As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to the Isle of Wight, Rhiannon Batten picks out a selection of B&Bs, hotels, self-catering accommodation and campsites on this glorious island off the south coast of England.
It may be only 23 miles by 13 miles but the Isle of Wight punches above its weight when it comes to the choice of accommodation on offer within its diminutive terrain. The island has embraced the development of boutique B&Bs, shown itself a leader in producing self-catering cottages with originality and style and even branched out into bedrooms in treehouses. And while the island’s grand dame hotels continue to set high standards of service and comfort, they’ve also cottoned on to the smaller touches that make a big splash when it comes to setting themselves apart.
Not least of them being a passion for the local environment, culture and produce. Many of the island’s accommodation providers actively promote interesting ways to explore the fabulous scenery that surrounds them, from bike rides along the quietest country lanes with a convivial guide to clifftop hikes complete with picnics of local goodies.
Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Traveller's Guide to the Isle of Wight:
Green = Places to stay Blue = Local food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities
Places to stay in the Isle of Wight
Bedford Lodge, Shanklin, Isle of Wight, UK
The Bedford Lodge is situated on a leafy avenue in the heart of picturesque Shanklin Old Village, close to quaint village shops, thatched pubs and excellent eateries. Just minutes from the sea and close to the bus and train routes. bedfordlodge.co.uk
Brook House, Isle of Wight, England
A 20-minute amble from the nearest beach and surrounded by three acres of glorious gardens, this period guesthouse is kept cosy with the help of a biomass boiler. brookhouseiow.co.uk
North Court, Isle of Wight, England
Book one of the seven en-suite guest rooms in this stately Jacobean manor house and you’ll find each one has its own period charm, whether that’s a clawfoot bath or ancient panelling. northcourt.info
The Little Gloster, Isle of Wight, England
A recipe for the perfect foodie seaside break: a seaside bar and restaurant run by a Danish chef passionate about his locally produced ingredients, within Scandinavian-style three-room B&B. thelittlegloster.com
Shepherd's Hut by Secret Pond, Isle of Wight, England
Take a secluded, woodland site on an organic farm. Throw in a ‘secret’ pond. Add a Shepherd’s Hut supplied with a bed and a wood-burning stove and you’ve got a recipe for the perfect off-grid escape. godshillparkfarm.net
The Old House, Isle of Wight, England
This place certainly lives up to its name. Part of Gotten Manor’s collection of character-packed accommodation – visitors can also opt for self-catering – parts of the building date back to the 14th century. gottenmanor.co.uk
Lisle Combe, Isle of Wight, England
Built in 1815 by Lord Yarborough as a country retreat for his brother, Captain Pelham, and now owned by the descendants of poet Alfred Noyes, Lisle Combe stands proudly above the island’s south coast. lislecombe.co.uk
The George Hotel, Isle of Wight, England
Whether soaking them up from behind the brasserie’s huge glass windows or from a table out on the terrace, you’ll find it hard not to be distracted from your supper by the fabulous views of the Solent – and Hampshire beyond it. thegeorge.co.uk
The Hambrough, Isle of Wight, England
Technically more of a high-end restaurant with rooms than a hotel, all but one of the bedrooms at this chic hideaway overlooks the sea. Book in for a decadent dinner at the restaurant and then stumble upstairs to bed to afterwards. thehambrough.com
Priory Bay Hotel, Isle of Wight, England
Set on a 70-acre estate, complete with outdoor swimming pool and private beach, the eclectic range of rooms varies from an oak-beamed attic suite to modern seaside-style apartments to an opulent boudoir lined with 14th-century panelling. ariaresorts.co.uk
Seaview, Isle of Wight, England
The hotel’s 13 bedrooms are split between a modern annexe and a former bank building and all are individually decorated, some with nautical blue and white, others with hints of driftwood or flashes of hot pink. seaviewhotel.co.uk
Hillside Hotel, Isle of Wight, England
Hillside prides itself on its painstakingly crisp service and, with its light, neutral décor, bleached wood garden furniture and individual goose down duvets on double beds, this 12-bedroom bolthole wouldn’t look out of place in an episode of Borgen. hillsideventnor.co.uk
