Individuals, pairs and teams of up to six are able to enter the enduro event and the track runs through beer tent! Fancy dress is optional and there will be live bands playing throughout the day. There will also be fun race events for kids, a tea and cake tent and beef and lamb burgers made from the farm’s own cows and sheep – yum, yum.

Practice will begin at 3pm, with the Le Mans style start at 4pm and as it gets slowly darker you will need to turn on your lights – there is hire and recharging available. There will be a pit lane for team changeovers and Wight Mountain will be on hand for repairs and spares. Entry to this ultimate enduro race is £20.

The track starts on the top of the downs, comes down through the valley, across a technical woodland section and back up again and is 2.7 miles long. Riders can ride the course for as short or long a stretch as they wish, with some expected to ride the full six hours!

“It’s not just for experts,” stressed Andrew Hodgeson of Cheverton Farm who worked the IW Council, Wight Mountain and some keen cyclists to design and build the course. “It’s very inclusive – come and have a go,” said Andrew who is a keen cyclist too.

Russ Newnham at Wight Mountain is thrilled that the track is finished. “As a shop we frequently get asked “where’s good to ride?” by visitors and customers wanting to take our test bikes out.  So it will be nice to point them in the direction of a purpose built trail that caters for all abilities and that is easy to find and well signposted,” he said.

“Thanks to Andrew this has become a reality and Wight Mountain are proud to have been given the opportunity to be involved in helping to create the Island’s first track of this kind, knowing it will be well maintained and ever improving throughout its use.”

Once open the track will be £2 to ride and you can join for the season for £20 – fill in a form and pay your fees at Wight Mountain, Cheverton Farm or online. Although there will be parking over the weekend of the opening there is no parking available during the season: this is a cycle-to facility. There is also camping available for the opening with a minimal donation to the hospice and there are two self-catering cottages at the farm.

Entry forms for The Six Hours of Hurt are available from Wight Mountain in Newport and Cheverton Farm.

With a Spa

Pamper yourself at the West Bay Club’s spa with sauna, steam and treatment rooms and a 20m heated indoor pool. One or two storey New England style ‘cottages’ and chalets are the accommodation at the West Bay Club but there are also two single storey Munday cottages that are fully disabled compliant, with room for four guests. These two self-catering holiday cottages are specifically designed for use by guests with mobility difficulties and are conveniently located close to the allocated disabled parking area.

Lakeside Park Hotel Spa has four treatment rooms, a 10 x 5m heated indoor hydro-pool with integrated shoulder massage jets, spa pool, sauna, steam room and the ultimate in hydrotherapy – a fragranced ‘Experience’ shower to stimulate, awaken and revitalise the senses. Three of their bedrooms are specially designed and equipped for disabled access and pathways through the hotel grounds are also DDA compliant.

On the Farm

Now with an award winning restaurant/café and heritage centre the Garlic Farm also has a tractor and trailer ride around the farm along with walks that you can follow. The accommodation here is marketed as Mersley Farm Self Catering Barns and Cottages and there are six from which to choose. Of these Little Mersley Farmhouse has a downstairs master bedroom for those who find stairs a problem and Mill Cottage has a disabled-friendly bedroom with separate vehicle access and a walk in shower in the en suite bathroom.

Nestled in the heart of the rolling south west countryside about half a mile from the village of Whitwell, Nettlecombe Farm has nine different self-catering options with the farm house, two cottages and converted barns and stables. The Forge is on one level, as is Wren and Heron and Corner Cottage has a twin bedroom downstairs.

To the Manor Born

Weston Manor was built in 1871 by William George Ward and his wife Francis Mary Ward and it’s situated on Moon’s Hill with extensive views of inland west Wight and beyond to the Solent. A private chapel was built for the family and is decorated in the medieval style of A.W.Pugin is listed as a heritage site by the National Trust as it is the only example of its kind in England. Part of this famous Grade Two listed manor has been converted into a bed a breakfast and one bedroom is on the ground floor and has good disabled access.

