Things to do

There are so many activities you can get involved with while you are on holiday on the Isle of Wight.  Here are some of our favourites & suggestions;

Walking & Hiking

– The downs and south Wight beaches are on the door stop of Willses so you can take your pick. If you are feeling energised you can join Tennyson Trail in 10 minutes and walk all the way to the Needles landmark.

Horse Riding

– Hill Farm Stables in Yarmouth is about 15 minutes drive away and you can arrange some of the best riding in the UK whatever level you are.

Cycling & Mountain Biking

– Hire some bikes from Wight Cycle Hire. They have a great selection of road or mountain bikes so can suit whatever you fancy doing. You can arrange for these to be delivered to Willses so they are here when you arrive and then collected from here when you have finished with them. You can easily join the Isle of Wight Cycle Route or alternatively, with the right wheels, you can get ‘off road’ very quickly to explore Tennyson Trail or Brighstone Forest. The Island is your Oyster.

Kayaking

If you fancy having some fun paddling under cliffs, visiting caves and sheltered bays, then Adventure Activities can arrange this for you.  They are based in Freshwater.

Surfing

The Isle of Wight has a fully mobile surf school, iSurf, which means they are free to track down the best weather conditions on the island to teach their fantastic range of surf and stand up paddle board lessons.

Kiteboarding & Windsurfing

We have some of the most amazing locations for riding the waves on a windsurf or kite board. Provided you have transport you can chase the conditions around the island and find the perfect launch and ride site.  Wightwater, in Shanklin can arrange lessons for all levels.

Running

Whether you are a trail blazer or road runner you can enjoy either conditions straight from the door at Willses.

Paragliding

If you fancy an adrenaline rush then what better way to paraglide from the Downs and enjoy an aerial view of the beautiful countryside. Paddy at High Adventure Paragliding is very experienced and based on our doorstep.

Fossil Hunting

Although a small island, The Isle of Wight is famously known as “Dinosaur Island”, and is the richest place in the UK for dinosaur remains, and home to a handful of new species. If you are interested to learn more there is an Expedition Centre in Brighstone where you can book a fossil trip or visit the gift shop.

Dining out

We have some fantastic restaurants to enjoy around the island. These take in breath taking views and offer wonderful food. Enquire with Annette and she will give you some great recommendations or visit Taste of the Wight for more info.

Enjoying local produce

The Isle of Wight is home to a working water mill, three breweries, two vineyards and a distillery. There’s also a whole host of independent producers and artisans creating everything from oils, chutneys, vinegars and liqueurs, to cakes, cheeses and award-winning ice cream.  So there is plenty of Local Produce to explore and enjoy and its never too far away.

Beaches

There are some outstanding beaches to enjoy whether its sea swimming, sunset walks, wave riding, paddle boarding…..You can guarantee that you will find the perfect beach for whatever you fancy doing.

Clay Pigeon Shooting

Clay shooting is a popular sport on the Island and there are a number of spots where you can participate whether you are a complete novice and require some tuition or experienced. Close by we have Bowcombe, Island Clay Breaks and Top Targets at Tapnell Farm

Golf

If you are a keen golfer, we have a wonderful golf club at Freshwater Bay Golf Club which will allow you to take in breath taking views as well as a challenging round of 18 holes.

Geocaching

The latest way to get involved in a world-wide treasure hunt. Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, where participants are able to hide and seek containers, called “geocaches” or “caches”, at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world using a GPS receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques. It’s great fun and we have a ‘cache’ very close to Willses but I’m still yet to locate it.