From the minute you pass through the gate and wend your way up the drive past the verdant six hole golf course you feel your cares start to fade away. The Priory Hotel is the jewel in the Island’s crown offering chic yet relaxed accommodation, both in the hotel and onsite in the converted Tithe Barns and one of their three luxury yurts.

Set within 60 acres of woodlands and landscaped gardens, the Hotel is the self styled ‘Country House Hotel by the Sea’ and it certainly lives up to its own ego. The Hotel is a medley of beautifully restored and decorated buildings combining Tudor and Georgian architecture, while its grounds boast a golf course, private beach, tennis courts, croquet and outdoor swimming pool.

Guests may even arrive by helicopter if desired, with the required coordinates for the hotel’s helipad available to ensure safe arrival.

The hotel’s history is a long and prestigious one, built upon the site of a Monastery pre dating the Doomsday Book, the oldest surviving buildings at the Priory Bay Hotel date from about 1100, and are believed to have been part of the original Priory Farm. The imposing Tithe Barn, though now in ruin, was originally constructed in the 13th century and reconstructed in 1749.

On arrival you enter under a 14th century portal, before checking in and being shown to your room, all of which have their own distinctive character and are superbly decorated with a mix of styles and eclectic furniture; both antique and new.

For the ultimate experience opt for a Principal room with roll top free standing bath at the foot of the bed, or if you are visiting with children, family rooms are available and a babysitter can be arranged to allow you to escape down to the restaurant for dinner.

Dining is an absolute must when visiting the Priory Bay with all tastes catered for.  The gastronomic experience has entered a whole new phase with the arrival of Head Chef Olly Stephens in 2012. Having completed his apprenticeship at the Priory Bay, Olly returns to the hotel hot from 9 years globe trotting at some of the worlds best restaurants from the Michelin starred restaurants Roussillon in London, and Hotel de Crillon in Paris and most recently at 2 starred Noma in Copenhagen.

For a formal dining experience, the Regency-muralled Island Room showcases Head Chef Olly’s talents with an exciting and innovative tasting menu.

Or try the more relaxed brasserie-style Priory Oyster, which specialises in fresh fish and seafood – eat in or move out through the restaurant’s French windows  onto the terrace. On a sunny eve you can creep out onto the terrace and enjoy an aperitif while looking out to sea, or on those hot summer nights, why not explore the grounds and slope off down to the private beach with a bottle of something chilled to watch the sunset?

Whether popping in for a light lunch alfresco on the terrace, grabbing a delicious sandwich or opting for the full tasting menu experience all the dishes are well conceived and beautifully balanced. A myisleofwight favourite is the Priory High Tea – but substitute the champagne with a Hendrix Gin to accompany the cucumber and juniper sandwiches – yum.

The Priory Bay is the essence of country house chic, having retained many of its original features, it is a place of huge personality. Whether playing croquet on the lawn, taking a dip in the pool or relaxing  in one of the drawing rooms, the ambience, coupled with the friendly and engaging staff, make you feel so at home you may never want to leave.

Godshill, The Taverners Pub

From the picturesque village of Godshill there is a very pretty walk through fields, beech and bluebell woods to Appuldurcombe and back. The starting point is Godshill Car Park opposite Griffin Public House (grid reference 530816 on the OS Explorer 29 map). Walk through the woods bearing left. Turn right when you reach the track and you will end up at the imposing Freemantle Gate, once the gateway to Appuldurcombe House. This is a fairly easy walk but it can be a bit muddy. Back at Godshill bear left down the High Street to find the great Taverners Pub with its traditional oak panelled interior and extended restaurant area at the back.  It’s a family friendly pub offering great dishes made from largely organic, local seasonal food and has enduring popularity among the locals and holidaymakers alike. It’s also highly recommended in the AA guide, Alistair Sawday and Michelin. A play area in the back garden is very useful for keeping children entertained.

Top Tip: Pre-book your Sunday Lunch

Newchurch, The Garlic Farm & The Pointer Inn

Just 15 mintue drive from the capital town Newport on the Isle of Wight, is the pretty of village of Newchurch, which is home to the 11th Century “All Saints” church and an 18th Century pub. The ‘Pointer Inn’ has won Dining Pub of the Year 2 years running and serves excellent home cooked food and real ales. Newchurch is home to the extremely popular Garlic Farm who have been growing delicious Isle of Wight garlic for over 30 years. The Garlic Farm Cafe serves amazing food with locally sourced produce wherever possible. From the Garlic Farm you can take the ‘Farm walk’ and stroll around the well-stocked fishing lakes. You can pick up a map, which includes some of the amazing heritage of the site, for 20p in the Garlic Farm shop. Trails are around the fields and through the woodland, with garlic and asparagus growing alongside you, and in the summer one field holds a maize maze.

Top Tip: Stock up on all things garlic in the garlic farm shop

Tennyson Trail, Freshwater, Dandelion Café

This wonderful walk runs from the capital town Newport to Alum Bay via Brighstone and Freshwater. But you can cherry pick what sections to walk if fancy something shorter and a bit less arduous. For the full on rambler, the walk starts at Carisbrooke, near the fascinating Carisbrooke Castle where Charles I was imprisoned. You can enjoy the new Princess Beatrice Garden and the tranquil chapel at this fine historical attraction. You then head through the beautiful Brighstone Down and Brighstone Forest before arriving at the coast where there are splendid views over Freshwater towards Alum Bay and the Needles. The final section takes you through the coastal Freshwater Bay Golf course and then through Tennyson down before finishing at the delightful Alum Bay. This is quite a challenging walk with several climbs through the downs, but there are terrific views of the Island to enjoy throughout. Nestled at Freshwater Bay, is the fabulous Dandelion Café, with its fresh roasted coffee, light refreshments and tasty homemade lunches. You can also cool off in the café’s outdoor swimming pool and soak up the panoramic views before reaching the end of the trail.

Top Tip: Make a pit stop at Tennyson Monument to savour those amazing views.

Certain beaches are better for getting out on your board: the beaches around the south coast are more popular with surfers as the waves in the English Channel are far larger than those in the Solent. Surfers do use Yaverland, Sandown through to Shanklin and Ventnor but it is Brook and Compton that are probably the most popular beaches for surfing, along with Freshwater Bay. Kitesurfers tend to congregate at Yaverland, Ryde and Brook, depending on the wind direction and for windsurfing Bembridge and the south east coast seem to be used most often, although Totland and Colwell Bay are also popular.

If you need a few lessons first then there are many reputable teachers who can help you learn the techniques:

Wight Waters

Wight Waters is on Dunroamin beach between Sandown and Shanklin and offers surfing and bodyboarding, windsurfing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding (SUP) and sailing courses. An ideal location for learning watersports, with shallow waters and a sandy beach, windsurfing courses range from taster sessions to RYA Advanced instructor courses, surfing and kayaking are given in beginners, intermediate and advanced courses and SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding) can be learned in an hour taster or a half day session.

Billed as ‘the Isle of Wight’s coolest watersports centre’ Wight Waters certainly does have an impressive team. Started by Ian and Ceri Williams back in 1984, Wight Waters is now run by Ceri’s stepson Scott Gardner who has competed in national and international surfing and windsurfing championships and his brother Ross who was crowned European Formula Windsurfing Champion 2012. Aaron Williams is also a professional windsurfer and former champion, and now looks after their retail shop Earth, Wind and Water in Shanklin where all equipment can be purchased.

iSurf

iSurf specialise in teaching surfing and stand up paddle boarding (SUP) on the whole range of different beaches that the Isle of Wight has to offer as they are a fully mobile surf school. Run by Surfing GB qualified surf coach Chris Mannion, who has been riding waves (and wiping out!) for nearly 20 years, Chris started teaching surfing on the Isle of Wight at just 16 years of age so is confident he knows the best and safest surfing spots the Island has to offer.

iSurf provides tuition for both adults and children from the age of eight and surfing can be taught in groups or on a one to one basis. When you get to the beach iSurf will kit you up with an Xcel wetsuit to keep you from getting cold in the water and you use Alder’s range of soft surfboards that are made of a material similar to a body board. iSurf are also able to film and photograph your lesson so you can watch and see yourself surfing.

