Regatta Cottage
Cowes and the Isle of Wight - The Home of Yachting
The start gun at the Cowes Yacht Squadron
Cowes is known the world over as the mecca of yachting, it is especially well known for the popular Cowes Week Regatta at the beginning of August.
There are many restaurants offering a variety of fare including Indian, Thai, the local catch of the day and good old fashioned fish and chips.
There is an abundance of pubs in Cowes. Allegedly, there are more pubs per square mile than in any other town in the UK! Many of the pubs do food and the Anchor often has live bands playing during the summer months.
Cowes has narrow streets and as well as many shops selling the latest sailing gear there are a number of local craft shops where you can usually find that unique present for the man or woman who has everything!
There are some lovely walks within close proximity. From Regatta Cottage you can follow the circular walk along the river path to Newport and back. There are a number of guide books at the house providing details of this and other walks on the Island.
The Red Arrows display at Cowes Week
Within the vicinity of Cowes are opportunities for cliff walking, swimming and wind surfing at the sandy beaches, sailing and fishing, boat trips and bird-watching trips on the River.
The sea is never far away, and a walk through a narrow alley will take you to the marina, where you can stand and admire the cruisers and yachts which help to make Cowes what it is.
The harbour is busy with yachts, sailing dinghies and fishing boats of all descriptions, with a full racing schedule throughout the year.
Cowes is a beautiful town, popular with sailors and holiday makers alike. Cowes is a splendid base for many of the Island's attractions, including walking, cycling, golf and cultural trips around some of the historic buildings.
Osborne House in East Cowes, is well worth a visit. It was the Summer Home of Queen Victoria for many years. The house and gardens are open to visitors during the summer months and there is usually an open air 'Last Night at the Proms' concert in the grounds sometime during July.
Walking between Niton and St Lawrence
Alum Bay near Yarmouth is the home to the famous coloured sands. A chairlift operates from the Needles Pleasure Park down to the beach.
Ventnor on the south side of the Island enjoys a microclimate of its own. The Botanical Gardens have a variety of unusual plant life. The town itself is perched on a hill and there are several pubs and restaurants overlooking the sea where one can spend a pleasant day watching the world go by.
Blackgang Chine is a Pleasure Park built on the edge of a cliff on the south side of the Island. There are various fairground type rides, plus Wild West Land, Dinosaur Land, Haunted House and a variety of different attractions to keep the children entertained.
The Isle of Wight Lavender Farm is also worth a visit. The Old Dairy Tearoom has some interesting goodies to try out - lavender ice-cream and lavender scones and cakes! For a more traditional cream tea we suggest you try out one of the many old fashioned tearooms in Shanklin.
The Island offers the cyclist dedicated cycleways - many following the course of disused railway lines, signed routes, miles of bridleways and quiet country lanes as an alternative to busy main roads.
The Isle of Wight plays host to 8 golf clubs, from 9 to 18 holes. For fun and gentle activity, wander down to the Needles View Pitch and Putt, set on the slopes of Headon Warren, between the national Coastal Path and Alum Bay Chine. Here you can have a crack at the challenging nine-hole course, covering two acres, while enjoying stunning views of the Needles and superb coastal views across the Solent.
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