Five ‘no need to book’ days out on the Isle of Wight

Some of the best trips are those that you don’t plan; spontaneity kicks in and you decide to make tracks for somewhere memorable.

Solo travellers, couples, and families can have a great day on the Isle of Wight with no pre-planning required. What’s more, bookings on Wightlink’s ferries can be made up to 15 minutes before the scheduled sailing time – so if there’s a space available, it’s yours! Here are five ways to enjoy an unexpected day trip on the Isle of Wight.

Whole weekends can be lost to exploring the prehistoric layers of the Isle of Wight — it earned the ‘Dinosaur Island’ moniker for a reason! Very few places elsewhere in Europe can boast the same density of fossils.

Two of the Island’s most popular beaches, Compton Bay and Yaverland, are hotspots for finding fossils and you can do them both within a day.

Miles of arable rural landscape meet a coastal island climate to make the Isle of Wight one of the best places for food and produce in the whole of the UK.

While pubs and restaurants are currently restricted from offering ‘eat in’ facilities, there are plenty of places that offer take out, meaning you can enjoy a taste of the Island with whichever backdrop you choose.

Get heaps of fresh air, walk into the shallow water and wind down on the stretching sands of Ryde’s glorious Appley Beach with some takeaway fish ‘n’ chips. Wander along the Victorian Ryde Pier for a view back to the impressive town and across to the UK mainland, 680m out to sea.

In today’s hyper-connected world of Zoom calls and virtual pub quizzes, quiet spots without tech are becoming a rare luxury. Hidden away in one of the most quaint areas of the Isle of Wight, Steephill Cove in Ventnor can only be accessed by foot so is ideal for getting away from it all and escaping the crowds. Steephill Cove is perfect for the children to build sandcastles or for those who want to laze on a deckchair whilst watching the local fishermen catch delicious lobster and crab. The Cove Coffee Shop here is open for takeaway hot drinks, cake and Isle of Wight ice cream.

If you’re into cycling, hop on two wheels and you’ll soon discover why it’s called the Bicycle Island. With around 200 miles of cycle routes, you can take your pick from leisurely paths to challenging tracks to experience it all, at your own pace. Head over to our Wightlink Explorer to choose a route and download a PDF map.