WEST WIGHT – Restaurants & Activities
West Wight, on the Western side of the Isle of Wight is a peaceful haven of dramatic coastal scenery, rolling countryside and charming seaside villages. Visitors flock to the iconic chalk stacks known as The Needles , where breathtaking views stretch across the Solent, and to the historic Needles Lighthouse perched just offshore. The colourful sands of Alum Bay, scenic walks along the Tennyson Trail, and quiet beaches at Freshwater and Colwell Bay make this area perfect for hiking, photography, and relaxing by the sea. With its slower pace and stunning sunsets, West Wight offers an authentic and tranquil escape from the everyday. For those looking for adventure, Compton Bay is the surfers go to, and just along the road, there’s coasteering and paragliding at Freshwater too, plus a scenic golf course up on the hill.
YARMOUTH is a lovely little old fashioned harbour town, with a few interesting shops and some great restaurants. Sit out in the stylish garden overlooking the sea at the quirky classical George Hotel and enjoy fabulous food and service. At On The Rocks you can cook your own supper on a hot stone. Or try The Terrace, really fantastic food with gorgeous outdoor heated pods up on the deck overlooking the ferry and harbour, or cosy indoors. Walk along the long pier for great views across the Solent. The old railway station has recently been transformed into a cool cafe/restaurant called Off the Rails, with great food and a lovely walk along the estuary after ! You can hire bikes next door to here too – including electric bikes, from Wight Cycle Hire.co.uk. Great service or they even deliver to us if you need ! The small and cosy Red Lion at the back of Yarmouth is a good end to a walk around the estuary with excellent local food.
One of our favourite walks is at Headon Warren, TOTLAND, a dramatic and unforgettable coastal walk with scenic views across the Solent. You can enjoy a well deserved cream tea at Warren Farm afterwards. The Island Alpaca centre has just started running treks nearby too, with their friendly Alpacas.
Visit the iconic and spectacular NEEDLES at the western tip of the Island. Walk up to the historic Old Battery (National Trust), explore wartime tunnels and spectacular views . Down below is Alum Bay, families will love the chairlift, beach access and seasonal exciting RIB rides around the Needles .
Between Yarmouth and Freshwater is the lovely sandy COLWELL. BAY – with the very cool hip beach restaurant The Hut, booking essential. It’s great for swimming in the sea right in front of it, as there’s a lovely sandy bottom. Big sandy beach to the right too, and cafe and beach essentials shop. There’s also a scenic walk along to nearby Totland Bay – or you can swim it !
There are many wonderful walks from Freshwater up over the downs and cliffs, including the famous Tennyson Down, with fabulous views. When you come down again there is a great little cafe called the Piano Café with great food and coffee.
At FRESHWATER BAY is the newly upgraded Albion Hotel, smart contemporary décor and good food, with restaurant right on the seawall. Also in the Bay is a cool double decker bus bar, summer months only. And sometimes the Slomo sauna. Freshwater beach offers watersports including coasteering – jumping off cliffs and exploring caves and coastline; kayak hire and safaris.
Just along the road from Freshwater is the fantastic Tapnell Farm, with loads of great activities indoor and outdoors for all ages, including a climbing wall, zorbing, kids jumping pillow, football golf, indoor playbarn, animals; and a really barn cafe & restaurant called The Cow Co, with great food and with farm shop alongside too. And a fantastic giant inflatable Aqua Park has just opened there on their lake. In the winter you can cold swim there and cosy up their innovative floating Slomo sauna. There are also new indoor Padel and Pickleball courts here.
COMPTON BAY is the Island’s best surfing beach. With a good sandy beach, great rollers, and up in the carpark is an icecream van and great wood fired pizza van (wightwoodpizza.co.uk) some evenings.
WEST WIGHT ACTIVITIES
TAPNELL AQUA PARK – CLIMBING – PARAGLIDING – WALKING – KAYAKING – COASTEERING – RIB RIDES – SURFING – SAUNA – GOLF
RESTAURANTS
THE HUT – THE GEORGE – THE TERRACE – ON THE ROCKS – OFF THE RAILS – THE COW – THE ALBION
www.isleofwighttreehouse.com