The Isle of Wight is somewhere I find difficult to stay away from! Situated near to the Portsmouth coast, the Isle of Wight is a surprisingly large island with many spectacular views and scenery.

You can reach the Island from Portsmouth and Southampton using either a ferry or a hovercraft (the only place in the country to have hovercrafts in active service). These go to Yarmouth, Cowes and Ryde on the Island.

The main towns on the Isle of Wight are Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor which stretch from the North-East part of the island, down the East coast to the South-East. Newport is situated roughly in the middle of the island, with Cowes just above. The far South and Western parts are far less populated with just Yarmouth found in the North West part of the island which can be considered a town, despite being very small.

Transport around the island is excellent. The bus company, Southern Vectis, run regular services to almost every area of the island and there's also the Island Line train service that runs between Ryde and Shanklin.

The island features many tourist attractions such as theme parks and zoos, but it is also good for a more quiet stay with breathtaking walks found all over the island, but from my experience, especially along the South coast. One particular walk near the Needles (in the West) lets you see right across the island, with sea surrounding you on three sides.

The island has so much to offer and many things to do for all ages and tastes.

One tip for accommodation is the Travelodge in Newport. I have stayed here a few times and aside from always being clean and tidy, you can get rooms for £9-29 per night if you book in advance, which saves a small fortune compared to other places.

If you fancy a non-overseas holiday in England, I would recommend nowhere over the Isle of Wight.