It may be just a short ferry ride from the mainland, but the journey to the Isle of Wight seems to carry you back to a calmer, more peaceful way of life. Discover the pleasures of this delightful island for yourself from one of our holiday cottages on the Isle of Wight. Over half of the Isle of Wight is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and with more than 500 miles of footpaths, it’s easy to make the most of the unspoilt countryside here. There are excellent beaches all round the island, with Alum Bay a particular favourite because of its highly unusual multicoloured cliffs. The main coastal resorts are Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor, Yarmouth and Ryde, all within easy reach of our holiday cottages in the Isle of Wight, and each offers everything you need for a traditional seaside holiday. Make sure you pay a visit to Osborne House, built as a holiday getaway for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, which is still very much as they left it. Carisbrooke Castle also has royal connections – it was used a prison for Charles 1 in the aftermath of the Civil War.