The island of adventure
The island of adventure
The Isle of Wight is now in an elite group of regions, being only the 6th region in the UK to be awarded the UNESCO accolade. The Island has a fantastic variety of beaches, rivers and estuaries making it the perfect destination for water sports enthusiasts and for those wanting to experience something unique and memorable.
Learn to Surf and Stand-up Paddleboard or improve your current skill level with the Isle of Wight’s fully equipped Premium Mobile Surf Academy, Eddies Surf Academy.
Originally a sport reserved only for Hawaiian royalty, surfing is thought to have made its way to Hawaii from the Polynesian Islands around the middle of the 18th Century but, it is likely been around since the 6th Century.
Surfing has come a long way since it first gained popularity as a lifestyle symbol in the mid 1800's, and you too can enjoy the sport of royalty on a beautiful Island.
All lessons are taught by Eddie from Eddie’s Surf Academy. He is originally from South Africa, as a South African Team Member he surfed competitively on a national and international level. He competed in many events over the years and gained a wealth of experience and knowledge.
Eddies Surf Academy offer priority booking for our Royal Hotel guests and an extra 30mins of surfing lesson time
The Isle of Wight is a walking paradise. Iconic landmarks in one direction, scenic beaches and rolling countryside in the other, it is certainly a destination that needs adding to the walking wish-list!
With more than half of the Island a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty it offers breath-taking scenery everywhere you look.
To find out more about walking on our beautiful Island, Visit Isle of Wight covers the must-see destinations and there are plenty of downloadable walks on the National Trusts website here.
Cycling on the Isle of Wight guarantees sea views, sea air and seagulls. Almost 30 miles of the seashore is Heritage Coast. Beloved by Queen Victoria, England’s largest island has a diverse landscape of downlands, fields and almost 60 miles (97 km) of coastline. Criss-crossed with trails and lanes, pedaling is by far the best way to get around. Discover Komoot's Top 20 Cycling Routes on the Isle of Wight for a range of cycling routes with varying difficulty levels.
If you're looking a route that is a little more challenging, why not try the iconic Round the Island Cycle. Covering 65 miles, it is particularly popular with experienced cyclists. This classic loop of the Isle of Wight is one for every cyclist’s bucket list. If you are looking for a long ride with beautiful sea views, hill starts and country meanders, this route will not disappoint.
The island is rich in history, charm and intrigue. During your stay with us, why not visit English Heritage sites such as Osbourne House, Carisbrooke Castle, Yarmouth Castle, Appuldurcombe House, St Catherine's Oratory and more.
Nearby in Wroxall is the beautifully maintained landscape gardens of Appuldurcombe House. This beautiful shell of a large 18th-century English Baroque country house of the Worsley family. The house is situated near to Wroxall on the Isle of Wight, England. It is now managed by English Heritage and is open to the public.
Entry is free with parking available.
Nearby
Donkey Sanctuary - (also free entry) where you can find teas and coffees.
Worsley Monument - if you fancy a challenge, the Worsley Monument is closeby. Once at the top, on a clear day you will get a spectacular view of the entire island. (please let a member of staff know if you embark on this challenging walk as it is remote.)
Red Squirrel Trail - a picturesque 45 minute walk through the country side to Shanklin.
We are ideally situated for your golf break with golf courses within a few miles of The Royal Hotel.
Sandown & Shanklin Golf Club - Arguably the nicest course on the island. A James Braid course that guarantees to provide an exceptional challenge for high and low handicappers alike. The course measures 5,984 yards (from the white tees), par 70 for men and 5,426 yards, par 72 for ladies and is a challenging and enjoyable test for any level of golfer. The superb drainage makes play possible for 52 weeks of the year.
Osborne Golf Club - Osborne Golf Club is situated in the grounds of the magnificent Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. The club offers a 9 hole golf course of 6358 yards from the Championship tees. It is a parkland course with several woods and copses with views out over the Solent. Osborne Golf Club is noted for its Red Squirrels which may be seen at various places round the course.
Westridge Golf Club - The centre comprises a fully covered floodlit driving range powered by Toptracer and Power Tee, with a large putting green and practice bunker.
Ventnor Golf Club - The closest of these is Ventnor Golf Course, in a very pleasant downland and cliff-top setting with probably the finest views on the Island. Providing panoramic vistas over the surrounding countryside and English Channel. It is unusual in that it is a twelve hole course, alternative tee boxes on several holes providing variation on the back nine. The overall length is approximately 5700 yards, SSS 68 par 70. Enjoyable and challenging to both low and high handicap players.