UKSA

From its campus and marina in Cowes, UKSA’s team of experienced and fully-qualified instructors provide a comprehensive range of ocean-based training; making sailing and watersports accessible to everyone.

There are courses in everything from kayaking, windsurfing and kite surfing, moving up through dinghy and keelboat sailing to yachting in which you can take skippering, yachtmaster and cruising qualifications. As a registered youth charity, UKSA is committed to inspiring children to get out on the water and try new experiences with courses in kayaking, keelboating and dingy sailing along with windsurfing and kitesurfing. As well as running school residential and day trips, special watersports programmes are run during the school summer holidays giving those as young as eight the opportunity to earn recognised qualifications.

Windstalker

If the wind is up and the conditions are right Windstalker Island Kitesports are likely to be on the waves around the Isle of Wight teaching others how to kitesurf with confidence. You just ring Jane and Eric Harris at Windstalker to book a lesson and they’ll tell you where to be and meet you there with all the kit.

Eric Harris started off as a land-boarder and then took up kitesurfing around nine years ago and is now a very experienced teacher of both sports. He’s especially good with more advanced students, teaching tricks and different moves in serious one to one sessions, but equally good with new students. Jane has been kite surfing for over four years and is great with newcomers.

Once you’ve got the bug you can buy your own kit as Windstalker are Cabrinha stockists – they can do all kite repairs too. Windstalker can also store your equipment for you if you’re an Island visitor and bring it to the beach for you when you come down, which is really handy.

A bit of background…

Now in its 82nd year, the annual Round the Island Race, is a one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight.  Each year over 1,700 boats and around 16,000 sailors take part making it one of the largest yacht races in the world (and the fourth largest participation sporting event in the UK after the London Marathon and the Great North and South Runs!).

Competitors  (world famous sailors to families) come from all over the UK, other parts of Europe and as far away as the USA to follow the 50 nautical mile course round the Isle of Wight.  Most boats will take hours to finish the course but the record set by the professionals is 3hrs 53mins 05secs for a monohull boat (set by Mike Slade on ICAP Leopard in 2008), and 3hrs 08mins 29secs for a multihull boat (set by Francis Joyon in 2001).

On the day…

The Race starts at 5am with the biggies (technical term for fast yachts) going first heading west out of Cowes past Yarmouth to head round the Needles and along the back of the Wight. Split into eleven separate groups leaving every 10 minutes, a steady stream of yachts (getting progressively smaller) leave from Cowes until 6.40am.

Top viewing spots…

5am – 6.40am

Cowes – Cowes seafront obviously offers the best possible views of all the yachts setting off on this mammoth race. Why not breakfast at The Little Gloster in Gurnard and sit back and watch as the water in front of you becomes a moving sea of colour?

6.30am – 9am

Fort Victoria – There are always lots of people on the grass and up on the roof at Fort Victoria watching as the views to the North Island become eclipsed in a fog of brightly coloured sails. Verdi’s Café, or The Boathouse just along the beach would be a great place to sit and enjoy some breakie as the boats race by. Or further on round Sconce Point is Colwell – perfect to grab some breakfast from Captains Cabin or a lovely coffee at The Hut.

7am – 9.30am

The Needles – For a breathtaking view and watching the boats as they attempt to make the best time possible round the Needles, high up on the top of the downs at the Needles Battery is a great place to catch the action. Take a thermos and breakfast picnic!

7.45am – 11am

The Back of the Wight  – All along the cliffs and beaches from Compton to Chale offer great views of the yachts sailing by. The fleet need to move further offshore here to ensure deep water so it is best to have a bit of height – The Sun Inn at Hulverstone has a beer garden that offers unparalleled views down to the sea.

8.30am – 12.30pm

St Catherine’s Down -  With unprecedented views across the whole Island at any time, this is a wondrous vantage point to watch the boats sail by. Just a short drive around the coast, on the road that makes it way down to St Catherine’s Lighthouse (another great spot perched on the most southerly point of the Island), is The Buddle Inn a great local pub with outdoor tables offering a sneaky view down to the channel. Great for a coffee for the early risers catching the first of the fleet or even better for a spot of lunch.

8.45am – 1pm

Ventnor – Just along the coast the Esplanade in Ventnor is always a good spot to sit and watch the boats with the Spyglass pub being a great place to base yourself. Or even take a blanket and lie on the beach catching a few rays between boat spotting with the bins.

9.30am – 3pm

Culver Down  – between Sandown and Bembridge is a high vantage point to sit and maybe enjoy some delicious breads or cakes fromthe Bakery in Bembridge, perfect for a picnic lunch. Or try the Baywatch on the Beach in neighbouring St Helens – ideally located right on the beach looking out past the forts towards the channel.

Priory Bay – For those of you who might fancy a glass of something bubbly while watching the boats go by then a stop at the Priory Bay Hotel is always a treat. With a beautiful Terrace looking directly out over the channel or stroll down to the private beach for an uninterrupted view.

10.30am -4.30pm

Seaview & Ryde – The first of the fleet will come round past Seaview and head for Ryde from 1030 onwards and now the race really is on.  To feel part of the action try The Boathouse in Seaview right on the front and serving fantastic food or try The Bay Grill in Ryde again located on the waters edge.

East Cowes – Anyone wanting to see the boats cross the finish line should venture to East Cowes. Stop off at the new Waitrose on the way and grab some picnic fillers and while away the afternoon listening to the boats go by.

If you come to the Island during the Walking Festival in May or the Walking Weekend in October you’re in for a treat, with over 270 walks to choose from in May and 60 more in October. More than 20,000 walkers descend onto the Island for the Walking Festival and there is something for everyone in the programme, from short strolls to an energetic 24 hour circumnavigation of the Island. Or cover the entire Island over a three day period on a Beaches, Bars and Blisters walk around the coastal paths with local author David Yates.

A chalk ‘backbone’ of downland stretches almost unbroken across the Island, affording fantastic views for those who choose to walk it. Every year a sponsored ‘Walk the Wight’ follows this ridge from east to west with money raised going to the local Earl Mountbatten Hospice.

It is perhaps the westernmost section of the Island that is the most unspoilt in terms of scenery, and if you make your base in the south or the west of the Island there are many lovely walks between these points. The western coast is superb: rugged coastline that stretches from the majestic tumbling cliffs around Blackgang in the south to the monolithic white chalk Freshwater cliffs in the west. In between lie miles of sandy and pebble beaches, stewn with fossil finds. One of the best views on the Island must be from the Viewpoint car park at Blackgang, where you can see the entire stretch of the south west coast. Gently rolling fields sloping from the downland to the north, gently indented orange cliffs with blue bays that culminate in the bright white cliffs at Freshwater and the Needles in the far distance.

Stay a while…

Base yourself at the self catering cottages at Tennyson’s former home, The Farringford, in Freshwater Bay and you can walk the entire coastline if you wish or try Weston Manor, just up the road, which has superb B&B accommodation and is within easy reach of the Warren, another wonderful walk at to fully explore the western end of the Island.

