Cowes

The town - the world’s most famous yachting resort - is separated from residential East Cowes by the River Medina. Lively Cowes is full of shops, bars & cafes. Cowes and East Cowes are linked by a regular chain ferry service. Visit the Parade at Cowes, a great place to watch all the boats in the harbour. Also see Cowes Castle, headquarters of the Royal Yacht Squadron, with its 22 brass cannons which are used to start races during Cowes Week. The elegant High Street in Cowes, full of fashionable shops, restaurants and cafés, offers hundreds of opportunities for you to offload some of your holiday money.

Yarmouth

The oldest town on the Island, picturesque Yarmouth is a popular yachting centre. Encircled by the sea, the river Yar and an expanse of marshland, the town is pretty much the same size as it was back in the 16th century. And it certainly retains a real sense of antique charm. It has plenty of good restaurants to choose from, while a trip round its colourful harbour and up to Yarmouth Castle, built in 1574, is a delightful way to spend an afternoon.