Northcourt Manor is a Jacobean Manor House in the picturesque village of Shorwell surrounded by fifteen acres of beautiful gardens. These include a pretty stream, walled kitchen gardens and terraced walks that are recognised nationally for their historic importance by English Heritage. Amongst the bed and breakfast accommodation is a ground floor bedroom with shower room for less able visitors. Self-catering accommodation is available in the west wing that was built in the 16^th and 17^thcenturies and remodelled in 1905. A recent refurbishment (2009/2010) has created quality and comfortable accommodation and includes one downstairs bedroom with shower room suitable for less-abled visitors.

Blow the budget

Yafford Mill Barn is a new conversion in the extensive grounds of Yafford Mill, an 18th century restored mill, set amidst the beautiful countryside of the coastal area of south west wight. Architecturally designed and skillfully renovated to provide lovely light and spacious accommodation the barn can accommodate up to five people with three  bedrooms and three modern well equipped Travertine tiled bath/shower rooms. The accommodation is all on one level and has sloping entrances, wide doorways and no problems with steps.

The Blue House is a pretty and completely private cedar clad house, set on the wooded cliff above Gurnard Bay with a private two acre garden and part of the beach below.  It has four double bedrooms overlooking the garden, a large contemporary living area with vaulted ceiling, and a wrap-around deck with fabulous westerly views over to the New Forest. The house is very suitable for wheelchairs as it’s all on a single level.

The horses will be pulling a dray which was originally built in 1914 and was fully refurbished in the mid-eighties. These majestic horses will be in and around Newport from 11am to 2pm and will be in St James’s Square from approximately 12 noon to 1.30pm.

The Heavy Horses belong to Sam Tetlow and her partner Steve Redfern who own and run Windmill Farm Supplies at Ashey. Last year they competed at the Memorial Ploughing Match for the first time and they will be competing again this year on Sunday April 1^st at Wolverton Farm in Shorwell.

This will be the fourth year of the event that was originally organised to remember four members of the Isle of Wight Traction Engine Club who sadly all passed away in 2008. The money raised from the event is given to the Earl Mountbatten Hospice and in the first three years they have been given more than £8000.

There will be the chance to watch vintage and conventional tractors ploughing alongside heavy horses (including the Island’s own heavy horses Jeff and Bob).

Ploughing will start at 9.30am and the presentation of prizes will be at approximately 4.00pm. Refreshments will be available on site.  Entry is free but any money collected on the day will go to the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.

Here we’ve pulled together our Top 10 Stargazing Stays…

Best National Trust site for Camping

Compton Farm is in an especially dark spot, far from any towns or villages and nestling beneath the downs. You can easily walk up onto the downs from here to get a panoramic view or set up your telescope on the cliff above Compton Beach or, if you’re feeling energetic, down on the beach below.

Best for luxury

Despite the lighthouse, St Catherine’s Point is a good place for star watching, or above at the car park at the end of the old Blackgang Road. On the road between these two points sits the Enchanted Manor, which has an enviable reputation for its hotel/bed and breakfast accommodation – Maggie and Ric have won many accolades including ‘Three in a Bed’ and this is a hotel that will have your head in the clouds.

Best for Lording it Up

Shorwell is a very small village and it gets very dark in this shallow dell beneath the downs that is only a few minutes’ drive from the coast. Northcourt Manor sits just outside the village in 15 acres of grounds that include a pretty stream and kitchen gardens. The largest Jacobean manor house on the Island, it offers bed and breakfast and self-catering in separate wings of this imposing manor.

Best for Breakfast

Gotten Manor is on the outskirts of Chale village and you can opt for bed and breakfast in the old cottage where we are told you get an absolutely wonderful organic spread. Or you could select self-catering in the Milk House or the Cart House. The skies here are dark and expansive, with paths to the downs or you can drive, or walk, down to the coast in just a few minutes.