Chale Bay Farm nestles near to the coastal path on the Island’s southern side, or you might like to take a room at the Enchanted Manor for romantic walks around St Catherine’s Point, the Isle of Wight’s southernmost point. Ventnor is just around the corner and boasts two top hotels in the Hambrough and The Royal Hotel, plus boutique B&B Ocean View for lofty views down to the bay. You can walk right to the top of Ventnor downs from the town if you’re feeling fit with footpaths taking you up and down this terraced town. The landslip towards Luccombe is a particularly lush walk to take in the summer time – walk along from Ventnor to Bonchurch beach and then up into the green canopy where you can find the ‘Devil’s Chimney and the ‘Wishing Seat’.

Over in the east of the Island looms Culver Cliff, another great walking destination, and beneath it the reclaimed Yar estuary is a RSPB reserve with a wealth of wildlife to discover. Bembridge Harbour and the sand dunes of the Duver are perfect for discovery on foot and for a luxurious base, with its own beach, The Priory Bay Hotel at St Helen’s is the perfect place to stay.

In May (18th & 19th) this year there is a weekend packed with cycling events to try from the Wight Riviera Ride and Beach-to-Beach ride for families, to the Wight Riviera Sportive and the Big Wight Enduro for the more hardened cyclist, or even the Isle of Wight Randonee, a 50km or 100km cycle ride.

The family orientated Wight Riviera Ride is a brilliant day’s cycling on the Island – and traffic free. The 25km circuit loops from the lovely Yarmouth Harbour front to the beach at Freshwater bay and back along peaceful country lanes, all on closed roads. So you and your family can peddle away with the roads just open to cyclists making an enjoyable and safe day out. For a fun, free ride the Beach-to-Beach is a lovely 5km cycle from Yarmouth to Freshwater Bay along the pretty causeway path.

For the more challenging cyclist try the Wight Riviera Sportive, which includes the 25km closed road known as the Avant Loop, and you can pick from 163km, 121km and 65km routes options.  From the outset there is a sense of excitement as everybody queues up for the start from the picturesque Yarmouth Harbour quay. The traffic free Avant Loop takes you past many iconic landmarks such as the Needles and through to picturesque Freshwater Bay before you climb up the coastal Military Road to Compton Down. You’ll pass some of the best sea views in the country.

For the mountain biking aficionado the Big Wight Enduro takes you on a tour of the Islands finest off road riding with anything from 25km to 90km routes. From the base in Yarmouth, you’ll climb up onto Afton Down and Brighstone Forest, before striking out into the heart of the Island and off the highest points in the south eastern corner.

The Isle of Wight Randonee is a yearly cycling event that takes place on the Sunday of the early May bank holiday weekend. It consists of two rides – a 100 km round the Island Route, and a 55 km Ride that covers the East side of the Isle of Wight. The largest event of its kind on the South Coast of England the race attracts around 1500 cyclists each year.

The Island has plenty of great places to stay, but if you’re looking for a great deal then the West Bay Club is perfectly located for the Wight Riviera events weekend. Just a few minutes from Yarmouth ferry and the event base, the West Bay Club is ideally located. It’s also offers much need relaxation and leisure in the spa, sauna and steam room after a hard day on the bike. There’s also an indoor heated swimming pool, gym, tennis, squash, badmington and an on-site physiotherapist for any aching limbs! Prices from £61.50 per person per night, includes ferry return for a car with up to 6 passengers and a bike wash and lube service.

The Orchards Holiday Park is another great place to stay if you fancy caravaning or camping.  A  five star park nestled into the West Wight countryside near to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with stunning panoramic views of the downs and glimpses of the Solent shores there is plenty to explore right on your doorstep .

Easily that is unless you have kids.

Kids, like dogs, need exercise (well so do we all, but I don’t start bouncing off the walls after a mere few hours inside ), and so reluctantly we decided to go for a walk on the beach. At least it would be less exposed to the strong, bitingly cold, north-easterly winds.

Fifteen layers later we set off to Atherfield beach, just down the road, where we knew we’d be a bit sheltered and be able to get some (very) fresh air and exercise.

And, as usual, we had fun.

Somehow it is impossible for us to go to the beach, any beach, in virtually any weather and not have a good time.

Maybe it’s all those negative ions. Sea air is full of healthy negative hydrogen ions – charged particles found abundantly in sea spray and concentrated in fresh air – which improve our ability to absorb oxygen by neutralizing damaging free radicals (positive ions).

Or maybe it’s just the fact that the kids relax, get inventive, and have a great big natural space to explore and play in. It doesn’t matter if they’ve been to a particular beach loads of times before, it’s an ever changing environment and there’s always something different to do.

This time the pebbles had been sculpted into huge slopes, perfect, as Fynn discovered, for sliding down headfirst backwards. This proved highly entertaining for us all – the kids doing it on repeat, us laughing.

Next up, Fynn discovered pole-vaulting off the slopes with two bits of baton that acted like ski poles. It seemed to work best if he shouted “I love Kung Fu!!” just before he launched into the air.

(You’ll understand this better if you’ve seen Kung Fu Panda.)

But the piece de resistance of this particular outing, was the discovery of the perfect rock.

Worn super smooth, this foot long grey stone is narrow and one end and wide at the other.

Picked up by Joe because of it’s resemblance to a (rounded, and excessively large) stone age tool/axe head, it passed the “shall-i-take-it-home-test”, with flying colours as for some reason we all loved it. So it was carried along the beach, up the steps, up the hill and back to the car along with lots of lengths of dry timber (enough for at least three months more kindling wood).

But it is here at home that “the rock” has come into it’s own, for Joe placed it on top of our wood-burner where it lies, brilliantly absorbing heat, and turning itself into the Hot Rock.

Superior to the hot water bottle, as it dispenses with the need for either water or bottles, this ergonomic delight warms hands, feet, backs whilst simultaneously imparting a kind of magic of-the-earth vibe.

So whilst it’s somewhat depressing that we need such an object a couple of days before the start of British Summer Time, it’s comforting to know that nature has once again, provided exactly what we need, when we need it.

We were pretty excited to see the emergence of a few daffodils in the second week of March, only to wake up the next day to find they had disappeared under huge snowdrifts.

The heavy snowfall and high winds had sculpted the back garden into perfect waves and covered the windows in white blankets.

What’s a surfer to do? Why get the mini-surfer out of course and stick him in the perfect barrel!

The road to school was blocked with snowdrifts that you could’ve lost a double decker bus in, and the barn door to my studio had disappeared. With the kids off of school for two days, straight on the back of a long cold weekend, we had to layer up and get out for a walk.

This January the kids had sledged and “snow-manned” to their hearts content, so now it was our turn. Living on the “back of the Wight”, we knew the wind would’ve created some pretty spectacular drifts up on Blackgang hill, and that not many people would get to see them, so we grabbed the body boards and braved freezing winds to get to the top, passing several abandoned cars on our way.

It was probably about three whole minutes before the kids began moaning, something about walking being no fun, and wanting to play. Reminding them of the hours we’d frozen whilst watching them hurl themselves down snowy hills a month back, we marched on.

They shouldn’t have worried though because nature had created a gigantic snow playground for them at the Viewpoint car park. The drifts came to the top of my thigh, which meant the kids could get lost in them. The next hour was spent jumping through drifts, sledging and sliding down them and generally mucking about in deep snow.

It was cold, it was fun – hilarious even, in a slap-stick kind of way – as once again we played in a strangely transformed landscape.

Today, two weeks on, I watched yet more snowflakes fall past our window, as I sat inside my small front room wrestling huge festival flags. The freezing weather has forced me to decamp from our off-grid, non–insulated studio to work at home for a few days.

