Isle of Wight
Hi all,
I'm planning a trip to the Isle of Wight staying at our Southland Club Campsite. Has anyone stayed there and any recommendations? I will be with my 6 year old son and will also have our 1 year old Bocker (Beagle/Cocker Spaniel cross) with us.
My son is so excited about going on the ferry! I'm looking for things to do and see when we get there. Many thanks in advance for any recommendations. 
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Rowena
You might like to have a look at my Blog of our visit last year to Southlands, http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/isle_of_wight_trip.html. There are some lovely beaches on the Island especially around Sandown/Shanklin. What route are you crossing on? We like the Southampton to East Cowes route, it's a slightly longer trip but lots to see. If you go from Portsmouth (I have not used this route) he may be able to see a lot of naval ships which will no doubt be of interest. There is a surprising amount to do on the IOW. I am sure he would be interested in the Model Village ant Godshill, Carisbrooke Castle and Alum Bay where he could fill up a bottle of coloured sand. Osbourne House is lovely but probably not so much to a six year old?
David
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one place that is possible that is not advertised very much is the RNLI workshop where they build and refurbish all their rib lifeboats it is/was free entry donations accepted you need to book , cannot remember where it is now but it will be on line
Then there is the IOW steam railway
We can recommend the Fighting Cocks pub for meals you should pass it on you way to the site
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Take junior to see the donkey at Carisbrooke Castle.
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Yaverland Beach is great for fossil hunting, dinosaur "poo" is a great attraction! Alum Bay for coloured sand collecting (in the special shop where they provide all you need.) We always head for the botanic gardens nice for all ages, good cafe, dog friendly.
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We've just returned from 2 warm and sunny weeks at Southland. It was a very nice site and the wardens do a good job keeping things organised and guests under control. I would recommend to take bikes with you if possible, there is lots of safe traffic free cycling available within 0.5 miles of the site.
Also would recommend booking a meal at the Pointer Inn which is close by, sunday roast was excellent in there.
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You can walk from the site to a viewing place for red squirrels. Very friendly they are too.
Hopefully my memory, or someone else's 😉 will let you know exactly where. I have it written down in our motorhome dairies, but they're still in an unpacked box of non essentials after our move 🤣.
It's a lovely island, holidayed there for years as a child and have never tired of it.
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The Fighting Cocks pub on the main road near Southlands does very good food and has a huge garden/play area for kiddies of varying ages.
https://thefightingcocksiow.co.uk/garden/
On the front at Sandown is a dog friendly park adjoining a play area with rides for children.
Climb your way (by car) up to Brading Down for fabulous views and dog walking.
Check out maps/Google for the way to the park in Shanklin for more dog walking and space for ball games.
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Hi if you go for the cheapest ferry as we all try and do remember you will not be allowed on site before 1 pm you will be stuck in a hot car in a lay-by until the time to go on site, far from ideal for a little one or dog if it comes to that but they are the rules not to be deviated from.
IoW is our favourite place brilliant for the family, great site after 1pm very nice kiddies play area, great pub short walk away and lovely areas to visit, Carisbrooke castle well worth a visit lovely wall walk.
you will have a great holiday something for everyone
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I think it may have been replaced. A Spanish successor, I think called Donkey Hotey.
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We enjoyed Southland last year but found the area around the serviced pitches to be less attractive than other parts of the site. You can walk to the pub mentioned in other posts (narrow, busy, road in parts) using a short cut past the serviced pitches at the bottom of the site. There is a bus service close to the site which would can get you to Southdown which is a seaside town that I cannot recommend in any way although a 6 year old may see it differently.
It’s an attractive Island stuck in the past but we would go again.
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… I meant Sandown.
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Cycling to Cowes.Turn left out of the site go through Newchurch down the hill.Turn left onto the Red Squirrel Trail.It goes to Newport.In Newport you can pick up the trail to Cowes which runs alongside the Medina.
For a pleasant morning/evening stroll left out of the site.With care walk alongng the road towards Newchurch.At the School Lane turn right and walk towards the school.Opposite the is a car park.Cross it diagonally to the bottom left corner.There is a memorial nature reserve "Martin's Wood" which is a pleasant walk and you can get down onto the cycle trail going right towards Sandown.
As MH owners we usually hire a car for a few days from Enterprise in Newport who do pick up drop off.The Shutes on the Island can be a bit "hairy" with an MH.
West Wight and the Military Road scenic with goid beaches.NT Mottisfont Gardens excellent.Newtown on North of Island lovely and explains the "Rotten Borough" system.
Near the site is "Amazon World".Pub "Fighting Cocks" a short walk down the back lane is OK for food and is very family friendly.
Our youngest is now 33 so a bit out of touch with 6 years old children,No Grandchildren either -yet?Heavy hints draw blank looks from our Son and his Girlfriend.....
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Bembridge is very pleasant with an excellent butchers and quirky house boats.In Old Shanklin is an excellent restaurant Pendletons (next to the Happy Haddock chippie) run by Steve and his lady.Super food sourced locally and VFM and a very friendly atmosphere.Steve and his OH have small kids of their own by the way.
Car park directly opposite.
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Susan Calman has just 'been there' on a tour as part of her Channel 5 series. You'll need to 'catch up' but might give you some ideas.
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Kenexton wrote "NT Mottisfont Gardens excellent"
You'll need to be a good swimmer, that's near Romsey.
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Rowena
Don't know if this fits with your dates but it could be interesting? LEGENDARY JOUST AT CARISBROOKE CASTLE
David
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Thank you so much everyone for all your amazing suggestions. It was so helpful and we had an brillaint time. My son absolutely loved the Isle of Wight and wants to go back.
We booked our ferry so we arrived just after check in. We had our Camp Let Trailer Tent and we were with our friends in their campervan. We had a lovely pitch with the play park behind us. There was a small gap in the hedge which my dog loved looking through at all the children playing (she was of course tethered or on lead at all times)! We absolutely loved the campsite - clean, hot showers, nice dog walking area, stunning views and brilliant for kids. I even saw a shooting star one evening! Everyone was really friendly and we will definitely be back there.
The Site Staff were great and really helpful. They gave us a printed map of the Red Squirrel Walk that Bakers2 mentioned.
On our first evening we had torrential rain and our awning flooded. Thankfully we had a spare groundsheet and managed to dry out the next day! Other than that the weather was perfect. Not too hot but mostly sunny.
We went to both the Pointer Inn (incredible food and amazing value) and the Fighting Cocks (best play area in a pub garden I have ever seen, with go carts and bouncy castles - my son loved it and I enjoyed the food). We also enjoyed breakfast at the Garlic Farm one morning and another morning we went to the double decker bus which is just down the road. They serve amazing food but open a little later at 11 so more like a brunch. Other than that we had BBQs at the campsite and chilli on the first night that my husband made the night before.
We went to Cowes and were lucky to watch the canons being fired off.
Carisbrooke Castle was definitely mine and my son's favourite though. Such a beautiful castle and fascinating history - plus my son was learning all about castles in Year One last school year so he was happily pointing out where they used to pour the hot oil and other gruesome facts! Unfortunately we just missed the jousting.
We did also go to the Needles. We walked down and up the steps rather than the chair lift as the queue was rather long. We went on the boat trip out to the lighthouse which was brilliant and my son made a sand ornament in the gift shop.
Here are some pics of the Needles, Carisbrooke Castle and the Southland Campsite.
I just wish we had longer there so we could have done more of your amazing suggestions. Thank you so much everyone you really helped make our holiday special with memories to last a lifetime.
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