Best for Groups

At Brook House, there is a choice of self-catering holiday cottages. Westbrook and Northbrook sit one above the other in the courtyard to Brook House, and the Old Coach House is just next door. Sleeping six, four and eight (plus two children) respectively you could accommodate a small stargazing party in the three houses. The nearest beach is Brook (a 10min walk) where the skies are luminescent with stars, and you’re right in the middle of dark sky country here.

Best for Camping

The Isle of Wight Star Party meets at Brighstone Holiday Camp every year so you can be sure of good star gazing conditions at this location. Take your own tent or hire one of the vintage chalets, or you could bring a camper van or hire one of the ones they have on site. Telescopes can be set up near the edge of the cliff to take advantage of the low horizon far out at sea.

Best for Eggs

Free range eggs are included in your stay at Lower Dolcoppice Farm’s Old Dairy, straight from the hens on the farm that loiter around the courtyard. Walk on up this private road to the Hoy Memorial on the downs for a panoramic view of the skies and the south west coast, or just gaze from the fields surrounding this converted stone barn – it gets very dark in these parts.

Best for Being on a Working Farm

Westcourt is an old Elizabethan Manor connected to a farm of 200 acres that has been worked by the Russell family for generations. With fine views across the fields to the sea and within easy reach of Shorwell village, it’s a quick walk to the top of the downs or a short drive down to the sea with your telescopes and binoculars, but the skies around the farm will be expansive and clear.

Best for Vintage

The Mission on Blythe Shute, just outside Chale, is between Blackgang and Whale Chine and only a few minutes’ walk down ‘The Terrace’ takes you to the cliff edge – in fact the road has already gone over it. At night darkness falls like a curtain and you can drive all the way along the Military Road to Freshwater from here, taking in the skies wherever you want to stop. Inside this converted mission hall are the most wonderful vintage touches combined with the contemporary – everyone who has stayed here raves about it.

Best myisleofwight Tip

If being on the road is more up your street then hire a vintage VW camper van from Isle of Wight Camper Van Holidays and you can drive to any star gazing location you choose – a different one every night or even several in one night if you wish. Up on the downs at Culver, in the car park at Compton Beach or deep in the countryside – just pick your spot, park up and brew up on the camper’s cooker. Then lay down a blanket and you could sleep beneath the stars.

6 Geese-a-Laying
Wrap up warm, grab your binoculars, friends and/or family and head on out to Newtown Creek to goose spot. Last week I counted about 150 Brent Geese on their winter break from the Arctic tundra. See how many you can spot that have come from Russia (or thereabouts) with love.

5 Gold Rings
Need a very special Christmas gift for your ‘true love’? Visit my favorite jewellery shop in my favorite town – Sophie Honeybourne in Ventnor – and tell her Mrs B sent you. If she doesn’t have anything that fits the bill, she’ll design a unique bespoke piece, just for you.

4 Colly Birds (often mis-sung as ‘calling birds’)
Colly is the olde english name for blackbirds but why anyone would want to give 4 of them to their significant other is beyond me. Perhaps it has something to do with ‘Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie’? To listen to the blackbird’s winter song take a lovely Christmas day walk along Shorwell Shute and walk off some of that Christmas pud at the same time.

3 French Hens
I don’t know about the live variety but if you fancy a weekend away playing at chickens, (or French maids for that matter), how’s about staying in a great holiday home in Bembridge that used to be a chicken shed?

2 Turtle Doves
Not many attractions sporting doves are open at this time of year but if you want to see two toucans…look no further than Amazon World where you can also get a look at the meerkats, lemurs and even penguins – for that Christmas vibe.

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree
I can’t guarantee a partridge but you’ll find just about everything else hanging in the trees at the amazing Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival, held at Brighstone Church annually. This year it runs from 8th to the 11th of December.

For a stunning example of Jacobean architecture surrounded by fifteen acres of beautiful gardens, Northcourt Manor in Shorwell on the south side of the Island offers oodles of period character.

