Visitors arriving at Frenchman’s Cove understand immediately why this little guest house gives an Ordnance Survey grid reference alongside its address. Sue and Chris Boatfield’s Victorian house is buried not, as its name suggests, on the coast but in deep countryside beneath Tennyson Down. And this means that it is simply brilliant for two things: walking and a big dollop of peace and quiet. In fact the only noises you’re likely to hear during a stay in one of the Isle of Wight’s most westerly properties are bird song and the occasional night time sounds made by nocturnal mammals.

All around is Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty countryside and the Boatfields helpfully provide a walking map, which includes the circular route leading around the National Trust’s Headon Warren, heather covered n summer time, to Alum Bay and back. At Frenchman’s Cove there are books on butterflies and birds to pore over and check whether it’s a green woodpecker, a
buzzard or a rare Glanville Fritillary that you’ve spotted.

But for those who want simply a comfortable retreat, Frenchman’s Cove’s eight pretty rooms and two family suites fit the bill perfectly – some with splendid pastoral views across to the distant sea. At breakfast time you’ll be treated to delectable jams and marmalades, all home made.

Pack walking boots and get away from it all

On the door step
The Isle of Wight’s most famous landmark, The Needles, is nearby as is the Western Yar Estuary, which extends from Freshwater Causeway to Yarmouth, a fascinating area of mudflats, reedbeds and saltmarsh.

Going Green

The Boatfields take green issues seriously and their environmental code is posted for all to see in the entrance to the hotel.