IoW ideas

[lakelandterrier]

We are spending a week in the IoW mid Aug - boat on East Cowes Marina, staying at Waverley Park Holuday Centre

Have spent very little time boating in thea area- apart from a cruise around the island, trips to Alum Bay - obviously the Wheatsheaf - what day / half day trips / destinations would people recommend from Cowes.

Will have Mrs T & the teenager terriers along, so more fun family days out than intrepid distance trips.

Are there any local garages who'll fill 20l cans instead of paying fuel barge prices?

Many thanks in advance as always

LT

[BigE]

I used to live in West Cowes and from memory the best garage to use would be in Newport - Sainsbury's now. I'm assuming you'll have a car.

As for days out, there is the steam railway and either Robin Hill or Blackgang Chine 'theme' parks. Other than this it's all beach stuff and Victorian seaside stuff like arcades. There is an ice rink and bowling ally in Ryde. Cinema in Newport.

Not sure if any of this helps.

[BIRPT]

Depends what you're all in to really. A couple of ideas:

A trip up the Beaulieu to Bucklers Hard, then a short taxi ride to the National Motor Museum

Across to Portsmouth & you have Gunwharf Quays (good mix of shopping/eating/drinking) plus plenty of other things in & around the area (Spinnaker Tower, Historic Dock Yards / Mary Rose, Blue Reef Aquarium etc)

[lakelandterrier]

Thanks for the thoughts BigE and BIRPT.

I was thinking of more where to take the family for RIB excursions 1/2day and full day - any good beaches for swimming / snorkelling / BBQ, boat acessible places for lunch (know about Follly and Wheatsheaf), ringo-ing spots, areas for a bit of fishingetc..... how far could one venture e.g. Poole westwards, as I say,don't really know the area.

[wellhouse]

Newtown Creek near yarmouth is lovely, couple of beaches, water inside is pretty warm for a swim, you can walk along the west side of the creek and there is a pub towards the end. Small harbour fee collected by the harbour master by boat. (he'll find you). Watch the tide and shallows going through the entrance. Keyhaven is another one, pub or boat club for food and a walk up the spit to the fort. (water ferry if the kids don't like walking)

[BigE]

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

Thanks for the thoughts BigE and BIRPT.

I was thinking of more where to take the family for RIB excursions 1/2day and full day - any good beaches for swimming / snorkelling / BBQ, boat acessible places for lunch (know about Follly and Wheatsheaf), ringo-ing spots, areas for a bit of fishingetc..... how far could one venture e.g. Poole westwards, as I say,don't really know the area.

Having spent all afternoon at Hurst Spit (diagonally across from Yarmouth) yesterday, I can very much recommend it. It's easy to bring the boat onto and protected by the spit, fine for swimming and BBQ's. If you want a Sandy beach, go across to Totaland Bay anddrop anchor there, we did that on Saturday afternoon. Lovely and sandy and protected by the headland. You can then either go for a trip out to the Needles (as we did) or go back East to Colwell Bay and go to The Hut for dinner https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...Nh-l802cJ3CpNA

You moore on one of their buoys and they send a little RIB Taxi to bring you asure for dinner. It is highly rated.

On the East of the Island you could drop anchor off St Helens, again all sandy and nice. There if you go ashore you could go to the Baywatch Beach Cafe which serves nice seafood dinners and really is on the beach almost.

If you go to Newtown Creek, The New Inn attracts lots of sailors and the food is first class. You moore at Shalfleet Quay and walk up to the road.

If you want more details or places marked on a map, just let me know.

[John Kennett]

You could head east for a day trip to Chichester Harbour. East Head is a very popular anchorage with a great sandy beach. Pubs at Itchenor, Bosham, Dell Quay.

[Budgie1]

I would suggest East Head or Studland (about 30nm each way from Cowes)

[Bucksribster]

There is also Priory Bay - a lovely beach and only just around the corner from Bembridge. Be careful
on a falling tide though as you can get caught.

[Fender]

Hurst / keyhaven
Newtown creek ( my favourite for a summers day )
Lots of secluded bays ( totland / alum / scratchels / priory / thorness / osbourne )
Poole, studland and brown sea island aren't that far away

Just spent the weekend afloat on the solent and still grinning from ear to ear, what a amazing place

[BigE]

Originally Posted by Fender

Hurst / keyhaven
Newtown creek ( my favourite for a summers day )
Lots of secluded bays ( totland / alum / scratchels / priory / thorness / osbourne )
Poole, studland and brown sea island aren't that far away

Just spent the weekend afloat on the solent and still grinning from ear to ear, what a amazing place

I keep my boat at Keyhaven so I;m out as often as I can. This past week has been great, out 4 times since Friday.

[lakelandterrier]

Thanks, everyone,

Sounds like some great ideas, a mix of day runs and local stuff and only 7 days to do them!

I'll get the chart and tide-tables out - as Buckribster says, wouldn't want to be embarrassed stranded on a falling tide anywhere

LT

[gtflash]

Poole quay is a lovely. Maybe an hour away?