Or maybe Arreton Manor located in the fertile Arreton valley appeals with its Tudor knot gardens, Elizabethan style terraces and Tudor décor in the East Wing accommodation? Though early Jacobean in architecture parts of the manor date as early as 872 as noted in the Doomsday Book.

Another manor boasting a prestigious history dating back over a thousand years and recorded in the Doomsday Book is Gotten Manor nestled at the foot of St Catherine’s Down. Here you can experience the unique and beautifully renovated The Old House, which has lime washed walls, exposed beams, wooden floors, Persian rugs and cast iron freestanding baths within the rooms.

Interestingly all three offer amazing locally sourced and homemade breakfasts – in fact they are worth a visit for the breakfast alone. So why not step back in time and enjoy some time away soaking up the character of these grand historic houses.

During a two and a half year project, funded by a £47,0000 Heritage Lottery Grant, over 200 trees were recorded with at least 50 having some kind of heritage linked to them whether they were planted by somebody famous, mark an ancient boundary, have a special name or are just plain magnificent!

In March 2009 the eight Histree Trails across the Island were launched, ranging in length. Each trail is accompanied by a leaflet, which takes you on a tour of the finest trees and gives some history of the areas they pass through. To download the leaflets, visit the Trails section of the website.

1. Kings and Dragons Trail takes you from Carisbrooke Castle, via Marvel Copse, round the back of the former Whitecroft Hospital, through Gatcombe, across the back of Chillerton, through Shorwell and on to the amazing Dragon tree at Brighstone.

2. Cascading Canopies is a pleasant amble around Cowes, taking in many of the larger trees on the Northwood House estate including the cedar that is visible from the sea and five different species of oak.  The umbrella tree in the top corner of Princes Green is included in this walk along with the Oriental Plane that is haunted by schoolchildren.

3. Parks and Parasols begins under the umbrella tree in the centre of East Cowes and takes in the parks and former botanic garden as well as skirting the former East Cowes Castle and Osborne Estates.

4. Poets and Pines starts at School Green in Freshwater and takes in the trees at Tennyson’s former home Farringford House and a churchyard of ancient yews.

5. Champions and Churchyards is a linear trail from Carisbrooke Castle to Medina Aboretum, taking in one of the largest Weeping Willows on the Island at Carisbrooke Pond and the unusual Weeping Beech in Church Litten.

6. The Venerable Oaks Histree Trail is 8.9km (5.5 miles) long. The trail begins and ends in Playstreet Lane on the outskirts of Ryde and includes two of the largest Oaks on the Island, thought to be around 300 years old – the largest of the pair is getting on for an impressive seven metres in girth.

7. The Groves and Gardens Histree Trail is 5.2km (3.2 miles) long with an optional extension of 1.9km (1.2 miles). The trail begins and ends at Tower Cottage Gardens, Chine Avenue in Shanklin Old Village and takes in Rylstone Gardens, Redwoods and Monterey Pines along with many mature English natives.

8. The Legends and Landscapes Histree Trail is 6.6km (4.1 miles) long with an optional shorter route of 4km (2.5 miles). The trail begins and ends at the Bull Ring in Brading Town Centre. It includes the veteran Oaks of the Nunwell Estate, a mushroom shaped Oak in the process of ‘retrenchment’, and many majestic Maples.

These eight trails are the ideal opportunity to take in some of the Island’s best and most beautiful trees, although our lanes, parks and gardens are full of beautiful specimens. Make sure you don’t forget your camera.

During a two and a half year project, funded by a £47,0000 Heritage Lottery Grant, over 200 trees were recorded with at least 50 having some kind of heritage linked to them whether they were planted by somebody famous, mark an ancient boundary, have a special name or are just plain magnificent!

In March 2009 the eight Histree Trails across the Island were launched, ranging in length. Each trail is accompanied by a leaflet, which takes you on a tour of the finest trees and gives some history of the areas they pass through. To download the leaflets, visit the Trails section of the website.

