Having
arrived at The Fernbank, there is no shortage of things
to do. For those who enjoy the slower pace of life, you
could begin your stay by treating yourself to a massage,‡†
a swim, or maybe, after enjoying tea in the garden,
embark on a tour of the Island.
Many of The Fernbank's guests prefer to relax by
indulging their various interests, be they sporting,
cultural, wildlife or historical. The Fernbank and its
surrounding amenities can satisfy all interests by
offering its guests full access to a wide range of
indoor and outdoor pursuits.‡†
Up
on the downs, there are wonderful routes for walkers and
hikers seeking to take advantage of the local
countryside.
Despite the pressures of the 21st Century, our natural
environment on the island still seems to flourish.
Situated in probably some of the most beautiful
countryside in the UK, it is no surprise that our local
wildlife is abundant and varied. A wide variety of local
habitat means that birdwatchers, entomologists,
zoologists and botanists are usually satisfied and
gladdened by the state of the local natural ecosystem.
The Daily Mail ranked Shanklin as No.1 out of Britain's
ten sunniest resorts - making it live up to its name as
the
'Jewel' of the Isle of Wight. It is one of the island's
three main resorts, which are located to the eastern
side of the island and features the best of the island’s
beaches which slope gently to provide excellent swimming
and sunbathing. The other two main resorts in the area
are Sandown, which is about one mile north and Ventnor,
about three miles south. Ryde, another popular resort,
is about eight miles north.
The Esplanade is an undercliff promenade lined with
restaurants, cafes and amusements. There is a cliff
lift which connects the town centre on top of the cliff
with the esplanade and beach below. Therefore, the
seafront and town offer everything for a great seaside
holiday: excellent and safe bathing, clean sandy 'Blue
Flag' beaches, traditional
seaside attractions and a great variety of
entertainment.
The Old Village offers the visitor a range of tearooms
and unique gift shops. Shanklin Chine, once the haunt of
smugglers, is a rich haven of rare plants. There is a
path winding down beside a 40ft waterfall through fern
banks and mossy borders.
Yet Shanklin has more to offer than simply charm and
tranquillity in the Old Village or sea, sun and
activities at the beach front; it is, at the same time,
a busy and thriving town, with theatre, extensive and
varied shopping and superb communications to the rest of
the Island.
THE I
SLAND
Known to
the Romans as Vectis, the Isle of Wight is only 2 hours
south of London, lying just off the centre of
southern England, off the south coast. It is a diamond
shape, 13 miles north to south and 23 miles east to west
and totals approximately 147 square miles, with 57 miles
of coast. It is serviced by frequent ferry crossings
from Lymington, Portsmouth and Southampton.
The island, which is the UK's smallest county, has many
notable points of interest including, to the west, The
Needles, a rock formation extending into the sea and
Alum Bay an area featuring different coloured sands. At
the north end of the island is Cowes, the sailing resort
that features the world-famous Cowes Week. There are
numerous historical buildings on the island from Roman
remains through Tudor castles to Classical and Victorian
mansions.
Approximately half of the island is designated as an
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and is known as the
Garden Isle. Within its boundaries, the Isle of Wight
contains a wide variety of landscapes from sheltered
river valleys to wild, wind-swept headlands; from long
golden sandy beaches to forests, picturesque villages
and market towns.
The Isle of Wight has a wide ranging holiday appeal,
especially due to its favourable climate and long
sunshine hours: it is consistently warmer and sunnier
than the English mainland, with sub-tropical plants
growing in sheltered south facing gardens.
Find out more about the island's history here.
