Looking out at the view of the Solent and seeing Wightlink Ferries head over to the island, I realised that I have only done a day trip there in the 6 years I have lived in Southsea. I decided to get on my phone and book something and what better time than the Coronation Bank Holiday wknd?
This meant I was going to miss out on the street party my neighbours were organisng, but it meant I could have a few relaxing days on what I have been told is the most idyllic place to go on holiday.
The Crossing
We booked with Wightlink Ferries as their port is literally a 5-minute drive from our home. We tested this out when setting off to queue to board our ferry!
Wightlink Ferries really do run a smooth operation and this was our first time trying out the trip across the water using our car. We arrived an hour before travel and were directed into a lane. I liked the fact there is a little visitor centre where you can get out of your car and sit in the lounge area or go to the loo if need be.
Being directed onto the ferry, we loved how slick the workforce is by helping people to get onboard and off again as quickly and efficiently as possible. We ventured upstairs and bought a cup of tea and by the time we had drunk it, headed off out on the top deck to look at the sea view, we were being directed again to go back to our car. Being a magazine fanatic, I loved that there is a free issue onboard for you to read that shows lovely places to visit on the island and is well worth a read. Once we headed off the ramp and into Fishbourne, we followed the directions to our place of stay.
Where We Stayed
Because I love camping and have a bell tent with all the accessories, we looked at good campsites on the island. I realised we didn’t camp at all last year and really wanted to go and relax somewhere. I liked the idea of 2 swimming pools and so we booked to stay at Orchards Park. They are based on the west side of the island near Yarmouth, in a place called Newbridge.
Arriving early, we didn’t realise it would be such a quick ride over from Fishbourne and the staff were so kind to us, they let us book in and start setting up camp straight away. We loved the campsite which is award-winning and has facilities that are top notch. The washing up station resides inside a building and is so clean and tidy. There are so many washing-up sinks with a launderette and having stayed at quite a few campsites, I feel this is somewhere that really has thought about its customers and the experience they might have while staying there.
On our second day, we had torrential rain for most of the day but the indoor swimming pool made up for this and we spent a good amount of time in here enjoying the pool and the cafe that has hot drinks and snacks to buy.
You only have to look at the reviews to see how well the site owners keep this place to a high standard, having stayed at a few campsites I would definitely go back again. Being so close to Yarmouth and The Needles made this little spot really appealing for me and I also loved how it sat in the countryside so you really felt like there was an escapism.
Food Places We Tried
As we were camping and wanted to spend time at the campsite relaxing and delving into our pizza oven we took with us, we didn’t go to as many places as we normally would but when we weren’t relaxing by the tent, we ventured off to places.
The first food place we tried was Off The Rails in Yarmouth. it is a unique place to visit and is Yarmouth’s former train station which overlooks Yarmouth marshes and is just stunning. On a warm day, you can sit outside and pretend you are waiting for an old steam train to arrive!
It is only a 5-minute walk from the Yarmouth Wightlink Ferry terminal that welcomes guests over from Lymington and has won multiple awards for being so dog friendly. I haven’t ever visited anywhere that has such an extensive dog menu with dog ice cream, dry meals and treats, I can honestly say that if you have a dog then they will love it here as much as you.
Afternoon tea just called to my brain on the drive over to this quaint place and so that is what we had, It consisted of scones with cream and jam. Is there still a debate on which gets applied first? Anyway, I smothered my scone with jam first and it was a delight to have. There was a wide range of cakes on the counter which made it hard to choose. My son being lactose intolerant and gluten-free managed to have a vegan brownie with vegan ice cream so I think it is nice and a relief that this place thinks about allergy sufferers as well.
Called The Station Express, the menu is as quirky as the restaurant itself starting out with a dog menu. Moving on to the breakfast menu, you can see there is a huge selection and is a very popular choice to have. Clocking up a few choices in my head, I feel I would like to come back here and try this part of the menu the next time I visit. It is such a unique place and I feel this restaurant has a relaxed vibe, where you wind down and look at the scenery but then appreciate the good food the chefs serve up.
On our last day before getting on the ferry home, we visited Comic Coffee in Newport which is a cool place for my 12-year-old to explore but also serves up a very nice breakfast. Their motto is “We’re really into pop culture – that’s our vibe. Cool music, comics to read, superhero art and original Batman on TV. But we don’t stop there – we have tons of great merchandise too. Everything from Superhero masks and Warhammer sets, to Comicoffee mugs and clothing.”
Not only were we excited by all the comics, memorabilia and the very well-painted Mandalorian on the wall, but we also really enjoyed the food. Looking at the menu, we ordered the regular full English breakfast called ‘The Apprentice’ and where my son couldn’t eat certain things on his plate the owner swapped other ingredients out for him so he still had a very hearty plate of food to eat! The owner was really nice and had a soft spot for Southsea and the indie vibes we are lucky to have in our community. He was also interested in the places we had been and if we had enjoyed our time on the Isle Of Wight. This place is what I feel Southsea is all about, like-minded folk really loving the independent vibe and supporting each other.
