UK short breaks on the Isle of Wight

In the present financial climate, holiday-makers can be forgiven for looking at destinations a little closer to home when planning breaks away this winter. Here Travelbite.co.uk finds an engaging alternative for those looking for a short trip - a small island off the south coast - the Isle of Wight.

It may be all those history and geography school trips to France, but somehow there is something a bit more special about getting a ferry to go on holiday rather than joining what appears to be the rest of the planet on an uncomfortable, overcrowded plane.

As it is, the ferry ride from Southampton to East Cowes on the Isle of Wight is a little under an hour for those bringing vehicles or just 23 minutes for those on foot.

Cowes is infamous for its sailing regatta, which happens every August and attracts thousands of sailing fanatics and socialites. Unfairly the regatta receives the vast majority of the publicity surrounding the Isle of Wight, which is a shame because there is so much more going on.

Just five minutes drive out of Cowes is Osborne House, the formal royal residence where Queen Victoria passed away in 1901. The house was bought in 1845 by Victoria and Prince Albert before it was ripped down and rebuilt it in an Italian Renaissance style.

Highlights of the National Heritage site include Queen Victoria's bedroom, where images of Albert were placed on her bed's headboard after his death and the Billiard Room where male guests were able to relax in style while still being seen to be in the presence of the queen. There is also the spectacular Durbar room, converted as a symbol of Queen Victoria's role as head of the Indian empire and an acknowledgement of the increasing number of Indian servants she took on through her life.

The house's walled gardens and grounds are spectacular and kept in faultless condition. Keep an eye out for the bench dedicated to Victoria's alleged lover John Brown and the Swiss cottage, located half a mile away from the main house, built as a place for the queen's children and grandchildren to play.

Other cultural highlights further inland included Carisbrooke Castle, where King Charles I was imprisoned for 14 months before his execution in 1649. The castle's museum outlines the fascinating history of the site which has been occupied since pre-Roman times. Make sure to visit the actual room where Charles was imprisoned and the window through which he tried to escape. Tragically, also there's the room where his 14-year-old daughter Princess Elizabeth died from pneumonia in 1650. For those with a soft spot for donkeys, there's a selection of the "cute" animals at the castle used to demonstrate the fully working donkey wheel.

The island is a mere 27 miles across so visitors have no problem travelling from coast to coast. On the western side is the port town of Yarmouth and a little further south in Freshwater Bay is the Dimbola Lodge museum, the former home of and now permanent exhibition to Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. While the house is dedicated to her, there are numerous other photography exhibitions including pop memorabilia from the iconic Isle of Wight festival and a statue of Jimi Hendrix to commemorate his last ever live performance in the UK at the festival in 1970.

Once you're done with all the culture and want a chance to relax and indulge in a spot of escapism, the Enchanted Manor bed and breakfast near Niton is a unique and charming option. High tea is highly recommended and make sure to ask for a tour of the rooms and grounds where fairies are definitely the order of the day.

Priory Bay Hotel on the east of the island, near Seaview, is another impressive offering, set within 70 acres of land including a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts and a private beach.

The hotel's restaurant also offers some of the island's best fine-dining, and is the perfect base for the island's sailing resorts.

The island attracts almost three million visitors each year and it's easy to see why. The Isle of Wight offers a wealth of opportunities to all types of visitor and even when your trip to the island is over, it's not all doom and gloom - you still get to have one more trip on the ferry!

Further information

Travelling to the Isle of Wight is easy with Red Funnel. Vehicle ferries depart around the clock from Southampton to East Cowes. Alternatively, the Hi-Speed Red Jet foot passenger service speeds across the Solent to Cowes in just 23 minutes. For bookings and more information, please visit Red Funnel.

The Isle of Wight is one of the nine counties which goes to making up the South East region, which also includes Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

For more information on visiting South East England, including places to stay from B&Bs to luxury hotels, please see VisitSouthEastEngland.

Richard James