New Leaseholder Set to "Restore Gurnard Pines to its Former Glory"

The new leaseholder of Gurnard Pines Holiday Village on the north of the Island has spoken of his plans to restore the complex to its former glory.

Island-based businessman John Perrett, who already runs thriteen Spar convenience shops on the Island, has secured a twenty-year lease on the swimming pool, gym, and other leisure buildings. The lease does not cover the holiday homes, which will be continue to be hired out by a new company.

"All funds paid in respect of ground rents and service charges will be protected. A statement will be sent to all leaseholders in due course with details of how to pay in future," said Terry Prosser, director of the freehold operator. "Any deposits paid for holidays or parties will be honoured by the new company."

Isle of Wight Review is back!

Well, it's been a long time!

Too many other things on, and sadly IOW Review has been a casualty. To our loyal readers and visitors we can but sincerely apologise.

But the good news is that the Isle of Wight Review is back to stay.

As fate would have it we're off to Gurnard Pines tomorrow, two of us for the weekend and my wife and daughter for the week. I'm hoping to pay Rookley Country Park a visit at some point, most likely on Saturday evening.

If you enjoy this blog please help us to reboot it by sending us your news, comments and articles.

More soon...

A winter's weekend at Gurnard Pines

We've just spent our first weekend at Gurnard Pines, on the north coast of the Island near Cowes.

A week before Christmas the weather was never going to be good, but as the snow began to fall over London we feared the worst. However we arrived on the Island to discover that the snow clearly hadn't, and it remained that way until we left. Indeed on the Saturday and Sunday the sun was shining and there was a distinctly summery feeling in spite of the crisp cold outside of our our well-heated pine cabin.

Unlike many of the sites at which we've stayed, Gurnard Pines majors on leisure rather than nightlife. It boasts an amazingly spacious and well-equipped gym and a large and (at time of year anyway) very uncrowded swimming pool. The ladies' changing rooms have been refurbished to the point of luxury, and I was told the men's will follow suit shortly. After a workout or a swim one can relax at The Brasserie, at which one can buy coffee, alcoholic beverages and some quite classy food.

We were fortunate to be allocated one of the pine lodges, which are modern, spacious and extremely comfortable. We noticed some more basic chalets on site, but no caravans.

For those who like to relax over a beer in the evening it means a short walk into town once The Brasserie closes at 9.00pm. We found a nice little free house called The Portland Inn, where on the Friday night a local two-piece band entertained.

Gurnard Pines enjoys a good reputation, and we left resolving to return and see what it is like in the warmer months.

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.

Island options for the approaching winter season

With blogs being used more and more by people looking for travel resources, making sure that people are aware of the opportunities that the Isle of Wight offers is important.

That said, an Isle of Wight hotel can make for a great getaway, either for a weekend or a longer trip. There’s plenty to do on the island; you’re not going to be able to see everything that might interest you. But with a decent, comfortable base of operations, you’ll be sure of seeing that much more, and hopefully enjoy it more too.

There are alternatives for Isle of Wight accommodation, but with winter approaching, camping and caravans are looking less appealing. Holiday cottages though, such as those offered by Gurnard Pines, will still offer warm, cosy places to stay.

Of course, one of the most important things to bear in mind whilst looking for somewhere is how you’ll reach it. Deciding whether you’ll bring a car to the island, and what form of transport you’ll use to get there (ferry, hovercraft or catamaran) are all important decisions as well.

With luck, somebody reading this will find it helpful, and they’ll shortly be stepping off a ferry (or hovercraft or catamaran) to discover the island for themselves.

This article was donated by Artavia.

Gurnard Pines anyone?

We've just booked up through The Sun for the weekend before Christmas and this time we've been allocated Gurnard Pines, on the north coast of the Island.

This will be the first time well have been there, although it does look rather nice on the website - all pine lodges and bungalows. Not sure about the weather at that time of year though - more on this latest expedition anon.