Snow – I’m over it!

C’mon spring, show your face!

1. Picnic

With half the Island an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) there are vast swathes that are perfect picnicking territory, from miles of stunning coastline and enchanted woods to glorious downs and verdant rolling fields. Our favourites are Tennyson Down in Freshwater, Brighstone Forest, Chillterton Down in Gatcombe, Steephill Cove in Ventor and Newtown Creek in Newtown.

2. BBQ spots

You can’t beat a beach BBQ and with miles of beautiful coastline to choose from we’ve picked our best spots. For a distinctly Mediterranean flavour head to the curved headland at Totland Bay; for stunning cliff and sea views pitch up at the miles of sandy stretches along Brook Beach and Compton Bay and for a taste of the Caribbean the clear blue waters at Colwell Bay tick all the boxes.

3. Fairy Walk

The Island is peppered with fantastic forests and within these enchanted wooded glades there’s an underworld of hidden fairies to be found. The best places to discover them are Brightstone Forest, Parkhurst Forest, the forest behind Fort Victoria and Mill Copse in Yarmouth. Be careful to tread quietly.

4. Rock pooling

You can while away hours of fun foraging around the beach in the rock pools which are exposed at low tide where a multitude of plants and animals live under the water. Remember to bring a bucket, a net and footwear to protect against the many prickly things lurking around. Best spots are Freshwater Bay, Compton beach, Bembridge beach, St Helen’s beach and Steephill Cove in Ventnor.

5. Pooh Sticks

The famous game invented by the much-loved fictional character of Winnie-The-Pooh. Sticks are dropped on one side of the bridge and then raced beneath the bridge, with the first one visible on the other side of the bridge the winner. The Island has its very own annual Poo Stick race held in Shorwell. Other great places for mucking about with pooh sticks are the stream at Winkle St in Calbourne, on the riverbank at Brook stream, and on the bridge in Yarmouth.

6. Kite flying

With so much outdoor space on the Island and virtually no built up areas, the sheer landscape here makes kiting such an enjoyable pastime for both adults and children. You can pretty much handpick where to go on a windy day.  The Island even hosts an annual Up and Down Kite Festival. The best kiting spots to fly are either up high such as on Bembridge and Chillerton downs or on low-level expansive beaches such as Sandown and Compton.

7. Rope-swing spots

There can be nothing more enjoyable that going on a walk and stumbling across a rope-swing that some kindhearted soul(s) made an enormous effort to erect for everyone else to enjoy. The best spots to encounter those magical swing moments are Mill Copse in Yarmouth, Fort Victoria Forest in Norton, Parkhurst Forest in Newport and Beech Copse in Godshill.

8. Den-building spots

What better way to spend your time than foraging in the forest and testing your den building skills. Ignite your imagination and your creative ability to source natural materials. Branches, twigs, grass – everything becomes a useful building material. The most impressive dens you’ll ever find are hidden in the middle of Parkhurst Forest in Newport. With so much forestland on the Island take your pick – our favourites are Parkhurst, Brighstone Forest and Mill Copse.

9. Crabbing

For a home-made crabbing kit, you’ll need one of those nets you get with washing powder tablets, a little bit of bacon, a weight and a roll of string; drop the lot in the sea (bag filled with bacon and weight tied onto string, obviously!) and the kids will have hours of endless old fashioned fun! The Island boasts some 15 award winning beaches and many of these at low tide turn into a hive of activity for crabbing. Great crabbing spots are Bembridge Ledge in Whitecliff Bay, Bembridge beach, Freshwater Bay sandy beach, Ventnor Bay beach, Yarmouth pier and off the seawall at Cowes.

10. Fossil-hunting

The soft clay cliffs around Compton and Brook have given the Island its reputation as the richest source in Europe of dinosaur remains. At Compton beach towards Hanover Point, at low tide you can spot the footprints of the dinosaur Iguanodon, captured forever in the form of three-toed casts on huge sandstone boulders. Also impressive here is the Pine Raft, the fossilised remains of a forest. Once they see all this, pebble sifting for small fossils is a winner for most kids.

Tennyson’s Monument/The Highdown Inn

Wild and windy or cold and clear, the walk from Freshwater Bay up to Tennyson’s Monument is one you mustn’t miss on a visit to the Isle of Wight. You can imagine Tennyson himself tramping across the cliff tops wearing his long black cape and big brimmed hat as this was one of his most favourite places to roam.

Entry to the pathway up to his monument is via a lane that is 200 yards or so on the left up the main road west to Alum Bay, Gate Lane. There is a small car park here that costs £1 per hour – or a larger car park in Freshwater Bay – and the bus stops at the end of the lane.

It’s a fairly steep climb up to the monument from here, but you are rewarded with wonderful views of the west coast of the Island that become more expansive the higher you climb. Once at the top the whole panorama of the western end of the Isle of Wight, the Solent and the mainland open up in front of you – an amazing sight, especially on a clear, sunny day.

But you don’t have to walk all the way to the Needles. Carry on walking and about half way to the iconic chalk stacks is a beacon to your right that is lit for occasional celebrations. It also marks the lane down to the Highdown Inn where you can get a hearty pub lunch in their bar, which is warmed by an enormous open fire.

Then you’ll be ready to tackle the rest of the walk to the Needles, or you could opt to meander back to the Bay where you could discover the rocky beach and its hidden caves and the Dandelion Cafe.

Compton Bay/The Sun Inn

Compton Beach is a great favourite for Isle of Wight walkers, surfers and fossil hunters. Make sure it’s not high tide if you’re going to walk here as in the winter the beach all but disappears, but if this is the case you can still walk along the cliff top path and look down on the crashing waves below.

Walk east from here along to Brook Beach and then take the public footpath to the Sun Inn in Hulverstone. Or, if you have a car, it is only a few minutes to drive to this pretty thatched inn with far reaching views to the coast. Pheasant and local lamb are likely to be on the menu here and there is an open fire in the lounge.

After lunch you could wander up to the Longstone. Take the sunken tree lined pathway that runs up from Mottistone Manor (car park) to this ancient standing stone that marks the entrance to a former long barrow.

St Catherine’s Lighthouse/The Buddle Inn

A walk down to St Catherine’s Lighthouse and Rocken End beach is another favourite ramble and it’s wild in the winter months. If you are coming by car you have to park at the top of St Catherine’s Lane as signs will indicate that the road is closed to public traffic. But as a footpath it is open and as you walk down through the trees and around the corner the view of the lighthouse and the sea will open up in front of you.

It’s a pleasant walk down and a gentle climb back up, until you get to the steep bit at the top. You’ll be looking forward to a drink at the nearby Buddle Inn by this point by the open fire in the bar.

1. Horse Riding

The Island must be explored on horseback because it has literally hundreds of miles of bridleways and paths. There are a number of excellent riding schools offering sessions for adults and kids where you can mount up for the day.  Try Hill Farm Riding Stables in Freshwater, a family-run riding school with a range of horses and ponies from welsh section A’s to the magnificent thoroughbreds.

2. Fossil & dinosaur hunting

Imagine coming face to face with Baryonyx and Neovenator – albeit in tiny particles in fossil form. The Island is known worldwide for its dinosaur finds as more have been discovered here than anywhere else in Europe. So go on a fossil tour and tap into one of the richest sources of fossils and bones.

 3. Tree Climbing

For ages 8 upwards you can’t beat tree climbing to get the adrenalin pumping. Good Leaf are the Island’s specialists offering a unique opportunity to enjoy fantastic tree climbing in beautiful surroundings. Under full instruction and supervision you’ll be climbing like a monkey up through the branches and seeing the countryside from a new perspective.