1. Kings and Dragons Trail takes you from Carisbrooke Castle, via Marvel Copse, round the back of the former Whitecroft Hospital, through Gatcombe, across the back of Chillerton, through Shorwell and on to the amazing Dragon tree at Brighstone.

2. Cascading Canopies is a pleasant amble around Cowes, taking in many of the larger trees on the Northwood House estate including the cedar that is visible from the sea and five different species of oak.  The umbrella tree in the top corner of Princes Green is included in this walk along with the Oriental Plane that is haunted by schoolchildren.

3. Parks and Parasols begins under the umbrella tree in the centre of East Cowes and takes in the parks and former botanic garden as well as skirting the former East Cowes Castle and Osborne Estates.

4. Poets and Pines starts at School Green in Freshwater and takes in the trees at Tennyson’s former home Farringford House and a churchyard of ancient yews.

5. Champions and Churchyards is a linear trail from Carisbrooke Castle to Medina Aboretum, taking in one of the largest Weeping Willows on the Island at Carisbrooke Pond and the unusual Weeping Beech in Church Litten.

6. The Venerable Oaks Histree Trail is 8.9km (5.5 miles) long. The trail begins and ends in Playstreet Lane on the outskirts of Ryde and includes two of the largest Oaks on the Island, thought to be around 300 years old – the largest of the pair is getting on for an impressive seven metres in girth.

7. The Groves and Gardens Histree Trail is 5.2km (3.2 miles) long with an optional extension of 1.9km (1.2 miles). The trail begins and ends at Tower Cottage Gardens, Chine Avenue in Shanklin Old Village and takes in Rylstone Gardens, Redwoods and Monterey Pines along with many mature English natives.

8. The Legends and Landscapes Histree Trail is 6.6km (4.1 miles) long with an optional shorter route of 4km (2.5 miles). The trail begins and ends at the Bull Ring in Brading Town Centre. It includes the veteran Oaks of the Nunwell Estate, a mushroom shaped Oak in the process of ‘retrenchment’, and many majestic Maples.

These eight trails are the ideal opportunity to take in some of the Island’s best and most beautiful trees, although our lanes, parks and gardens are full of beautiful specimens. Make sure you don’t forget your camera.

The route goes clockwise from Hulverstone all the way round via Chale through Shorwell and Brightstone back to Hulverstone. American Bob (50^th birthday looms) has the record at 52 min 30 secs but this was considered to be outrageously fast and unachievable. We decided to tone it down a bit and get a 56.30.

Samul Camul and Huge Toad, Loopy Lou, Megz and Ramanda made up the rest of the peloton. The route starts from Hulverstone next to the Sun Inn. (SZ 39744 84036) (PO30 4EH). Those wishing to avoid the efforts of a Chale loop can enjoy great hospitality here. It has been known as the rock on which the Ancient Mariner has been wrecked, on the odd occasion.

The course heads off on the B3399 turning left through Brook passing the Brook Village Hall where they were holding a really great exhibition about the history of the area.  A left turn out (SZ 38753 83584) follows onto to join the Military Road (A3055) opposite Brook Beach.

You can follow the 'round the island' cycle signs to get great bike rides

The wind was blowing hard as the peloton turned a big cog passing the Isle of Wight Pearl Centre and Whale Chine. The south coast is a great view as you travel east.  The road starts to climb next to the Dinosaur Farm and llamas can been seen grazing at a local farm as the road climbs into Chale. Gasping for breath, the peloton passed left handed at the picturesque church in Chale (SZ 48340 77529) and continued on towards Chale Green. The left hand turn here (onto B3399) (SZ 48540 79879)  takes you into the hardest part of the loop with 3 punishing hills in quick succession. This is where American Bob reckons that if you go too fast down the Military Road to start with, then you run out of juice in these hills for any record attempts.

Sucking in the fresh air, the course takes a sharp right downhill leading to the roundabout in Shorwell ( SZ 45695 82938).  The pretty Crown Inn frames the course as the chain gang sped on towards Limerstone along the B 3399.  This is the penultimate section of the course prior to the 3 hills which complete the loop.