Isle of Wight - Home of British Watersports

The Isle of Wight is not only home to a myriad of UV craving sun worshippers, it is also home to hundreds of wind surfers, kite surfers and even land yachters. The end of August marks the return of these thrill seekers to Yaverland's crystal crescent of sand on the Isle of Wight for the ‘White Air Festival'. This festival is currently Europe's largest extreme sporting event. Surf kayakers, mountain boarders, gravity racers and paramotor enthusiasts join this intrepid bunch for a week of partying and competitions.

You might think that these sports are only for the young men and women with spiked, dyed and primped strands of hair, tattoos of every variation and clothes that seem a few sizes too large, but the fact of the matter is, these sports are enjoyed by people from every age group and ability and they are there not only to compete, but to have fun in an almost community atmosphere. When you are tired and need a respite from the competitions, a grassy hilltop overlooking the competitions one can find a myriad of tents that are filled with bars, live bands, tune spinning DJs, stalls and arenas.

If the view out to the ocean is clear of windsurfers and the water is calm and undulating, you can turn your attention to the mountain boarders who are proficient in daredevil style jumps on exceedingly steep ramps. If you wish to look to a smaller version of this sport, you may want to peek into the skate ramp tent, where you can take a respite from the sun. All of these sports are going on simultaneously in every area around, be it on water or land. The commentators are fun and clever and are extremely entertaining in themselves.

If you are tired of being a spectator and would like to get your feet wet either literally or figuratively speaking, most of these sports offer sessions geared for the newcomer. They are always a big draw and it is a wonderful way for the sports to pull in new enthusiasts. You may find yourself in some interesting or embarrassing positions in your attempt to recreate what you have seen throughout the event, but it's all in fun and every one of those participants were new to it at one time or another and will know just exactly what you're going through, they will cajole you through your perceived perils and teach you how to interact with the sport in a more skilled way.


This article was written on behalf of Gurnard Pines a Isle of Wight Holiday Parks perfect for taking an Isle of Wight Holiday. It is reproduced with acknowledgements to Jainsachin Articles Directory.

Great beaches on the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is a beautiful place, and there's a lot to do there. One of the things that's a favourite of travellers and tourists, though, is to go to the beach. If you're going to be spending a lot of time on the beach, Sandown is among the best choices. The beaches there are very beautiful and they are unspoiled in many ways, so walking along them can be quite an experience. The white sand is the main attraction, but there is a pier there, as well, with amusements. Adults and children alike can have fun on this boardwalk and still enjoy the unspoiled areas of beach. Breweries and many other things are on the Isle of Wight, too, which is also an English county.

There are more than one hundred and forty thousand people who call it home, but they will be happy to welcome you on your holiday adventure. The Isle of Wight has many unspoiled areas along with its beaches, and the countryside overall is amazing, so it's something that you shouldn't miss during your stay. Ocean ferries take you between the mainland and the Isle of Wight, so it's easy for you to get there with no work involved.

Once you get there, you can really relax, because Isle of Wight breaks are some of the best that the UK has to offer. The restaurants, the beaches, and the accommodations are not easy to forget, and they keep people coming back to the Isle of Wight again and again, no matter how many times they've already been to a particular area or seen a particular attraction - and that's especially true of the beaches. Many places have nice beaches, but the area near Sandown, with all of that white sand, is really exquisite. People love to come there with their special someone, with their children, or just with their family or friends. Some come alone, just to be part of nature and at peace for a little while. There are so many miles of coastline and beach that you can get the solitude that you crave or you can spend time with others. The choice is really up to you, and the Isle of Wight offers you both options. It's a great way to keep visitors interested in the area and keep them coming back for more of the beauty of the Isle of Wight each time they take a holiday.


This article was written on behalf of Gurnard Pines a Isle of Wight Holiday Parks perfect for taking an Isle of Wight Holiday. It is reproduced with acknowledgements to Jainsachin Articles Directory.