Glamping on the Isle of Wight
Sometimes you'd like a slice of the outdoor life without compromising on your creature comforts. Handily, glamping accommodation is designed for just that.
If you don't fancy the more stripped-back approach to traditional camping, glamping is an excellent way to experience the Isle of Wight with a healthy dose of luxury. Whether you're planning to hike around the chalk cliffs at The Needles, visit historic Osborne or spend days exploring several beaches, the prospect of a cosy shepherd's hut or furnished bell tent to relax in at the end of the day is bound to be an enticing one.
With lively seafront towns, a wild coastline and no shortage of pretty countryside, the Isle of Wight is an excellent glamping destination.
Where you should stay on the Isle of Wight
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On the west coast of the Isle of Wight, Totland is an excellent spot for an Isle of Wight getaway. Home to the chalk cliffs at The Needles and a sandy bay with a seafront pub, it’s especially well suited to family holidays. If you’re visiting with the family, you might want to stay in a yurt, tipi, bell tent, dome or wigwam – these sorts of stays will give kids the excitement of staying in a tent while providing a little extra luxury for the adults.
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Adults, meanwhile, might feel more drawn to Yarmouth’s busy bars and shops. With plenty of sailing activities on-hand at the mouth of the River Yar, fishing available along The Solent and a 16th-century castle to explore, Yarmouth is a good pick for a couple's holiday. A popular choice is to stay in a comfortable lodge or log cabin, which often have full-sized beds and extra comforts.
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Dog owners might want to set themselves down in Brook, just off Whale Chine. With access to a stunning section of the Isle of Wight coastal path and the dog-friendly theme park Blackgang Chine, it’s a very handy choice for a holiday with a dog. Something solid with a raised sleeping area is a good idea for preventing muddy paws from getting onto your mattress; try a shepherd’s hut for size.
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If you’re looking for a traditional seaside getaway with plenty of beach days and watersports, the eastern side of the Isle of Wight has a selection of traditional coastal towns and villages such as Ryde, Shanklin and Shorwell. It’s a smart idea to stay in glamping accommodation with a private shower to rinse off the sand – or perhaps a camping or glamping pod with a porch area where you can dump your beach gear.
What you can do on the Isle of Wight
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The three chalk cliffs at The Needles are dreamy on their own, but the Landmark Attraction has transformed this gorgeous part of the coastline into a full day out. There are cable cars that provide a birds’ eye view of the cliffs, boat trips that will take you close-up to the coastline, and Victorian games and demonstrations on the clifftop.
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To take in some of the Isle of Wight’s history, visit Carisbrooke Castle – this medieval motte-and-bailey castle is also on the island's 50-mile Chalk Ridge Extreme mountain biking path if you fancy taking a challenging route there. Osborne is a former royal house with its own private bathing beach and royal collections, now open to the public.
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For simple, family-friendly amusements, try Blackgang Chine – it's the oldest amusement park in the United Kingdom. Tapnell Farm Park is another great spot; it has go-karts, a petting zoo and slides.
Here’s how:
Before you do anything else, you’ll need to narrow down which of the many different types of glamping you’d like to try out. Bell tents are the closest you’ll get to a traditional tent getaway and can be as simple or as glamorous as you like. In comparison, shepherd’s huts, log cabins and camping and glamping pods have a more home-like structure that may suit adults or dog owners.
Once you’ve made your choice, all that’s left is to pick your final destination. If you’re plotting an activity-based holiday, you might want to stay in a seaside town, where there are plenty of watersports to dabble in. Those who are planning on tracing parts of the Isle of Wight coastal path will want to stay within walking distance of the coast too.
If you’re still weighing up all your different getaway options in the southeast of England, why not check out the glamping accommodation in nearby Hampshire too?
