Things to do Easter 2023 on the Isle of Wight
West Wight Easter
If you are based at Somerton Farm Holiday Cottage you really do not have to travel too far for an adventure.
Disconnect from white noise and enjoy the unique tranquillity of the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty that will be on your doorstep. With the cost of living stretching us all there is no need to pay for amazing experiences – the West of the Island has so much to see and do for free! All you need is suitable clothing - a back pack and a picnic!
The Tennyson Trail offers invigorating walking, cycling and riding but you can join at various points to make it as challenging as you feel fit enough to take on. The most stunning walk can be made from Freshwater Bay up to the Tennyson Monument. Depending on the weather you may like to take a picnic with you and maybe some art utensils or your camera. Capture what you see or perhaps if you are not artistic you could take a rubbing of the Tennyson Quote that you will find when you reach the monument. The hill itself can be quite tiring but the views never disappoint. It is a great place to watch the clouds float by and you can understand why Tennyson himself found it so inspiring. The colours always change with the weather and sometimes the sea is so blue you might feel like you are on a tropical Island. The drive along the military road itself feels like an adventure.
Looking for Dinosaur footprints and fossils at Compton or Brook can be really fun. With the wind in your hair - breath in the salty sea air. Remember to check out the tides - they will need to be out to see the footprints. Don your wellies and see what you can find. Just seeing your own footprints in the sand is fun. Allow yourselves a couple of hours as you will get so absorbed in the beach and the waves, patterns in the sand and just the sights and sounds of the seaside sea that you are very likely to lose any sense of time. Bliss!
A walk around Yarmouth can be very relaxing – especially if you like bijou galleries with unique cards, jewellery and gifts. The Post Office (when it is open has a huge selection of funny cards). There is always something to enjoy in Yarmouth, several superb coffee shops where you can treat yourself to coffee and cake or pop to Gossips for a tasty ice cream before a wander up the Pier. The small beach is great for glass collecting and beachcombing. If you like to go crabbing the pier is a great hiding place for the crabs! There are also some highly regarded restaurants - but you may need to book depending on the season.
This Easter there is a planned Easter Egg Hunt at Mottistone (National Trust Garden) - for just £3 children can enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt in the beautiful grounds of Mottistone Manor – between 1st April and 16th April 10.30am to 5.30pm. Entry to the Easter Trail includes things to find and children collect stamps on their trail card to earn an Easter Egg.
Fort Victoria are also offering an Easter Trail – 1st to 16th April for £2 pp
Teens of the family are always more challenging to entertain (until you get them outside!) so it is good to find things to do that they will enjoy.
The Aqua Park – Tapnell - This will not be free - but it is hugely popular – especially with teenagers! The Islands only floating water obstacle course offers a fun hour climbing over the water obstacles. Entry includes hire of the wet suits and supervised ‘swimming’ and climbing – it is quite exhausting but great fun. If you want to opt out of the energetic water fun you may find yourself refreshments and things to do all day at Tapnell. Please take a look at the website before visiting as you may have to book beforehand at busy times.
West Wight Sports Centre offer a wide range of activities for the Easter Holidays including Climbing, kayaking and raft racing! See their website for full itinery and booking information. West Wight Sports Centre is offering several activities including Teens Revolutions and Teens Football.
If the car was too full to bring bikes but you fancy a cycle along some of the many miles of cycle paths there are several places where you can hire them. The cycle path from Yarmouth is a very flat route that is great for young children as you are away from traffic and no big inclines.
The Isle of Wight Mountain Bike Centre nr Shorwell offers a great place for trail riding and learning tricks. The centre can offer bikes to hire too – it is best described as a ski centre for Mountain bike riders with trails of red, blue and black levels of difficulty. You can pay a one off fee to cover all of your holiday or you can also ‘pay as you play’. When you get to the top the views are stunning!
Newtown can be found slightly inland but offers a beautiful nature reserve where you can set off on your very own ‘Bear Hunt’ syle family outing. Wellies are essential as the trails do get muddy but you are guaranteed plenty of nature to watch including seals if you are lucky enough. Even the roads surrounding Newtown are quiet enough for walking and there is always the Town Hall to investigate.
There are of many tours focussed places and activities but we feel that the ones mentions are some of our favourites for ‘getting outside’ and away from ‘technology’ during the holidays. Come and enjoy the natural beauty of the Island and Escape from it all like Tennyson and Queen Victoria did all those years ago. Enjoy the views :-)