 4. Sailing

Messing about in boats has always been fun, and the Isle of Wight Boating and Sailing Schools (UK) provide the perfect opportunity to do it safely and under supervision for the novice and beginner. Learn to sail packages and sailing-based activity holidays are available year round for all the family, plus summer sailing camps at the UK Sailing Academy.

 5. Kayaking & Canoe safaris

Glide along with the family on a canoe safari down the Western Yar. No previous experience is necessary to take part in exploring this beautiful and unspoilt area under the guidance of expert instructors and wildlife experts. Or try an adventure sea kayaking course and explore the cliffs and caves of the Island that are only accessibly by Kayak with Isle of Wight Sea Kayaking professionals.

 6. Archery

Archery might be an exciting and challenging Olympic sport but now the whole family can try it out with Isle of Wight Adventure Activities. Based in Freshwater, expert archery coaches are on hand to help you shoot with precision with top of the range Archery equipment. Different sizes cater for both the smaller and larger Archer, plus there are also right and left handed bows, so there’s no excuse.

 7. Mountain Biking

With miles of stunning cycle routes through nature reserves, over the downs and along wooded cycle, mountain biking on the Island is an absolute must.  Isle of Wight Adventure Activities offer mountain biking guides for all the family on high quality mountain bikes including tow along trailers so younger children can take part. Routes in the West Wight area are chosen based on the age and ability but all promise the best sights. You can also pick your own routes and hire bikes direct.

8. Surfing & Stand-up Paddle Boarding (SUP)

With the best waves for surfing or gliding through the water on a Stand-up Paddle Board (SUP) which is the fastest growing water activity,  you can be sure of having fun learning how to surf as a family.  There are many places to buy small surfboards and lessons ages start at 5 years old at Isle of Wight Adventure Activities. For children aged 8 upwards, there are also plenty of coastal inlets and rivers too to try Stand-Up Paddle Boarding – it’s very easy to get the hang of.

9. Mountain Boarding

Fancy trying  rushing down a hillside on a board? Maybe getting to the stage where you can take on a few jumps? Mountain Boarding is great fun and exciting to learn, with all the family.  Isle of Wight Adventure Activities have two great locations and experts are on hand to help you and your children master the art. Trained staff can incorporate children of all ages and there are a few giggles along the way.

10. Climbing

Rock climbing – on the Isle of Wight?  The best rock climbing adventures on the Island is based at Sandown Rocks,  an ultra realistic 45ft high rock -climbing wall. The wall is designed to reflect the dramatic coloured sands of Alum Bay and the view from the top is superb, not to mention the sense of achievement. Suitable for all ages experienced instructors will ensure a hugely enjoyable and challenging day.

At spring tides at Compton Beach you can see the remains of the tug boat Carbon that hit the rocks in 1947 when the towing line snapped while she was being towed from Portland to Southampton for salvage. She was not worth anything in salvage so was left to rot and there is less of her to see every year.

Another tug, the Harry Sharman, foundered off Culver Cliff in 1970 during the Pacific Glory incident when attempts were being made to re-float the stricken oil tanker that burned off shore for many days. All on board the tug were saved but pieces of it still sit at the base of the chalk cliffs.

On Bembridge Ledge there is a very shallow channel called the Run, and where it exits the Ledge, off shore from the Crab and Lobster pub, you will find the wreck of the Empress Queen. In February 1916 this 370ft paddle steamer was off to collect troops from France when she hit the Ledge. The old Bembridge lifeboat was rowed out to her and saved all 116 people on board along with a dog and a cat. Before her demise she used to carry 2,000 passengers across the Channel at 21 knots but now she, like the Ledge, snares unwary sailors who are unfamiliar with these waters and she can be spied at low spring tides.

If you want to see the wreck of the Clarendon you only need go to the Wight Mouse Inn for a drink or meal as the pub was partially built from the timbers of the infamous ship that foundered in Chale Bay in 1836. Traveling back from St Kitts with a cargo of sugar, molasses and rum, the ship had 11 passengers and 17 crew but on the morning of 11^th October 1836 she hit the beach at Blackgang in a gale, rolled onto her side and broke up in less than 10 minutes. Local fisherman, John Wheeler, tied a rope round his waist, gave the end to a mate, and plunged into the surf, saving three crewmen. But everyone else, including a family with four daughters aged between nine months and eighteen, were drowned or killed by timbers in the pounding surf. Eighteen of the dead are buried in Chale churchyard.

The Sirenia was another terrible wreck as three lifeboat men were lost as well as two crew/passengers on the ship. On the morning of March 9, 1888 in dense fog, it sailed on to the rocks at Atherfield Edge and by the afternoon the Brighstone life boat had managed to save two women and two children but the coxswain Moses Munt was washed out to sea and killed and later the second coxswain Tom Cotton was also lost. The Brook Lifeboat was beaten back by the waves and her second coxswain Reuben Cooper was lost overboard as well. This terrible tragedy saw the Atherfield lifeboat being brought into service, and divers still find relics on her bones beneath the waves.

But perhaps the largest loss of life was sustained by the Mendi that went down in 1917, claiming the lives of 656 native men from South Africa who were on their way to dig trenches on the front line. Now a war grave, the men had never been to sea before and couldn’t swim. Bodies were washed up all over the south coast and yet no recognition was given to the tragedy at the time.

The wreck of the Mendi was found by local diver Martin Woodward 40 years ago. “It was apartheid at its worse,” said Martin. “I feel quite sad about it. The Queen unveiled a plaque to those who died in 1994 so they got their recognition in the end.”

Relics from all of these ships can be seen at Martin’s Shipwreck Centre and ‘Wreck and Rescue’ Lifeboat Museum at Arreton Old Village along with much, much more.

Blackgang Chine is one of the oldest theme parks in the country, if not the world. Ever since the original owner, Alexander Dabell, dragged a beached whale from the Needles to his newly opened Chine gardens in 1843, for everyone to see the enormous beast’s bleached bones, there have been people flocking to see the attractions on offer.

Nowadays there is so much more to see and do, with bits being added practically every year. Newer attractions such as the roller coaster ‘Cliff Hanger’ and the ‘Waterforce’ shutes are the most thrilling and adrenalin pumping activities that are on a par with larger amusement parks and a great hit with kids of all ages.

But it’s the oldies but goodies that everyone loves. The maze with its lofty viewing platform from which relatives and friends shout directions. The lifesize dinosaurs on the steep cliff walk who’ve had a new paint job this year – the blue Brontosaurus is an interesting colour combo. Those of a certain age remember Blue Peter covering their arrival back in the sixties.

The Crooked House has been moved a few times, because of subsequent cliff falls, since it was first installed in 1968, but Blackgang wouldn’t be Blackgang without it. Frontier Town must be the only place where you can buy a gun and shoot people – albeit with caps and while you’re pretending to be a cowboy/girl. It’s all so refreshingly non PC.

Walk a little further on and you find the brand new Fairy Castle and Fairyland, which, as everyone has just bought guns, is somewhat incongruously being defended from the battlements by hoards of tiny gunslingers. Little girls love the little fruity fairy homes below too.

Need more exercise? Then there is the giant Snakes and Ladders game next door with loads of steps to climb and slides to take you much faster back down to the bottom.

Want to be scared? Make sure you visit Rumpus Mansion with its eerie inhabitants. Or pay a visit to the dinosaur’s dinner with more monsters to terrify tiny tots.

The enormous fibreglass whale that you enter at your peril, being squirted with water for your troubles, is always full of children screaming with laughter. And Hell’s Mouth is another garish cavern for those who dare to crawl into it.  What’s not to like about being curious and scared in equal measure? You wouldn’t experience this on a computer screen.

