What is it about this majestic little isle - it measures 23 miles west to east from The Needles to Bembridge and 13 miles north to south from Cowes to St Catherine’s Point – that attracts around 2.6 million visitors a year? Well, for a start it packs a whole lot in. There are over 60 places to visit, from fun parks with thrilling rides to animal and bird sanctuaries as well as the 13 award-winning beaches – and it’s just a short ferry ride across the Solent.                           
                      
You can catch a car ferry or a high-speed passenger ferry. If you are not bringing a car with you, once ashore you can take advantage of the Island’s comprehensive bus network – purchase a rover ticket, or take the open-top service that runs throughout the summer for spectacular views especially along the Island’s south-west coastline, known as The Military Road. Alternatively, hire a bike; there are more than 200 miles of cycle paths and a dozen marked routes making the Island perfect cycling territory with plenty of opportunities to escape into tranquil and often traffic free trails through the most spectacular of Island scenery.

As you travel around the Island, you’ll be struck by the variety and contrast of the Island’s resorts, towns and villages. It has everything from the tranquillity of its villages and stunning countryside - more than half the Island is designated AONB – to the vibrancy of its extreme sports opportunities and international events.

As one of the UK’s sunniest places the Isle of Wight has long been famous for providing seaside holidays – environmental campaigners ENCAMS rates it the UK’s joint-top destination in terms of the number of quality beaches. 

So put some distance between yourself and the mainland - the Isle of Wight may be only minutes from the mainland but it feels like another world entirely with an atmosphere far removed from the stresses and strains of everyday life.

For more information on visiting the Isle of Wight, go to islandbreaks.co.uk  or call 01983 813813.