Brookside Cottage, Shorwell, Isle of Wight, UK
Delightful cottage in centre of picturesque Shorwell village, 2 miles from the sea. Well furnished with all modern comforts. Beautiful garden with babbling brook. Ferry inclusive deal available, including for foot ferry passengers. westwightcottages.co.uk
2 The Granary, Brighstone, Isle of Wight
A charming, grade II listed, 4 star, Isle of Wight holiday cottage, originally part of Brighstone Mill. The cottage is located beside a quiet lane on edge of popular village of Brighstone, 1/2 mile from sea. Upside down layout with enclosed garden. westwightcottages.co.uk
The Lighthouse, Isle of Wight, England
One of three cottages at Steephill Cove managed by the same owners, the Lighthouse, as the name suggests has wonderful coastal views, especially from its octagonal kitchen-diner and wide decked terrace. steephill-cove.co.uk
Ramillies, Isle of Wight, England
Sleeping up to six, in three bedrooms, the walls and tables of this Victorian seaside villa are draped with such a wide array of collectables that if you took time to admire them all you might never make it out of the door. antoniaspearls.co.uk
Into The Woods, Isle of Wight, England
Up on the north coast, surrounded by farmland and woods, the Treehouse sleeps up to six and is one for style-minded treehuggers. isleofwighttreehouse.com
The Chalet, Isle of Wight, England
A two-minute hop to the beach in Fishbourne, this simple timber cabin sleeps two. It’s a compact little space, with a cosy en-suite bedroom and an open-plan kitchen, living area and dining room. sykescottages.co.uk
Pavilion Cottage, Isle of Wight, England
Set in the grounds of Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s majestic island home, this one-time cricket pavilion now sees service as a comfortable, and very contemporary, two-bedroom cottage. english-heritage.org.uk
Calbourne Watermill Cottages, Isle of Wight, England
The only working water mill on the Isle of Wight, Calbourne has plenty of history. Dating back to the Domesday Book and surrounded by oak woodland, with its café, shop, mill tours and pottery it’s a popular spot for many of the island’s daytripppers. calbournewatermill.co.uk
The Old Club House, Isle of Wight, England
The National Trust manages 15 historic holiday cottages on the island, from a 1970s lovenest with dramatic sea views to an old stone farmhouse tucked in a bucolic valley. This one, sleeping five, is a former golf clubhouse. nationaltrust.org.uk
Undermount, Isle of Wight, England
In foodie Bonchurch, home to a good pub and the renowned Pond Café, this three-bedroom house is part of a large Victorian mansion overlooking the sea. undermountbonchurch.co.uk
Whitwell Station, Isle of Wight, England
If you’ve ever passed a tumbledown former railway station and fantasised about breathing life back into it, let these three cottages be your inspiration. whitwellstation.co.uk
'The Shack' - Vintage Vacations, Isle of Wight
Located in a dingly dell on the Isle of Wight (in a secret location near Cowes) "the shack", bijoux but perfectly formed, has two bedrooms, a kitchette and is peaceful and within reach of the beach, with a bbq, swing and hammock in a private garden. theshacks.co.uk/the-shack
The Mission, Isle of Wight, England
A converted tin Mission Hall circa 1890, now a highly original four-bedroom holiday home in the Isle of Wight. Sleeps up to 8 in retro seaside splendour. One of a kind! theshacks.co.uk/the-mission
Ninham Country Holidays, Isle of Wight, England
Surrounded by 120 acres of woodland, fields and farmland, and only a mile and a half from Shanklin, the site has two nicely spaced camping areas, two self-catering properties and a clutch of mobile homes to rent. ninham-holidays.co.uk
Silver Glades, Isle of Wight, England
On first appearance this site, two and a half miles east of Yarmouth, looks like any other traditional, family-owned static caravan park. Delve a bit deeper, though, and you’ll find it’s an intimate kind of place. silvergladesiow.co.uk
Vintage Vacations, Isle of Wight, England
13 original American vintage and five British caravans in a secluded green field near Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Trailers are kitted out with fully equipped kitchens, hot showers, vintage boardgames, crotchet blankets and amusing retro knick-knacks. vintagevacations.co.uk
For information on local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to the Isle of Wight