First through Brightstone, a beautiful village full of Isle of Wight character and hospitality and a village shop for any last minute essentials which may be required.  Then Hunny Hill, SZ 42077 83035 (or that Horrible Hill as Megz describes it). This definitely requires engagement of the granny gear and the grind up can be tough.  Reward however is a downhill section to Brightstone Grange and Mottistone Manor. The last hill climbs left handed onto the finishing straight and a steep descent back into Hulverstone to The Sun Inn.

59 mins 10 secs. 17.8 miles.

Tried hard…could do better….will definitely do it again. Now for the rehydration…..

The now famous Garden Fair organised to support Age Concern attracts stalls from specialist mainland nurseries along with our own local horticulturists and gardeners flock from across the Island to be inspired.  Add a bit of autumn colour to your flower beds or purchase those trees you’ve been meaning to plant – autumn is the time for tree planting.

There are loads of lovely craft stalls, a Farmer’s Market with lovely local food, exhibitions and entertainments that include the Flying Falcons, kayaking and dog agility.

Elizabethan times are brought to life by the re-enactment groups based at the front of this atmospheric old house, all dressed in the attire of the time. A special concert of Courtly Musick and Prose will happen on September 2nd.

Last Orders will also be playing on the Saturday afternoon – they’re a brilliant Irish band so make sure you catch them.

It’s a really good day out for a really good cause, supporting a charity specifically directed at the most vulnerable on the Island
Admission adults £6.00
Children under 12 free
Tickets can be purchased from the County Press shop discounted to £5.00

For further information about bookings or admission contact Age Concern on 01983 525282

Further Information

WOLVERTON MANOR · SHORWELL · ISLE OF WIGHT · PO30 3JS

Now this was the first time I have been to this event, which is shocking in its own right as I live a mere 6 miles down the road, but for some reason it has always missed my radar. Well, never again – it truly was the most fabulous ‘village’ fair – something straight out of the likes of Midsummer Murders, but without the murder of course.

Apart from the stunning, if somewhat rambunctious, country dancing performance we were all kept highly entertained by the local gun dog club display – showing you why you should never work with animals or children.

The abundance of stalls included the essential WI chutneys and cakes, a circus skills area and my two favourites the crockery smashing stall (it just feels so good) and the wooden skittles – where I valiantly tried to win a real live pig. Unfortunately bowling wooden balls at wooden skittles is a lot harder than it looks and the piggery must alas remain uninhabited.

Steadfastly ignoring the weather forecasts, as the Island’s own weather system is always wont to do, the sun shone gloriously and the fair was packed with people riffling through the stalls, lounging on the grass taking in the impressive backdrop of Northcourt Manor and even exploring the beautiful private gardens that the kind owners of the manor had opened to the public for the day.

It was in essence one of those wonderful, Island days where you sat back, looked round, sipped your Pimms and thought “Thank goodness I live on the Isle of Wight”.

After that late cold winter and sluggish early March the full solar-powered spring machine is here and in overdrive. It’s extraordinary; blossom heaving on everything that can blossom and the scent is just intoxicating, I guess this extra heat is vaporizing those aromatics as never before.

One scent you just can’t miss as you drive around the Island in your shades with the top down and your hair (if you have hair) streaming behind, is garlic.

Take a road through through any woody bit (the dell at Shorwell and the route south out of Shanklin past Greatwood are two well known spots)and you’ll find it, or rather it will find you. This is the smell of Ramsons, a very pretty (and edible) plant that illuminates our woodlands with its bright white flowers and which preludes this display, still to come, with a mighty blast of wild garlic.

So enjoy this amazing weather, breathe in the Island spring and sleep soundly in your bed, for the vampires are all dead.

We’re all looking forward to getting down the beach at lunchtime in Sandown to go fishing, play beach footie and getting the spearfishing gear out of the shed.

