Stay by the sea on the Isle of Wight

With the summer holidays upon us, there’s no better place to be than by the sea.  Of course, nothing on the Isle of Wight is very far from the sea, so whether you want to stay right on the water or just somewhere that’s got a nautical feel, there’s something for everyone.

Hoist those anchors and splice the mainbrace as we sail with you round some of the Island’s best maritime-themed stays. Coastal cottages, clifftop campsites and seaside holiday lodges just a short sprint down to those crisp blue waves; our handy guide has plenty of ideas.

Arranged on a clifftop (sufficiently far back from the edge, of course) is Whitecliff Bay, a coastal holiday park offering everything from archery and crazy golf in the daytime to live acts and performances once the sun goes down. Depending on whether you book yourself into a lodge, caravan or chalet, you might get some shimmery sea glimpses from your accommodation windows.

For those who find the waters of the British seaside a bit on the chilly side there are places to stay with their own sufficiently steamy hot tubs too (try The Rockstar lodge for instance). Overlooked by the chalky cliffs of Culver, the shoreline is just a short shuffle down the hill and makes a great spot for the family to rub in that Factor 50 and soak up the seaside rays.

If you’re a fan of salty breezes whipping through your hair, climb to the heady heights above Alum Bay where a string of cosy National Trust cottages awaits. Surrounded by clifftop grassland, scurrying rabbits and panoramic views of the sparkling sea, they’re certainly one of the Island’s more spectacular seaside options. Once home to the local band of coastguards, each light and airy cottage is named after a famous shipwreck – Varvassi taking its name from a steamship that sank off the Needles in 1947 (carrying a cargo of Algerian tangerines to Southampton!).

If lofty locations shiver your timbers, then try No 6 Coastguard Cottages in Brook, an equally characterful property (with maritime connections) a tad closer to sea level. Formerly officer’s quarters for the village’s coastguard station, it’s now a comfy holiday let, sleeping up to six guests and all within easy reach of the renowned surfing beach at Compton.

Supposedly one of the Island’s oldest pubs (dating back to the 18th century), The Buddle Inn is filled to the rafters with character, charm and apparently the odd ghost too. Tucked down a quiet lane in the former smuggling village of Niton (once famous for its locally-caught crabs) it makes a superb seaside base for walks to St. Catherine’s lofty lighthouse or the quaint bay at Castlehaven.

Back at the Buddle though, guests will find a range of boutique rooms designed with comfort and style in mind. Once you’ve settled in and unpacked your bags, just head downstairs to the bar when it’s time for your evening meal. Here, menu options include the steak and Island Ale pie, tasty burgers and the seafood sharing platter.

Over in the West Wight hamlet of Newbridge, set amongst lush undulating countryside and with panoramic views over the ships in the Solent, you’ll find The Orchards. Visitors to this award-winning holiday park can manoeuvre their campervans or hammer their tent pegs into one of the site’s many grassy pitches. Alternatively, a fleet of bright and welcoming caravans awaits (each sleeping between four and six guests) – an option especially popular with the youngest visitors.

From The Orchards, a ten-minute drive to the west will bring you to the nautical harbour town of Yarmouth, where you can sample ice creams on the pier or cross over the river to explore the dunes of Sandhard Beach. Setting coordinates southwards instead will take you to the rugged coastline that flanks the Military Road, where the waves of The Channel are known to make excellent conditions for surfing.

If you’re looking for something a tad fancier but equally as nautical, try The Seaview Hotel on the Island’s eastern shore. Located in the upmarket sailing village of Seaview (from where it takes its name), you’ll be close to sailing clubs, coastal walks and a selection of salt-kissed swimming beaches, including Seagrove Bay.

Check-in options at The Seaview Hotel include crisp and comfy standard rooms, an apartment suite (if you fancy splashing out) and an assortment of superior rooms with views out over the calm blue seas below. If you’re starting to feel peckish, you can take a seat in the ground floor Aquitania restaurant – winner of 2 AA Rosettes – for a modern assortment of dishes atop the whitest of tablecloths and with the sparkliest of silverware.