But there is a large screen where you can taste The Wight Experience, a helicopter ride around the Island, and some parts are pretty exhilarating – especially as you climb the cliffs at Luccombe or race along the coastline, with the whirring of the helicopter in your ears.

The park also goes to some length to educate the visitor on the history of the surrounding area, the landslides and what might have been nearby in days of yore. A reconstruction of a Victorian sawmill, with the various trades associated with wood. Old steam traction engines and other ancient machinery that would have been used in the fields and local industry long ago.

Blackgang got its name from the local band of brigands who used to plunder the shipwrecks around this coast, so there is a smugglers cave to explore. But pirates have got in on the act too and a new pirate themed area opens next year. The lofty pirate themed Cross Bones Adventure Island playground that spans the walkways near the way out is very popular – how can those kids still have any energy?

And don’t forget the hall of distorting mirrors – another of the original attractions from the mid 1800s that everyone still loves.

Founded by the Adams family in 1971 as ‘The Flamingo Park’ this popular attraction was joined by General Manager, Jules Brittan, in 2009 who with Lorraine Adams has rebranded and renamed the attraction, bringing many more people through the gates to enjoy the experience. Meerkats, wallabies, Humboldt penguins, miniature pigs, otters, bunnies, guinea pigs and loads of different types of birds, including pelicans, are just some of the animals in the park. And in the new Tropical House all manner of reptiles, tropical fish and mini beasties can be seen – and many can be touched.

Getting up close and personal with the animals at Seaview Wildlife Encounter is the best part about the whole experience and it’s well worth signing up for one of the Wildlife Encounters before you come on your visit. Choose from a Wildest Date, for that special someone in your life, a Junior Wildlife Experience for your kids, a Meerkat Encounter, a Penguin Encounter or a combination of these. You might like to be a ‘Keeper for a Day’ if you’re mad about animals and hands-on birthday party encounters can also be arranged.

You do get a very intimate introduction to the wildfowl as soon as you walk in the gate as they are wandering all over the park without a care in the world. Don’t forget to buy corn to feed the birds and if you get there first thing in the morning they will mob you as soon as you enter and start to scatter the food. Every type of duck, goose and wildfowl seem to be meandering about, along with groups of guinea fowl, and the central part of the park is given over to the Barnacle Geese that return here every year to breed. At first there were only a pair that came and now over 200 arrive in the spring and leave in early autumn.

There are flamingos for which the park was originally named and they breed very successfully here too. The Chilean flamingos had several grey fluffy chicks when we visited. The park has also successfully hand reared 16 baby Humboldt penguins this year and these have moved up to Longleat to begin a colony there.

Up at the penguin enclosure it is Dippy the penguin who is the star of the show. Hand raised and ‘imprinted’ by this experience to think that he’s a human, Dippy has his own facebook page and fans all over the world. Twice a day the penguin feeding show is a big crowd puller and if you’re having a ‘wild encounter’ you get to go into the pen, feed them by hand and pet the tamer birds whilst loads of photos are taken of your experience for you to take home.

You mustn’t feed the wallabies but these cute little marsupials, looking just like mini kangaroos, will often encircle you as you enter their open compound. Many of them have babies in their pouches and quite a few of them are pure white. Beware if you are pushing a pram with bags containing food hanging from them as their little fingers are adept at getting into places where they shouldn’t.

Alfie and Willis, the miniature black pigs, are real little characters. Jules gets into their pen to tickle them behind their ears and they make the most amazing noises. For the Meerkat Encounter Jules or one of the other keepers will take you into their enclosure and you sit very still with a bowl of special treats on your lap (mealworms mixed with sand for them to rifle through as they would in the wild). A young lad was having a combo encounter on the day we visited and the cute little Meerkats were scampering up and down his legs and under his arms to get at the bowl and he was beaming from ear to ear.

A quick look at the visitors’ book in the shop/cafe, where you can buy loads of wildlife themed goodies and good food to eat indoors or out, will tell you all you need to know about the encounters and experiences visitors have at the attraction. Everyone loves it and so will you.

For these reasons it is also a good time to give your mind, body and soul an MOT – time out to refresh, renew and be ready for the winter months ahead. We have picked out a few of the best Isle of Wight  Mind, Body and Soul retreats for you to choose from this autumn, so feast your eyes on these.

Be Mindful…

Sylvia Clare and her husband David Hughes run residential courses in Mindfulness at their beautiful home Clatterford House in Carisbrooke. The Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme was devised by Jon Kabat-Zinn and it is taught as a straight course or can be adapted to suit your needs through guided walking activities, yoga and general discussions about what you are looking for and what is missing in your life.

This is a technique designed to let you live in the present, not regretting the past nor worrying about the future. “Mindfulness is based on being fully present in the moment, in the now and giving that all of your focus,” said Sylvia Clare. “Your power lies in this moment. Living mindfully means living in full awareness of your potential and requires an in depth honesty with yourself of your strengths and weaknesses.

“We teach people how to communicate with each other honestly in a loving way. It’s about moving away from things that are detrimental to you.” If you want a totally different way of looking at your life then this could be the course for you.

Meditate..

Want to learn a meditation technique that will change your life? Transcendental Meditation (TM) is taught by Will Trend at his cottage nestled in the southern slopes of Brading Down and retreats are planned in the future – residential courses at East Dene in Bonchurch have proved very popular in the past.

TM is a method of meditation which involves the silent use of a personal  mantra to release stress and experience higher more refined  states of consciousness. Will was taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who influenced The Beatles and believes that its effect on health and wellbeing can be life changing. “People experience a deeper relaxation with Transcendental Meditation. It also  allows you to realise  your full potential and there’s no limit to what you can do,” he explained.

Will is now affiliated to the David Lynch Foundation with whom he has helped to arrange TM workshops in the ‘sacred woods’ at Bestival for the past two years. Many famous musicians have turned to Will in order to learn this simple technique, which only takes a few days to master and it does work, if you work it.

Be Spiritual…

Quarr Abbey offer spiritual retreats in their Guest House that has recently being modernised and contains ten rooms with eleven beds. Three of the rooms are en suite and one of them has full facilities for use by a disabled person with a wheelchair. You take meals, work and pray with the brothers on a daily basis and generally a spirit of silence and prayer is encouraged within the guest house.

You can tailor your retreat to your needs, working with the monks, praying with them and eating with them too, or just choose to do some of these activities. Priests are available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and one of the community at the Abbey will be available if a guest just wants to talk for any reason whatever. If you need spiritual solace or a space to make a decision this could be ideal.

St Rhadagunds  is a Christian Holiday and Conference Centre in St Lawrence that first opened in 1934 as one of the Christian Endeavour Holiday Homes. It still has a Christian ethos but accepts guests from all denominations.

“St Rhadagunds has been a place where people meet with old friends, make new friends, gather as family groups, as church members and have even met that special person to share a life with. There are meetings of people of different denominations, nationalities, cultures and different ways of working out their Christian faith. Most of all, St Rhadagunds is a place to meet with God, and in His presence to rest, refresh and recharge,” says the website.

Try Yoga…

Carol Macartney practices Hatha yoga, having trained in Sivinanda and has been teaching yoga on the Island for quite a while now and she is one of the best. This year she has branched out and has begun to offer yoga retreats at the Garlic Farm, staying in their lovely cottages and converted barns and at Nettlecombe Farm in similar cosy accommodation.

Emma Spencer-Goodier is another very experienced and approachable yoga teacher who is offering a special retreat experience at Godshill Park Farm in November. Yoga will be at the old farmhouse, in the oak panelled hall with burning log fire. The yoga programme will take participants deeper in their asana, pranayama (breath work) and meditation.