At the beginning of April we won The Sustain Magazine awards for governance for our eco labelling and traceability initiatives. The office has been buzzing and we’ve got lots of exciting projects on the horizon, we’ve been working with Island based Ellen MacArthur Foundation, made some gear for Isle of Wight Radio’s BT tower climb for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Foundation, made the Vestas Sailrocket promowear and even some charity t-shirts for the Japan Disaster Relief programme.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUJ6drUsycc

But most importantly we’ve been out and about in the sunshine! We’ve been camping over in some secluded woods in Shorwell, kayaking down the River Yar in Yarmouth and surfing on the west coast beaches.

We ate out at Baah Thai Restaurant in Cowes, ate Tapas from El Torro in Ventnor, and cooled down with some Minghella Ice Cream during the warm spell.

We’ve got some big projects in the pipeline for next month too!

I recently dined at the Taverner’s in Godshill where I know I will always get fantastic value for money and a fine meal of locally sourced produce is always prepared and presented with aplomb. Somehow being a gardener brings food sharply in to focus and if I am not gardening I am cooking.

As everything bursts into growth I look forward to the seasonal pleasures of wild foods and right now I await, with not little impatience, the sprouting of wild garlic.  Long before this plant ever became a modern delicacy about which food writers feel compelled to lyricise I have used the tangy freshness of young leaves in my mixed salads.

So with great delight my olfactory organs caught the faintest whiff of garlicky fragrance as I drove up Shorwell Shute – the new season Epicurean delight is upon us. So if you are visiting the Island soon be sure to drive slowly down to Shorwell windows open and breathe in!

Bluebells are starting to show, the rush is on, as a parting recommendation, go to the woods behind the Griffin Pub in Godshill and walk through an ocean of blue, quite brilliant in Spring’s dappling light.

For a stunning example of Jacobean architecture surrounded by fifteen acres of beautiful gardens, Northcourt Manor in Shorwell on the south side of the Island offers oodles of period character.

Or maybe Arreton Manor located in the fertile Arreton valley appeals with its Tudor knot gardens, Elizabethan style terraces and Tudor décor in the East Wing accommodation? Though early Jacobean in architecture parts of the manor date as early as 872 as noted in the Doomsday Book.

Another manor boasting a prestigious history dating back over a thousand years and recorded in the Doomsday Book is Gotten Manor nestled at the foot of St Catherine’s Down. Here you can experience the unique and beautifully renovated The Old House, which has lime washed walls, exposed beams, wooden floors, Persian rugs and cast iron freestanding baths within the rooms.

Interestingly all three offer amazing locally sourced and homemade breakfasts – in fact they are worth a visit for the breakfast alone. So why not step back in time and enjoy some time away soaking up the character of these grand historic houses.

Where: Located in Shorwell on the Island’s south coast, this glorious Jacobean manor is surrounded by fifteen acres of beautiful gardens, which are recognised nationally for their historic importance by English Heritage. Although the gardens are opened for tours in the summer, the manor itself is only viewable to guests staying there.

History: Offering both bed and breakfast and self catering accommodation, Northcourt is the largest of the Isle of Wight’s Jacobean manor houses and was built in 1615 on the site of a monastic building, dating back to the 13th century.

The present house was built by Sir John Leigh, a deputy governor of the Isle of Wight. It passed through onto to Sir Henry Percy Gordon, who greatly enlarged the estate, with five farms stretching to around 2500 acres. He was the Uncle of Algernon Swinburne, the Victorian poet, who stayed frequently.

Rooms: Offering quality bed and breakfast Northcourt has six en-suite bedrooms all offering TV and tea making facilities. Choose from double or twin or for less-abled visitors there is a ground floor bedroom with shower room. All rooms have their own period character such as free standing roll top bath or paneled walls and are traditionally furnished.

Facilities: Like real life Cluedo… Guests’ sitting room with wood burning stove, grand piano in the music room, pipe organ in the hall (dated 1798), full sized snooker table in the library, table tennis table and a grass tennis court in summer. Wi-fi internet access is available in parts of the house if required.

