We are always up for any excuse to have a weekend away in the van. Plus weekends away mean minimal holiday days need to be used allowing more time to go away over the year!
The crossing to Isle of Wight, with Wight Link, has several options for routes including:
- Lymington to Yarmouth (40 minutes)
- Portsmouth to Fishbourne (45 minutes)
- Portsmouth to Ryde (22 minutes although this route is not for cars and only foot passengers and cyclists)
Booking the ferry was easy online, I downloaded the app, which gives a QR code for quick check in on arrival, however, the registration of the vehicle was recognised and we were through very easily. On the way back we were early and offered to go on the ferry due before us (they departed once an hour). Staff were very friendly and accommodating and it was good to see all the dogs on the crossing – we were not sure how April would be as she has never been on a boat and not the best with some floors but she seemed to love it! There was a poster on the ferry that estimated there would be 4.6 million passengers during 2023.
We had booked to pitch the camper van at Grange Farm in Brightstone. We managed to get a pitch right near the edge of the campsite overlooking the sea. We had an electric hook up grass pitch. The site had really good facilities with toilets, showers – even a bath which we have never seen before on a campsite, and more for kids including two playgrounds. There were also goats, pigs, alpacas and rabbits everywhere! They also have two street food options onsite – one offers breakfasts, fish and chips and drinks and the other wood fired pizzas. There is also a shop with loads to offer and you can pre order fresh pastries and breads the day before for collection the following morning. Staff here were lovely and couldn’t be more helpful.
You could walk directly from the farm down to the beach and walk along the front and it is located on Military Road, which stretches from Freshwater to Blackgang. The road has scenic sea views for the entire stretch.
There is so much to see and do on the Isle of Wight and something for everyone. We managed to pick a weekend where there were a few things going on:
- an ultra walking/running challenge on where participants were completing a route the circumference of the island, which is 106km in total, either over 1 or 2 days
- a cycling event much the same as the above with different distances on offer including the full 100km or the 55km option
- a beer festival at the steam railway
We did a lot of hiking, found a delightful tea room called Tandem Team Room serving a lot of fresh homemade cakes and is also a B&B.
There are so many walking routes and friendly faces in local pubs. Some of the footpaths were not as maintained as we thought they would be, but roads are not overly busy – the coastal path was lovely with stunning views.
Of course I had to take the opportunity to visit the Mermaid Bar and will admit until we were there this weekend, I actually had no idea that this gin was made in the Isle of Wight.
If you are interested in a short break off the coast of England with stunning landscapes, beaches, and something for everyone young and old the Isle of Wight is definitely one to check out. The Isle of Wight is also very camper van friendly and we didn’t have an issue navigating any roads or parking. It does follow the same rules as mainland England so wild camping is not allowed unless you have specific permission from a land owner.
This was the third time I had been to Isle of Wight – once when I was at school, once when our son was younger and now this trip. We will definitely return!
Ferry crossing was gifted but all opinions are my own.
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