a small, pretty esplanade follows the water’s edge lined with a few hotels, restaurants, and a large arcade.

We have fish & chips for supper as the sit down restaurants were all full when we were hungry. That tells you there were quite a few people around…or maybe that there are not that many restaurants down here.

I say “down here” because the beach is at the bottom of steep cliff. The views from the top are beautiful and it is fun down on the shoreline…but.

But it is a long ways down if you are not confident walkers. However, that is not a problem if you know about the lift. For one pound  seniors can ride down to the beach level. The lift is open until quite late in the evening but do check the times before you leave the lift so you do not end up having to walk back up. Anyone can use the lift but the price may be different for the younger folk.

 

 

Good base for traveling the island

The public buses are very efficient and comfortable. Just figure out where you want to go, get to the terminal or nearest stop and get on. We purchased the 48 hour bus pass and felt we got good value for money.

Using buses we spent a day at Osborne House (check out that day trip at Osborne House, Isle of Wight).

Another day was spent at The Needles Park and in Yarmouth (check out that day trip at The Needles Park, Isle of Wight)

Cowes week was on while we were visiting. (That’s the famous yachting regatta.) Fellow guests at Westbury Lodge raved about the evening fireworks displays associated with Cowes week. They were less enthusiastic about the amount of traffic leaving the event.

Our bus goes through Ventnor but it is too late to get off and visit the Ventnor Botanic Garden. Next time, for sure.

Exploring Shanklin

So much to see in Shanklin

… The Old Town with its thatched roofed buildings and unique, interesting little shops.

…Shanklin theatre with its lovely architecture and quality, eclectic playbill featuring local and national performers.

 

…Shanklin Chine (that deserves a page all of its own. Please join me on a Visit to the Shanklin Chine.)

 

…the history. Do you know what P.L.U.T.O. was/is? I did not. (No this Pluto is not the planet Pluto.) Visit this site to discover all about P.L.U.T.O.

 

 

 

 

 

…the views as seen from up here on the hill where our lodge is.

 

…our lodge, Westbury Lodge, is everything I could have hoped for.  When you are on the Isle of Wight you will find many B&Bs, lodges and hotels. I strongly recommend that you check out the Westbury Lodge, 25 Queens Road, Shanklin. (www.westburylodge.co.uk) It is super clean, quiet, in a good location AND the wonderful couple who run the lodge prepare you a made to order breakfast each morning. It is a relaxing, lovely home away from home.

…the Shops. Art, books, house decor, all things unique and wonderful to fill your days with window browsing and maybe even some purchases.

…Laid back, relaxing air. No wonder many people from Great Britain come here year after year for their holidays. It truly feels like a second home.

 

 

 

I wonder if I could convince my husband to consider retiring to the Isle of Wight?

 

 

Getting to Shanklin, IOW

• Fly to Gatwick, England  (Gatwick is just south of London, but Heathrow works too)
• Train/ferry combination ticket to IOW (easy to purchase right in the airport, next to trains)

 

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Happy travels