Winter holidays on the Isle of Wight?

By The Hermitage Team

Many think of the Isle of Wight as a summer island, however more and more people are realising the benefits of that winter holidays on the island provide.

So what are the benefits of booking a holiday on the island after the recognized holiday season has finished? The biggest reason has to be price, everything is cheaper out of season and the savvy holiday maker can make huge savings by delaying their trip by just a few months. Ferry fares, Isle of Wight hotels and even island attractions lower their prices considerably after the summer season has finished.

Weather is still reasonable at this time of year however if weather concerns you why not limit the risk of bad weather by staying at Ventnor hotels as Ventnor enjoys an unusual microclimate. A further benefit can be noticed on the roads, beaches and attractions as the summer crowds have long since departed you can enjoy a far more relaxing break.

One of the most important factors to remember when choosing when to book your holiday is the beauty of the Isle of Wight never diminishes regardless of the season!.

A Weekend at Fairway

A couple of weeks ago we made our way back to the Island for a welcome weekend break at Fairway Holiday Park in Sandown.

The weather was excellent for late October and the entertainment was as good as it's always been - James hasn't lost his touch after all these years. For those who prefer the smaller, independent site to the larger and more corporate operation Fairway really is the place to go.

We visited the Calbourne Water Mill for the first time, which just goes to show that even after all these years there is always something more to surprise you. The staff give a demonstration each afternoon of a mill in operation, and there are various pieces of wartime and antique machinery which will be of interest to the historically minded. The web address is http://www.calbournewatermill.co.uk/, although the link wasn't going anywhere when we tried it.

Shortly before we left we paid a visit to Gurnard Pines, where we will be staying in December. It looks pretty good - sports club and everything - but I'll report further after we've had our stay there.

The Brading Experience

Originally a Wax Works, Brading the Experience is now, as its name suggests a whole experience to be enjoyed and marvelled at.

As well as Animal World the site now boasts World of Wheels, a themed café, a gift shop and a discount themed store.

Enter and make your way around Great British Legends, the Old Rectory Mansion and the Chamber of Horrors.

Brading itself, on the main road between Ryde and Sandown, centres upon a very quaint hill street with several small independent shops, tea houses and public houses.

The Experience itself (Sat Nav PO36 0DQ) is reasonably priced, with special arrangements for school parties. It can be accessed by bus or train (ten minutes' walk). There is also a free car park just a few yards away.