Location
Kings Manor is 5 minutes drive from the Yarmouth ferry terminal, 40 minutes from Wootton or Cowes.
- Wightlink Lymington-Yarmouth 08705 827744 wightlink.co.uk
- Wightlink Portsmouth-Wootton 08705 827744 wightlink.co.uk
- Red Funnel Southampton-Cowes 0844 8449988 redfunnel.co.uk
We are situated in the West Wight between Yarmouth and Freshwater. The nearest pub and shop are a short walk into Freshwater and nearby Yarmouth has some superb restaurants.
West Wight is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This area is the least developed part of the Isle of Wight with an abundance of pretty villages, green space and eroding cliffs. The area is ideal for walkers, cyclists, horse riders, sailors and families alike, and provides stunning sea views, coastal scenery and a variety of beaches.
Yarmouth is small and quaint and is the oldest town on the Isle of Wight. Its busy harbour is a haven for all kinds of watercraft, with the terminal used for regular mainland ferry crossings. Yarmouth's narrow streets are home to an array of shops (visit the iconic ‘Harwoods of Yarmouth’) and inns and Henry VIII Yarmouth Castle is worth a visit.
The spectacular Freshwater Bay is easily recognised by its chalk cliffs and the imposing “Stag” and “Mermaid” rocks that sit at the edge of the coast, which are a magnet for photographers. There is a fantastic pebble beach, which is popular all year round, and from here, you can access the coastal path in either direction.
Tennyson Down (named after the local poet Alfred Tennyson) rises above Freshwater is worth the steep walk as it opens up to some of the best views on the Isle of Wight. At the top of the downs you will find the striking granite cross of the Tennyson monument. This path also runs along to the Needles.
The Iconic Needles and lighthouse at Alum Bay is the most westerly point on the island. There is lots to see and do here, starting with a visit to the Needles Old Battery, a Victorian fort built in 1862 and used throughout both World Wars. A small exhibition in the underground rooms of The New Battery, further up the headland, reveals the astonishing and little-known story of Britain's Cold War 'race for space', when British-made rockets were tested here under conditions of great secrecy. There are fantastic walks that boast the best views on the island. The park itself offers a number of additional attractions: the famous chair lift, sand filling shop, adventure golf, open top bus rides, boat trips, a traditional family Carousel, Victorian games, amusement park and a 4D cinema experience.
Freshwater Bay golf course (one mile away) is one of the most spectacular courses in the UK. Set on the downlands overlooking the English Channel, this seaside links style golf course is 5,725 yards long, par 69 which provides a challenge for golfers of all abilities.
Compton beach is probably the best swimming and surfing beach on the island and is a further 5-minute drive from Freshwater. It’s famous for dinosaur fossils; go there at low tide and see if you can find the two enormous three-toed feet. Dogs are allowed on this beach from the end of September – 1st May. Nearby Totland and Colwell provide peaceful sandy beaches for swimming, sandcastles and rock pooling.
The island can also be explored from the open-top buses that stop regularly at various pick up points across the island. Other places worth a visit include; Fort Victoria (nr Yarmouth), Blackgang Chine (the oldest themed attraction in the UK), the 17th-century Calbourne Water Mill, Carisbrooke Castle, Osborne House and Gardens, Ventnor Botanical Gardens, Isle of Wight Pearl, Dinosaur Isle and a donkey sanctuary, and much more.
The Isle of Wight is a walker’s paradise, filled with over 500 miles of footpaths across contrasting landscapes and beaches, making it the ideal place for a walking holiday or break. As mentioned on the home page, the main Yar estuary circular footpath runs through the property and connects with tracks that lead to the downs and the renowned Isle of Wight footpath/bridleway network.
If you’re horsey, the Isle of Wight has some of the most beautiful, accessible and diverse landscapes to enjoy on horseback. The Island offers excellent riding over many terrains; downland, forest, beaches and there are a few cross-country courses dotted around too. There are 165 miles of bridleways and 29 miles of byways to explore and we are located minutes from the downs and the bridleways of West Wight. We can provide stabling for your horse if required. Hill Farm riding stables is very close and offers escorted hacks & trekking.
For those who are keen on bird watching, the Yar estuary plays host to numerous Teal and Widgeon, but also less common visitors such as Brent Goose, Redshank, Red -breasted Merganser, Shoveler, Curlew, Shelduck, numerous Little Egrets and there’s even a resident Kingfisher. Access to the river gives ample opportunity to spot these magnificent creatures.