Get Fit…

Wildfitness is a 3-day course held at Northcourt, a beautiful old English manor in Shorwell village. “It is the perfect place to lose yourself to nature and soak up the Wildfitness philosophy,” says the website.

Their action-packed programme includes fun, stress-busting activities that are taught at some of the Island’s most picturesque settings. There are skill sessions with their top coaches in the heart of the gardens at Northcourt and “imaginatively cooked meals using garden produce to give your body the healthy kick it needs.” The emphasis is on changing the way you live your life. “Most importantly, we believe you should feel inspired to continue your wild ways back home,” they say.

Keep Fit Bootcamps are held at Chilton Farm, near Brighstone, and are designed as “the ultimate in inclusive residential weight loss retreats, helping you focus on your goals and get the results you need,” according to their website. –  “Our professional instructors deliver a challenging programme designed to push you to a new level of fitness. Get fit and lose weight with an all round fitness programme, as well as a range of adventurous activities including paddle surfing, hill walking and cycling,” says the website. This one is clearly not for the fainthearted.

These beautiful animals are indigenous to the Island and can be found in most woodland and forested areas. But they are also an endangered species and the Island is one of the only places in the country where you will see them.

This is because the American Grey Squirrel has now populated most of mainland Britain and it out competes the Red Squirrel for food and passes on diseases. Luckily the Solent has acted as an effective barrier to the introduction of the Grey Squirrel to the Island, and thus the Red Squirrel survives undisturbed.

Red Squirrels are able to live in a wide range of forest types but they prefer conifer because they can forage more efficiently. They measure around 35 to 40cm from nose to tail, weighing only 350g.

Their colour can range from bright ginger, to red, through to dark brown and they can even be tinged with grey. In the winter they are particularly noticeable with their big ear tufts. Squirrel nests, called dreys, can be spotted in tree forks or hollows and are constructed from twigs and lined with moss and hair.

The Wight Squirrel Project has done much work to protect and study Red Squirrels and Helen Butler at the Project offers frequent ‘Squirrel Safaris’ to track down the Red Squirrel in the woodlands of the Island.

Robin Hill Country Park is a good place to see Red Squirrels on the Island as they have large areas of ancient woodland that makes an ideal home for them to feed and shelter. Also with so many visitors wandering through every year the squirrels aren’t quite as shy as elsewhere.

Robin Hill works with ‘The Wight Squirrel Project’ to protect these creatures and promote their plight to all Island visitors. Every Friday at 3.30pm they hold a Red Squirrel Safari, a free walk and talk by Helen Butler and Mike Evans from the project who will lead you around the woodland and hopefully guide you to a live sighting or two. (Entrance fees to the park apply).

Marked around the woods are ‘Red Squirrel Hot Spots’ that give you an indication of the best places in the park to see the Squirrels. They’ve also installed a viewing hide and have Squirrel cameras transmitting live footage from Squirrel feeding stations back to the Tree house Woodland Centre.

Parkhurst Forest is another place to see Red Squirrels and there is a special Hide and Squirrel Safari in the Forest, built by Gift For Nature, which was opened by David Bellamy.

The forest consists of both ancient woodland (meaning it has existed since before 1600) and plantation woodland. It is owned and managed by the Forestry Commission and is partly a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The Hide resembles a log cabin and is built mostly from Oak and Douglas Fir, harvested from the forest and is free, open all year and accessible to pushchairs (wheelchair access may be possible for some users, but access is via gravel paths). Parkhurst Forest is open to the public and has a selection of well-maintained paths in addition to the Squirrel Safari and a large car park with picnic tables.

To find the Viewing Hide by car from Newport you take the Forest Road towards Yarmouth and after about one mile on Forest Road look out for the turning into Parkhurst Forest and park in the car park. Then follow the signs around the Squirrel Safari via the Hide or pick up a route card from Gift to Nature’s online shop. By bus, the nearest stop is Standen Avenue, but for a more regular service go to St Mary’s Hospital then walk along Forest Road.

For starters there are the gibbons – the Lars Gibbons to be precise – that whoop out their distinctive cries. If you’re lucky you will hear them as you arrive at the car park, welcoming you in.

In actual fact they are warding off other females – that’s the human females that come near to their cage. “They only do it when women and children come near,” said owner Don Walser. “The think you’re coming into their feeding territory. All gibbons sing but it is the females that instigate it.”

Don is still in the process of building the park with his son Antony. Currently they are constructing  a ‘honeymoon house’ for two Capuchin monkeys: Martin, who looks like a bit of a bruiser, came to the Haven from Glasgow and it took Don 18 months to find him a mate, a sweet little female called Loulou from a French zoo.

“We raised and appeal to bring Loulou over and then we had to build her a quarantine cage,” explained Don. “Now that she’s finished her quarantine we have to build a neutral cage for them to meet in. First they get to know each other through the wire and then we’ll introduce them in the outside part of the cage.”

All of the monkeys and the owls in the Haven have been born in captivity and have been unwanted by their previous owners for various reasons. Some have been born disabled and therefore can’t be used in breeding programs; others are pets that people could no longer keep that ended up in zoos. There are currently 44 monkeys at the haven and most have come from UK zoos, and about 24 owls.

It was owls that were Don’s first love. “I’ve rescued animals all my life and in the 1970s I got involved with the RSPB and started a breeding programme with barn owls – there were only three breeding pairs left in North Hampshire because of the change in farming methods and use of insecticides.”

Owls, he told us, need short grass to hunt and there had been a decline in dairy farming and the insecticides that were being used at the time make their egg shells soft. “We released 56 into the wild, and we also took some up to Cumbria to release them there,” said Don proudly.

Some of the owls in the Haven come out to meet the public, including Tawny Owl Beau who can be stroked on his breast. “They reckon over 30,000 are kept as pets in the UK. There’s been a craze for keeping owls since the Harry Potter films,” he explained. “We’ve got some hand reared ones that we bring out for talks and to let people stroke them.

Monkeys at the Haven include a pair of Colobus monkeys, which were hunted for their beautiful long white tails that were used for fly swatters and ladies coats. “The tail acts as a parachute,” explained Don. “But they have no thumbs – Colobus is Greek for disabled!

Djebra the red tailed Gwenham had been a pet in Israel and came to the haven from Twycross zoo because he couldn’t get on with the female there, but he doesn’t get on with Don either, getting very agitated when he comes near. Apparently, like people, monkeys can take an instant dislike to an individual.

“Xanu the Siamang Gibbon had never swung on ropes before he came here. His former keeper came and couldn’t believe it,” remembered Don. “We like to think we’re doing our best for them,” he added.

Neireid and Fudge are two different leaf eating monkeys from Indonesia, both as cute as can be. Fudge with his red hair and Neried with her delicate features. Both have treble stomachs like cows and have a tendency to do something that little children find hilarious.

If you opt for a Keeper for a Day or an encounter experience you can enter the cage of the Marmosets, an absolutely wonderful thing to do, especially for children. The inquisitive extended family of Marmosets scamper ll over visitors’ heads and shoulders, searching for food and checking them out in a most intimate fashion. It’s absolutely fabulous.

But it’s those Lars Gibbons that steal the show. The minute they start whooping the whole park comes to a standstill and everyone heads for their cage to find out what’s going on, which makes them whoop even louder. It’s such a feel-good happy sound – you find yourself joining in. Apparently it has even been known to help people with S.A.D and M.E.

Luckily the Haven is open all through the winter as well as the summer months – see the website for opening times on and off season.

