Make a self catering cottage in Ventnor, Isle of Wight your home away from home

Ventnor is situated at the southern-most tip of the Isle of Wight. Built on terraces around the natural amphitheatre of Ventnor Bay, the town enjoys glorious sea views out across the English Channel.

Ventnor’s heyday was in Victorian times. Attracted by the mild climate and the fashion for ‘health giving’ sea bathing, the well to do built splendid villas and huge numbers of visitors arrived by train and pleasure boats, stopping at the pier. The railway and pier may be long gone but the beach’s trademark candy-coloured huts are the original Victorian bathing machines, wheels removed!

In more recent times, Ventnor has been described by the British press as ‘the hippest hub on the island’ but that just means it has something for everyone – from bucket and spade fun on the child-friendly beach to Michelin starred fine dining.

Pubs and cafés are plentiful and for those wishing to make the most of their self-catering holiday home there is excellent local produce available in Ventnor’s independent shops which include a butcher, fishery, deli, greengrocer and wine merchant. The town also has more antiques and vintage shops than anywhere else on the island.

Things to do

There are stunning coastal walks from Ventnor beach  – East along the sea wall towards Bonchurch and West, over the cliffs, towards Steephill Cove where you can eat crab and lobster just a few yards from where it has been landed.

Northwards, up on the Downs behind the town, you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views from the highest vantage point on the island.
Bike hire is available locally and boat trips from Ventnor Haven include a ‘lobster safari’. There’s also an angling club and a twelve hole golf course in Ventnor.

August is Carnival time, happening in tandem with the Ventnor Fringe Festival.

Places to visit 

Ventnor Botanic Garden enjoys an international reputation and, because of the micro- climate, grows species not grown elsewhere in the UK.
In Ventnor itself there are two museums which, although small, have fascinating photographic records of the area – The Heritage Museum and the Longshoreman’s Museum.

Just a few miles along the coast is Blackgang Chine, a friendly little amusement park, great for young children. It’s an eccentric mix of rides, fairies and dinosaurs, all perched on ever diminishing cliff top gardens.

Going inland from Ventnor you’ll find historic Appledurcombe House and the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary.

Weather

The Isle of Wight gets more sunshine than any other part of the UK and Ventnor’s micro climate make it the warmest place on the island.

Travel

Car ferries run from Portsmouth, Southampton and Lymington on the mainland to Fishbourne, Cowes and Yarmouth on the island.
The train from London Waterloo links directly to the Fastcat passenger ferry from Portsmouth to Ryde Pier where the train connects to Shanklin – a short bus or taxi ride from Ventnor. A hovercraft also makes the Portsmouth to Ryde crossing. Southampton is the nearest airport.

Article provided by Debby Robinson, owner of Property 404201