Arguably the prettiest place on the Island, situated just south of the Victorian seaside town of Ventnor, Steephill Cove is a traditional, unspoilt fishing cove with a safe, sandy beach, nestled between rocky cliffs and smugglers' coves.
This little bay has no road access, making it a unique noise and pollution free beach. Parking is five minutes away in the award winning Botanical Gardens, or the private car park(cheaper) above the Cove on the main road.
Things to know:
15 Minute walk from The Royal
Path to the beach includes a very steep hill
Limited phone signal
Food & drink available until 4pm
Allows dogs all year round (must be on leads)
Nestled in the bay beneath the tumbling tiers of the Victorian town, Ventnor is well-loved by locals and visitors alike.
Walk along the seafront and there are all the ingredients of an ideal beach holiday: ice-creams, a bistro-style bar serving tapas and drinks, a beach shop, more cafes and, crowning the bay, the world famous Spyglass Inn
Things to know:
5 minute walk from The Royal
Seafront parking available
Limited phone signal
A straight walk in the direction of Park Avenue will lead you to the 'Britain's Hottest Garden' Ventnor Botanic Garden, which also lies in our remarkable microclimate at the heart of the famous ‘Undercliff.’ Indeed, it holds the warmth from its southerly aspect so well that, combined with the moderating influence of the sea, frost is rarely known.
Shown in representations of geographical regions, growing in association with each other as in the wild. Each garden presents an immersive experience where the visitor is transported to landscapes from around the world.
If you don't get to see our small Lizard residents (podarcis muralis) at The Royal, you certainly will at Ventnor Botanic Garden.
Things to know:
15 minute walk from The Royal
Cafe for tea's and coffees
Souvenir shop
Paid parking available
Tennyson Downs / The Needles Old Battery
Access on foot from Alum Bay to the Needles Old Battery is approximately ¾ of a mile along a private road. From there it is a 40 minute breathtaking walk to the Tennyson Monument.
Accessible WC available at the Needles Old Battery for visitors to that site only. Dogs on leads are welcome. On Open Access land and at the coast, you must put your dog on a lead around livestock. It is a legal requirement to keep dogs on a lead in areas with ground-nesting birds from 1 March to 31 July. Cliff edges on Tennyson Down are unfenced.
Tennyson Downs is also accessible from Freshwater, where you can visit Dimbola Museum and Galleries.
Also to visit:
Ventnor Downs - Dramatic views from the highest point on the island.
Mottistone Gardens - Enchanting gardens set in a sheltered valley, surrounded by rolling downland.
Newtown Nature Reserve - A quiet backwater with a busy Medieval past, now bursting with wildlife and a town hall with no town...
Bembridge Windmill, Fort & Downs - The only surviving windmill on the island, plus a nearby Victorian fort.
Compton Bay - One of the island's favourite beaches, a shallow bay with big surf, the cliffs are a rich source of dinosaur fossils.
The Island’s southerly location makes it a popular place for a great deal of wildlife. While best known for its red squirrels, the Island is home to other creatures that may take you by surprise.
Migratory birds pause here on their way north for summer or south for winter – and among those making a pit stop is the osprey, a fish-eating bird of prey – which often plashes down at Newtown National Nature reserve on the edge of the Solent.
Another bird of prey that offers a thrilling spectacle in flight is the peregrine falcon. You can often see this fine-tuned hunting machine in action in the grounds of Farringford House or along the cliffs of Tennyson Down. In spring and summer, the lower cliffs at nearby Freshwater are one of the few remaining breeding sites in southern England for guillemots.
If that were not enough, the Island recently released six juvenile white-tailed eagles along its eastern coast.
Read More at the link below.
https://slowwighttravelguide.c...
Ventnor Skatepark renovation hailed a success, with young people getting stuck in and learning new skills.
The Neverland Skateparks team arrived on the Island and started work on Saturday 1st June with the aim of creating a number of DIY obstacles at the skate site on Ventnor Esplanade.
With the help of several volunteers throughout the week they were able to get more done than expected.
Open now - More information
A welcome dip of the feet in shallow waters while walking around a miniature version of the Island, the Ventnor paddling pool is a holiday must for many.
The open-air paddling pool on Ventnor Esplanade received the silver award for achieving its place on the Seaside Heritage Network's Bucket and Spade List of top ten favourite seaside places
We are experiencing an unprecedented demand for bookings at the current time.
When booking rooms online, please be advised that if our Dinner, Bed and Breakfast or Ferry Inclusive Packages are not available, our restaurant is fully booked for your chosen dates.