Breakfast: Breakfast is totally homemade from the bread and jam, to the home produced honey and home grown fruit from the kitchen garden. Cooked breakfasts use locally sourced produce.

Cost: Prices vary from £35 per person per night for a long stay to £55.00 pppn short stay (based upon two sharing a double or twin room).

Upgrade: Try the luxury Lady Gordon suite with its own paneled private sitting room attached.

Lovers of the South of England are in for a treat when visiting the Isle of Wight because it has a little bit of everything you might find in lowland England and more.

Firstly it has its own South Downs in the chalk ridge that runs right across the Island. Emerging to the east at Culver Cliff and to the west at Tennyson Downs and the iconic Needles rocks, the chalk ‘backbone’ has 80 per cent of the country’s early Gentian and so many pyramidal orchid that it was named the county flower in 2002.

Coated in grassland and often grazed by sheep, just like the South Downs it has a trail that can be walked from end to end. In May, as part of the Walking Festival, it is the course for ‘Walk The Wight’ in aid of the local hospice.

The land north of the central chalk ridge is flatter because it is predominantly made up from low clay cliffs, salt-marsh and mud-flats and is not dissimilar to the Avon and the Thames Valleys. The Western Yar, which enters the Solent at Yarmouth, flows through some of the most undisturbed and tranquil lowland landscape on the Island.

The  Eastern Yar drains much of the South and East Wight, making its way through important wetland habitats and emerging at the north easterly Bembridge Harbour. Here the RSPB owned marshes are of international conservation importance and provide a safe haven to thousands of waterfowl.

Soil types vary widely across the Island with alkaline soils created by the chalk and more acid soils above the clay to the North.

“Along the Forest Road it’s like Ampfield near Winchester where the Harold Hillier Abororeum is,” explained Chris Kidd, Head Gardener at Ventnor Botanic Gardens. “On one side of the road (the forest side) it’s acid and on the other alkaline.”

Parkhurst Forest, north of Newport, was mentioned in the Domesday records as a royal hunting forest and has some similarities to the New Forest. Brighstone Forest further west is more predominantly coniferous, and both have the native and endangered squirrel.

To the south of the chalk ridge the rock types are mainly sandstones of lower and upper greensands, not unlike the Sussex Weald. From Steephill Cove in Ventnor to the Western tip of the Island runs the Tennyson Heritage Coast, incorporating the Needles. This is the least developed area of the Island and perhaps the most stunning.

Close to the coast pretty little villages of thatched houses, such as Brighstone, Hulverstone and Brook are similar to those of many parts of south-west Britain. Deep sided roads overhung by trees such as those in Shorwell, and on the ‘Middle Road’ to Calbourne have carpets of bluebells and wild garlic at this time of year.

Indeed many of the roadsides are carpeted in spring flowers at this time of year, with local communities adding to the stunning display with organised plantings.

Cutting into the south west coast are chines, which are steep-sided, narrow clefts running back into the cliffs that were once ancient river valleys, and these are unique to the Isle of Wight, Dorset and Hampshire. Brook and Compton Beaches are similar to those of Cornwall and attract many surfers when the waves are high.

Also two distinct patches of Wealden Clay emerge along the cliffs between Compton and Atherfield in the West and at again at Yaverland Beach in the East. It is here that dinosaur bones can be found, just as they are along the ‘Jurassic Coast’ of Dorset. At Brook Beach a petrified forest emerges at low tide and pieces of ‘coal’ can be found encrusted with fools gold (iron pyrites).

Beaches across the Island differ widely from the wild to the tame and the sandy to those of Cowes and Freshwater that are covered in pebbles. Some areas beneath the cliffs are inaccessible, and in contrast the sands of Ryde when the tide is out is not dissimilar to Southend on Sea.

Since 1963 about half of the Isle of Wight has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There are five parcels stretching across the whole land area, totalling 189 square kilometres.