| Great Escapes: Isle of Wight 1 |
This small island can take longer to get
round than you might expect. There’s so much to see and do – and an amazing variety of ways to get about. The best way to
find your bearings on arrival is to tour the perimeter on an Explorer bus, which gives some fine coastal views. Then take your pick of the island’s many modes of transport, from pleasure cruisers to steam locomotives. Whatever you do, don’t miss the chance to take a ride on a chairlift for a great view of the breathtaking Needles. You can also have a go on a steam train at one of two model railways. To view the island from afar, take to the sea on one of the cruises around the bays, coves and harbours.
1 NEEDLES CRUISE AND CHAIRLIFT
Chairlifts often mean skiing, but the only white peaks on view here are the Needles. These spectacular
offshore formations were once part of the chalk downs that run across the island. Head to Needles Park on the island’s western tip for either of the two best ways of seeing them. Either catch the chairlift down to the sands of Alum Bay or make for the small jetty to the left of the chairlift point. Here you’ll be able to get on one of the regular 20-minute boat trips that cruise around the Needles. It’s only when you get up close to them that you can truly appreciate their scale. There are guides on the boats to explain how the Needles came to be shaped as they are.
2 FORT VICTORIA MODEL RAILWAY
One of two model railways on the Isle of Wight, Fort Victoria has a distinctly Teutonic flavour. That’s because only German-made Marklin rolling stock is sturdy enough to survive continuous use – or at least that’s the view of the railway’s owner. Fort Victoria is Britain’s biggest model railway, attracting enthusiasts and casual visitors from far and wide. The main layout is computer-controlled, but for £1 you can buy
15 minutes’ driving time on a separate Gauge 1 track layout with three trains. The main scenario features models of actual buildings from across Germany, 30 of them with working parts.
3 ISLE OF WIGHT MODEL RAILWAY
Cowes’ model railway has a broader sweep than the one at Fort Victoria. There are some lovely display cases of antique sets and the walls are hung with the history of the island’s full-sized railways. Three impressive track layouts displayed behind glass
feature meticulously sculpted landscapes of the English countryside and Devil’s Canyon in America. There’s also a children’s layout, with a familiar-looking sky-blue tank engine. The museum’s shop sells models from many different manufacturers and for various gauges, including some second-hand stock.
4 CLASSIC BOAT MUSEUM
On an island that has the sun-kissed Solent to its north, it’s no surprise that much of this collection at Newport is made up of opulent pleasure cruisers and surf-clipping speedsters. Most of these aquatic works of art are unique, like the pretty-in-pink Lady Penelope, or the sublimely geometric form of Lyndora, which once raced with a 3.6-litre V8 Ford engine and a BMW steering wheel. There are also some classic sailboats, a chandlery exhibit and plenty more to
satisfy those with a taste for the traditional in
seafaring. The museum’s knowledgeable curators are always happy to guide you around the finer points of any exhibit.
5 ISLE OF WIGHT BUS MUSEUM
Even if you don’t think you have much interest in buses, this museum is still well worth a visit. The
vehicle displays themselves are more stimulating than you might expect, and there’s plenty of
inside information to satisfy the technically minded. But this museum’s real strength is that it takes a broader view too, acknowledging that buses have played an important part in the everyday lives of generations of Isle of Wight residents and visitors. You will find yourself instantly taken back in time by the old chalkboard timetables and bus stop signs. Particularly worth a look is the history of Southern Vectis, the island’s long-established bus company.
6 ISLE OF WIGHT STEAM RAILWAY
You could be forgiven for thinking you’d stepped into a time warp at any one of the railway’s four
stations (Wootton, Havenstreet, Ashey and Smallbrook Junction), so closely do they mirror a bygone age. Naturally, the staff dress in full period uniform. Whether you’re a black-fingernailed engine-lover or historical drama buff, the sights, sounds and smells of the steam railway make the past come to life. One ticket gives unlimited travel on the day: third-class fares are £7.50 for adults and £4 for kids; add £3 for first class.
7 EXPLORER BUS
A bus ride can be a day out in itself, as this regular service laps the island clockwise and anti-clockwise. If you stay on board for the whole trip, it will take you about four hours. Since it calls at all major towns and points of interest, you can stop off to explore at your leisure, or make a note of places to see later. An all-day Southern Vectis Rover ticket is £7 for adults and £3.50 for kids.
8 ISLAND SPEEDWAY
Watch daredevil motorcyclists sliding round the shale oval in a sport that continues to enjoy
grassroots popularity around the world. It’s a noisy, quick-fire form of motorsport, with no nonsense
– and no brakes! Enjoy hotly contested Premier League races with an international field of riders on 500cc single-cylinder bikes. You can grab a bite to eat and a pint while you’re there. Adult admission is £9, and accompanied kids under 15 are £1.
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Tourist information
Tel 01983 813818
Refreshments
Yarbridge Inn
Tel 01983 406212
(by the Brading crossroads)
Attractions
Needles Park Chairlift
Alum Bay
Tel 0870 458 0022
Web Click Here
Fort Victoria Model Railway Yarmouth
Tel 01983 761553
Classic Boat Museum
Newport
Tel 01983 533493
Isle of Wight Bus Museum Newport
Tel 01983 533352
Isle of Wight Steam Railway
Main station, Havenstreet
Tel 01983 882204
Web Click Here
Explorer Bus
Tel 01983 532373
Web Click Here
Island Speedway Ryde
Tel 01983 811180
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