Set in 88 acres of beautiful countryside nestled in the Island’s stunning Arreton Downs, you start exploring immediately and are totally immersed in all the park has to offer. Owned by the Dabell family who also run the hugely popular Blackgang Chine  the Dabell’s clearly know how to keep both children and adults stimulated.

Robin Hill Adventure Park is so well conceived and covers so many different elements, you’ll want to keep returning. (We do). It’s also the venue for the incredibly trendy annual music festival Bestival, which draws in crowds of 50,000 and various groups of hugely talented global musicians. The award-winning park can count a ‘Tourism & Leisure Award for Excellence’ among its accolades too.

Now for the attractions – there are so many, it’s hard to know where to start. As soon as you enter the park, get diverted on a brilliant outdoor activity course nestled among the trees with a trip wire and a scramble net.  But there are plenty of play areas peppered throughout the park, which cater for all ages from toddlers upwards. You can literally spend an entire morning sampling them out and watching your family run riot until their hearts content.  Have a go on the Tree Top Trail, a trail surrounded by trees or for younger children the Snake and Hillbilly Slides, which are set into the hillside.  For even younger children Tot’s Play is a safe haven full of stimulation.

Watch out for Colossus, a swinging galleon boat ride that will have all the family belly laughing. The hugely popular Toboggan Run is a must with its 300 metre twisting and turning course of metal, designed as a track for toboggans. Parents can share a toboggan with smaller children and you can whoosh down the course at whatever speed you dare to. Go forwards and backwards in time with the impressive time machine, a 28-seat motion platform simulator. If you fancy good old-fashioned fun there’s a large wooden maze to get lost in. For the younger children the Cows Express train ride is an instant hit while for older children, something called Total Wipeout – a watery-based rollercoaster loop system by air and water gets the adrenalin pumping. Duckdown Play Village, a small child sized village is great for all the family to go exploring or marvel at the African Adventure playground and get transported off to tribal Africa.

For any wildlife enthusiasts, the Squirrel Tower is a must to spot all those elusive red squirrels. Also not to be missed are the amazing daily falconry displays, which are Island famous. The newly added owl shows are exciting displays set in the new 300 seated woodland amphitheatre. After all that fun, anyone suffering weary legs can jump aboard the Great Big Green Tractor ride, which is on a permanent loop around the park to scoop up and drop off. By then you’ll easily have earned your pit stop at one of the park’s eateries; the Oasis Café, Squirrels Café or Ice Cream Hut.

Bring it on….

Brading Roman Villa, Brading

Brading Roman Villa is one of the finest Roman sites in Britain. The award winning Visitor Centre and Museum is a must see for school children because it offers a unique insight into Roman life in Britain from beautifully preserved mosaic floors to an extensive collection of Roman archaeology. There is something for everyone here – the interactive displays keep the kids stimulated, a licensed café keeps hunger at bay plus there’s a great shop to nab some ancient archeology history. The extensive grounds such as the Roman garden and meadow trail are great for exploring.

Fort Victoria Country Park, Yarmouth

Built on the north shore of the Island to guard the Solent, the remains of Fort Victoria now house a Marine Aquarium, a Underhttp://www.redfunnel.co.uk/my-isle-of-wight/wp-admin/post.php?post=33051&action=editwater Archaeology Centre, a Planetarium and a Model Railway. The surrounding Country Park offers seashore and sheltered woodland walks. The site is one of the best vantage points for watching the Solents boats and shipping. The combined attractions here make Fort Victoria a really interesting visit for any family. The kids can get to know their Pufferfish from a Boxfish. They can also get to look at the surface of the moon to the depth of outer space in the brilliant Astrodome 360-Star theatre.

Carisbrooke Castle, Carisbrooke

Carisbrooke Castle is a historic castle where King Charles 1st was imprisoned in the months prior to his trial. He tried to escape from the castle in 1648 but was unable to get through the bars of the window! Kids of any age will just love coming here, as there is so much to see and learn about.  The Great Hall & Great Chamber are open to the public and a must see is The Well-House where a working donkey still operates the well. But be prepared to queue as the wheel is great attraction.

Coleman’s Farm Park, Porchfield

Colman’s Farm is every child’s idea of farm fun. It’s also a perfect venue if it rains as there is a huge undercover play barn made up of mountains of straw bales. The hayloft is kiddie heaven with safe jumping, zip slide, swings, slides, tunnels, pits and climbing walls catering for hours of fun. There’s also a petting farm area undercover where you can feed lambs a bottle of milk, go hunting for eggs and let little furry animals feed from your hand. If the sun makes an appearance, a pedal tractor park with all manor of mini tractors and cars are great fun. Picnic areas and refreshments are available too. For the over-11s, you can experience the thrill of driving a REAL tractor and take home a certificate to successful drivers.

The Rapanui crew are now in an expansive new HQ in Sandown, that has office space and a cafe and shop area at the front of the premises where you can buy your Rapanui threads, drop in for a Rapanui Roast fair trade coffee or tea or stay for lunch.

“It’s a bit of fun really this shop. A lot of people have heard of us but don’t know where we are and we want the café so we’ve got somewhere to eat – we were spending too much in the local cafes and shops!” laughed Rob Drake-Knight.

The food on offer is organic, ethical and has been produced and transported in the most carbon friendly manner. Because for those of you who are not in the know Rapanui is a ground-breaking Eco-fashion company that makes organic, ethical clothing using renewable energy with award-winning traceability. They even have their own brand of coffee Rapanui Roast, an Organic, Fairtrade Mocha blend of espresso beans. If you scan the cup, you can find out exactly where it was grown, how it got here and how it was roasted, delivered and distributed by Island companies and it’s no more expensive than a standard mass-produced coffee in the supermarket.

“We take our name from the Native Polynesian name for Easter Island, because it stands as a powerful reminder that we rely on our environment. If we don’t look after it by living sustainably, it won’t be able to sustain us forever,” say the lads.

And these guys don’t just talk the talk – they know exactly where and how their materials have been grown, the working conditions of the producers and they search out factories that are powered by renewable energy too.

The company has won many awards and were winners in 2010′s Sustainable Business Awards, and have been listed in the Future 100 list of top young ethical entrepreneurs.

“Very few people know where their clothes come from,” added Mart. “It’s not that people don’t care, they just don’t know. The reason we’ve won so many awards is because we’ve addressed that problem.

“We’ve also developed an eco labelling system like you get on food that lets people shop quickly but be aware of what they’re buying. We’re taking that to an MEP and preparing to take it to parliament.”

“At Rapanui it doesn’t cost more to go organic, so it’s open to everyone,” added Rob. “Our products are created using sustainable textiles but at the end of the day the idea is to be a sustainable brand because brands have power over people.  Top Shop without the sweat shop – that’s what we’re trying to do.”

“If the brand does the right job people will vote with their wallets. It’s just the right thing to do,” said Mart. “Fairtrade shouldn’t be a USP. Not using child labour shouldn’t be a USP.”

“Our aim is to sell as many products as we can and we’re stocked in 36 independent retailers around the world,” explained Rob. “This is our first shop although we are also stocked at the Beach Hut in Yarmouth.

“We’ve also done a lot of bespoke work recently for Vestas, the Ellen Macarthur Foundation and the Met Office. Vestas found out that the organic cotton that we used to make their T Shirts with the Vestas logo was made in a factory that was powered by wind turbines with blades that had been made on the Isle of Wight!”

And the Met Office T Shirts are particularly cool, with their designs that are based on the iconic images used in weather forecasting with a Rapanui injection of humour.

“Rapanui is about making eco-fashion cool,” says their website and they certainly have the coolest working environment. We await their new collection with baited breath…