STUFF WE LIKE TO DO
As we live in St Helens ourselves, albeit in a house far less cute than the little house on the green, we like to think that we know all about the places to go and the things to do on the Isle of Wight - and not just the obvious ones such as The Needles.
So what do we like doing on our days off? Well, we have been known to strap on the walking boots from time to time to take advantage of the many miles of public footpaths on the island.
In St Helens itself, the obvious place to aim for is the coast. Turn right out of the front door, then second right down Mill Road, which will bring you to the Old Mill Wall, the narrow causeway that takes you out to the spit of land known as the Duver. If you've brought a dog, this is a great place to take it. In the summer it's also a top spot for a picnic - try and grab one of the shady places under the trees before somebody else does.
From the Duver you can follow the coastal path to Seaview, a village very popular with second-homers and one that has managed to hold onto its charm.
But from St Helens you can also head inland, along the edge of what was once a llarge tidal creek, Brading Haven, before the land was reclaimed for farming many years ago. Turn left out of the front door, crossing the green to reach Upper Green Road, head towards the Post Office and then go straight over the mini-roundabout. Cross the road so you pass the bus shelter and follow the road out of the village. After a couple of hundred yards that pavement runs out and there follows a short stretch on the road, and for this reason we would advise NOT taking young children on this route, as this can be quite a busy road.
After the fifty yards or so of road walking, you'll come to an unmade lane on the left (there's a sign to 'A&R Welding'). After an unpromising start past a couple of houses and light industrial buildings, this brings you to open countryside, with the path following what was once the railway line linking St Helens to Brading. Much of the land around here is now owned by the RSPB, and this is a great place for birdwatching, so bring your binoculars. From here you can continue to the small town of Brading (once an important port) or turn left before then to cross the River Yar and strike out towards Culver Down, the high ground that forms the eastern end of the chalk spine that runs across the island to the Needles.
Occasionally, of course, we like to walk further afield. Heading out west, there is some lovely walking on Mottistone Down, home of one of the island's few notable ancient monuments, the Longstone. If you're a member of the National Trust you can park in the NT car park for free at Mottistone Manor (which has very nice gardens, by the way).
Even further west is the better known Tennyson Down, which leads out towards The Needles. It's usually quite bracing up here, so have bobble hats at the ready. The views, weather permitting, are stupendous. Tennyson marks the start of the home straight of Walk the Wight, the annual charity walk that takes you 26 miles from Bembridge in the east to the Needles in the west in the course of one painful day. (Top Walk the Wight tip from Paul: make sure your boots fit before you start.)
At a considerably lower altitude are the delights of Newtown Creek, a very quiet corner of the island between Yarmouth and Cowes. They almost built a nuclear power station here in the sixties, but we're very glad they didn't, as it's lovely as it is. There's a birdwatching hide here so, again, take your 'nocs.
On the south of the island, Ventnor is a resort that has become quite fashionable in the last couple of years, and is now home to several upmarket hotels and eateries (though quite a few charity shops remain). Starting from La Falaise car park at the southern end of the seafront, there is a very pleasant coastal walk that takes you towards the Botanical Garden, and beyond, if you feel up to it.
If you've got a little one with you and are looking for buggy-friendly walks, try the seafront at Appley (park for free at Puckpool Park and walk towards the boating lake at Ryde) or the old railway line between Alverstone and Newchurch, which also follows the River Yar for some of the way.
BLOODY HELL, IT'S RAINING AGAIN...
Of course, it sometimes rains on the island, in which case a walk might not be that much fun. So what are the wet weather options?
Well, Brading Roman Villa is not far and worth a visit, with plenty of interactive things to keep the kids interested. The attached cafe is pretty good too. They've recently been doing a 'Big Dig' there, so there should be some new finds on display.
Further afield, Osborne House, Queen Victoria's old haunt, is an obvious choice offering plenty to see both inside and out. It's owned by English Heritage. It also has a good restaurant, where we've enjoyed a couple of fine Sunday lunches.
National Trust wise, though the island has plenty of NT-protected land, it isn't that blessed with places to actually visit. Bembridge has its windmill, though you might struggle to make that visit last more than half an hour. Newtown has its Old Town Hall, which again is a quickie. The Needles Old Battery merits a longer visit, but the catch there is that unless you're disabled you're not allowed to park close to it, which means either waiting for the special bus or a walk of about a mile from the Needles Pleasure Park, neither of which will be much fun in the rain.
If you fancy a bit of shopping, Newport is your best bet, though don't expect any covered malls to protect you from the weather. It boasts many of the regular high street names, including M&S, as well as a smattering of individual shops. If you're in Newport anyway the Quay Arts Centre, housed in a former brewery beside the River Medina, is worth a look. It sells various, mainly handcrafted, gifts and has a decent cafe that is understandably popular at lunchtime with council workers based at nearby County Hall. Be warned, though: for some bizarre reason, Quay Arts is closed on a Sunday. Newport is also home to the island's only multiplex cinema, the uninspiring Cineworld, with its overwhelming pong of popcorn. (There's another, more traditional, cinema in Ryde, The Commodore.)