This comic-loving cafe supports the local creative scene and holds lots of events like retro gaming nights and local artist events to support the artist scene on the island. Having a cafe in Newport and West Cowes, Comic Coffee is definitely a go-to for me whenever I visit the island again.
Places We Visited
Being an English Heritage member, the one attraction that has always caught my eye is Osbourne House. Whenever I read a member’s magazine, this tourist spot always has a double-spread promotion and looks like it would be an uplifting experience.
Arriving at 11am, we didn’t expect it to be such a family-friendly site. The first thing we noticed was a huge cinema screen on the lawn showing The Lion King! When visiting the marquee close by for a cup of tea, we realised they had fabulous cinema food on offer to buy. Hot dogs, popcorn and nachos, which was a lovely surprise.
We ventured around the house and were blown away by the architecture and the ambience of this seaside residence that was Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s holiday home and favourite destination.
One of the loveliest things about Osbourne House and the work English Heritage has done here is the locations you can visit while on site. There are quite a few cafes around the grounds and lots to see and do. The day we visited was so sunny and warm and a perfect opportunity to visit Osbourne Bay. A walk down from the house where you can view the selection of rare species of trees that Prince Albert planted mid 19th Century allows for a nice potter to appreciate the love of botany that Albert had. His passion for landscaping has left a very impressive set of grounds.
At the seaside point of Osbourne Bay on a nice clear day, you can look across and see the Spinnaker Tower and wave across to Portsmouth. There is a cafe here and the beach where you can eat, grab a drink or buy ice cream in the warmer months of the year. We had a picnic here and had a little stroll on the beach before heading up to the gift shop.
Heading towards the car, I wandered around the gift shop and found out that there was a fab selection of gins to buy. Mermaid Gin was on display but also a very small batch gin company from the island which was a lovely touch. I was informed that if you are an English Heritage member you can get 10% off the price of the gin display which is always handy to know if you ever visit there.
After visiting Cowes and Osbourne House, we headed back over to the west side of the Island and after stopping for afternoon tea at Yarmouth we headed straight over to The Needles. Having seen this spectacular viewpoint on the TV and in photos, I thought I knew what I was going to see but nothing prepares you for the most picturesque view in real life the first time you visit here. It just blew me away and even though I am scared of heights and didn’t fancy the chairlift, just standing on the viewing platform and looking across the water was still breathtaking. I was struggling to walk at this point having walked so much around Osbourne House so I didn’t venture too far but if you have the time it is a lovely place to visit and there is a fantastic walk you can do to get better views. Next time I would like to take one of the boat cruises that really does make this area of beauty shine. Offering panoramic views of Alum Bay and only being £8.00 for adults and £5.00 for children makes this a fun thing to do.
Independent Shops We Loved
During our holiday break, we visited West Cowes and explored the independent scene there. Having a lovely stretch of indies to explore made us want to potter. Rosalie’s is a cool indie that makes you feel like you are in France. If you think handmade and artisan then you are on the right track. Stocking locally grown organic vegetables and a fabulous deli selection that comes from either France or the Isle of Wight means you if you are a foodie, you are in for a treat! Along with plants, local milk and French cheeses, this indie brings all the love of food to one shop and makes you appreciate all the delights you can purchase from here.
That Shop is a place my son has loved for the last 6 years. Being a huge Lego fan, the shop owner collects and sells rare Lego figures and really knows his stuff when it comes to Star Wars and other collections. Only selling authentic Lego figures that are never fake really makes my son smile and selling cool figures for around £5.00 doesn’t break the bank so well worth the visit.
On the last day after stopping off in Newport for a hearty breakfast, we headed over to Ryde to explore the wide range of indies there before jumping on the ferry.
Walking up and down Union Street we realised that a lot of shops were closed as it was the bank holiday Monday, but we did manage to find some gems that we loved.
Beachcomber was a really lovely shop. It has all the love you can imagine from a seaside tourist spot but with some extra love thrown in. The owner is so attentive and brings a warmth to this independent that makes it stand out on this stretch.
Beachcomber offers unique and beautiful coastal-themed home decor and gifts that make you want to buy something that reminds you of the coast and the sea. I loved the heart-shaped shell garlands that were for sale. I also loved the ceramic whale jugs that are on display in the window that can be used for lots of things.
This location has a Facebook page but isn’t on Instagram and doesn’t have a website but I feel this makes you have to go and visit and see how well-curated this little gem is and look at the coast-style products for yourself.
Summary
I fell in love with the island and I haven’t even explored it all yet. Knowing there is such a cool holiday destination that is so close by and easy to get to and yet makes you feel like you could be 1000 miles away, really makes me want more.
Portsmouth locals can hop over and enjoy this foodie heaven destination with its quaint villages and independent boutique shopping ideas and also know that they can hop over for a day or weekend without feeling too tired from travelling. This then allows for more time to enjoy this laid-back island that has chilled vibes written all over it.
The fact the island is so small being only 23 miles by 13 miles means you can spend your morning on the west side and then venture over to the east side in the afternoon. I can’t wait to find more cool independent places to eat and venture back to explore parts I haven’t been to.
Feature Photo – My own which shows just how stunning this part of the island actually is!