Down on the Esplanade at Ventnor, amongst the brightly coloured deckchairs and circling seagulls, is Villa Amanti – an elegant sandy-coloured Victorian villa which wouldn’t look out of place in Tuscany. Behind its row of welcoming palm trees, guests will discover a spick and span beachfront apartment, conveniently set on the building’s ground floor.

Aside from the restful interiors and shipshape facilities, the pièce de résistance of this two-bedroom apartment has to be its compact front patio, which looks out across the shingly beach of Ventnor and onto the deep blue waters beyond. Providing a prime lookout point, from here you’ll also be able to spot local fishing vessels gliding back into harbour, or catch sight of the cross-Channel ferries sailing over to the French coast. Managed by Island Holiday Homes, this elegant seaside bolt-hole makes the perfect base for trips to the leafy village of Bonchurch (once visited by Charles Dickens) or the calm waters of Steephill Cove.

Nearby in the rustic fishing village of Steephill Cove, you can drop anchor in a range of high-end hideaways set amongst the lobster pots, deckchairs and seagulls that call this place home. Hard to miss is the bright white octagonal newbuild known as The Lighthouse – a contemporary retreat with endless views across the sea towards France. Aside from its unusual shape and commanding position it also offers a private decking area perfect for brunching on prawns, landed in the bay that very morning.

Shifting from the starboard side of the Island to port, if rustic charm is top of your agenda, then you can’t go wrong with a getaway to Little Halt – a 17th-century thatched cottage in the coastal town of Freshwater. Set overlooking Pound Green, this Grade II listed stone house boasts grassy lawns, a secluded terrace and more period features than you could shake an oar at.

While it might be tricky to tear yourself away from the charm of Little Halt, a two-minute drive (or a swift twenty-minute stroll) will bring you to the tranquillity of Freshwater Bay, where you can pick up all your nautical knick-knacks at the Freshwater Bay Trading Co. and (if it’s a Friday or Sunday evening) sample a wood-fired pizza on the shore, fresh from the oven of the vintage Wight Wood Pizza van.

Just a cannon ball’s throw from Freshwater Bay, sits Fort Redoubt – a Victorian stronghold built in 1856. Initially constructed to fight off any French invasions, its moat now houses ‘Upper Caponier’ a swanky and sophisticated apartment with exposed brickwork and industrial-style lighting. With a bridge to enter the grounds and a tunnel leading down to the apartment, it’s definitely an atmospheric spot to stay.

For those looking for a more nautical night’s sleep (or who prefer their accommodation to float), shuffle up the gangplank and step aboard ‘Sturdy’ – a luxury houseboat moored in the tranquil waters of Bembridge Harbour. Containing four doubles, a single and a bunk room, this 72-foot-long vessel started life in London as a Thames Lighter before its 2014 relocation and transformation into (supposedly) one of the UK’s most luxurious holiday-let houseboats. Stepping through the bi-fold doors for a sundowner on the foredeck, it’s not hard to see why The Guardian, Stylist and London Evening Standard have all given ‘Sturdy’ their seal of approval.

If, however, you prefer your bedroom to come with knobs, whistles, trap doors and a periscope then look no further than HMS Bond, a former nuclear-powered Soviet submarine, now five miles safely inland at Windmill Campersite near Carisbrooke. As seen in the 1999 James Bond film The World Is Not Enough, this unusual and immersive place to stay sleeps up to five submariners and comes with the added bonus of a spacious adjoining kitchen and bathroom (something not normally a feature of Cold War submarines).

Into yachting? There’s no better destination than Cowes – home to the world-famous Cowes Week sailing regatta. Since the starting guns first fired in 1826, up to 7,000 competitors have docked in the town each August for a week of races and contests, with past sailors including King George IV, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and the late Duke of Edinburgh. Stay at Villa Rothsay, a 150-year-old Victorian hotel in the heart of Cowes’ historic centre, with ship shape rooms (named after famous yachts), sea-view balconies and a smoked fish of the week on the breakfast menu.

ℹ️ A version of this article by James Rayner first appeared in Wightlife magazine.  Looking for more ideas of where to stay? Visit our Accommodation on the Isle of Wight page.