The Resort of Shanklin - Yet Another Island Gem (Other locations...)

Member Name: junkboxjules

Product:	Other locations...
Date:	10/08/02 (95 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful Scenery, Large Sandy Beach

Disadvantages: The beach is located at the bottom of a cliff and it's hard work walking back up

My family and I are great lovers of the beautiful Isle of Wight which many of you will already know if you've read some of my previous opinions. There are many reasons why we are attracted to the Island but some of the main reasons why we keep returning are because the Island is a very beautiful place and one of the few places in England today that remains unspoilt and has not become overdeveloped, there is still a vast amount of breathtaking scenery to enjoy and lots of coastal footpaths and other walks taking you further inland if you wish. My previous opinions have been about tourist attractions so I thought I'd have a change today and write about Shanklin which is my favourite resort on the Isle of Wight.

Shanklin is a very popular seaside resort for both families and couples of all ages. It is situated between Sandown and Ventnor and is a relatively small resort, however it has a great deal to offer tourists and is well worth a visit.

Shanklin town is quite small, there are a couple of high street stores such as Boots and Woolworths but most of the shops are independently owned, however there is quite a wide choice of shops in Shanklin ranging from Newsagents and Clothes shops to Fruit and Veg and Supermarkets. There are several cafes and bakeries situated in the town centre along with some of the major Banks such as Lloyds TSB, Natwest and Barclays. The town centre is approximately a 10 - 15 minute walk from the beach, the beach itself is at the bottom of a cliff and can be accessed by following one of the various footpaths and steps or slopes or by taking the cliff lift, the road train, by bus or by car.

As well as the main town centre Shanklin also has an old village which is approximately 5 minutes walk from the town centre. The Old Village is very picturesque and is home to many thatched cottages, gift shops, tea shops and the famous Shanklin Chine.

Shanklin Chine was once the haunt of smugglers and can be acces
sed from the seafront or the Old Village. The Chine is home to many rare plants and a 45ft waterfall, it is a very beautiful place and is well worth a visit. The Chine is open daily from the end of March through to 3rd November, opening times vary but during the summer months it is floodlit and is open until 10.00pm. Admission to the Chine is £2.50 for Adults and £1.50 for children up to the age of 16.

Situated near the Chine is Rylstone Gardens, a very beautiful park. During the summer months it is a very pleasant place to sit in the shade and relax, have a picnic or just visit the cafe for a cup of tea. In the high season there are often musicians playing in the bandstand.

From the Old Village you can follow the cliff top walk to the cliff lift or one of the many winding footpaths or steps which will take you down to the seafront, the footpaths and steps are relatively easy going down but it is hard work coming back up. The cliff lift is a life saver when coming back to the top, however it isn't open all year round but during the high season it is always open until about 9.30pm - 10.00pm. The seafront can also be accessed by bus, road train, (during high season), and by car. There are two car parks on the seafront and there are also a few parking spaces along the esplanade. In high season you may have to drive round a couple of times before you get parked but generally you shouldn't have too much trouble trying to park.

Shanklin has a vast sandy beach, the promenade stretches from Shanklin to Sandown and if you wish you can walk between the two resorts - the walk will take a good hour to an hour and a half but on a warm day it is a very pleasant walk. On the beach there are pedalos and deck chairs for hire and there is a small trampoline area for the children.

Along the esplanade there are public conveniences, several cafes and take aways, hotels, bars and a couple of shops. There is also a large amusement arcade, wh
ich has its own themed crazy golf course, (outside), inside the arcade there is a small bowling alley, a large play area for children and of course loads of fruit machines, two pence machines and the grabbing cranes machines that you can waste a fortune on trying to grab a cuddly toy. Further along the esplanade there is a pitch and putt golf course and another crazy golf course. There is plenty of seating along the esplanade if you just want to have an ice cream and relax.

If you are planning to visit the Isle of Wight I would highly recommend a day out in Shanklin.

Thank you for reading.

Julie

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