Shanklin
Shanklin nestles in the South East of the Isle of Wight and has a wonderful mild climate with above average days of sunshine making it a perfect place to stay. It is a town of great character and charm with many interesting small shops, where sheltering cliffs provide the ideal suntrap position for the seafront Esplanade, The first week of August is traditionally Carnival Week with carnival parades in the town and sports and fireworks at the County Ground. Later in August Shanklin Regatta is one of the highlights of the year with a firework finale which lights up the bay.
Shanklin Old Village is quaint with its traditional thatched cottages, gift shops and old fashioned tea rooms. Here you’ll also find Shanklin Chine with it’s deep gorge and waterfalls, as well as Rylstone Gardens, a relaxing park with crazy golf and tea gardens in a peaceful setting. Just along from Shanklin Old Village is a park called Big Mead that is a large area to picnic or play, plenty of room for ball games, a duck pond and is next to St. Blasius 12th century church. This is all on the edge of an area of outstanding natural beauty, as is a large area of the Isle of Wight.
Shanklin town has many local shops, including arts and crafts shops, clothing shops newsagents and three bakeries offering a tantalising choice of homemade treats. Combined the High Street and Shanklin Old Village provide an offer of great restaurants providing a fine choice in cuisine.
Shanklin has two beaches; ‘Small Hope Beach’ and ‘Hope Beach.’ Small Hope Beach eventually meets Sandown Beach and has many beach huts available for hire, and a small cafe. Hope Beach stretches in the opposite direction. Above Hope Beach is the esplanade which boasts some traditional seaside attractions including an amusement arcade, a crazy golf course, and a children’s play area, with slides and ball pools. There is a cliff lift from the seafront to the top of the cliff, a putting course for all of the family to enjoy, several cafes and restaurants and pubs offering a great variety to choose from.
The beaches at Shanklin hold the water quality award, for its clean waters and safe bathing. They are nice sandy beaches with a peppering of shingle in areas and nearer the old chine end of the beach you will find rock pools for the children to play and crab in and the popular bar and restaurant, The Fisherman’s Cottage
Between Shanklin and Sandown is Wight Water Adventure Sports who can offer you professional water sports packages across a broad range of water-based activities, tuition to suit all needs and abilities.
Shanklin has its own Theatre which is open all year round hosting a full programme of professional and amateur productions.
A real must visit when on the Island is Shanklin chine in the heart of the old village, for almost 200 years it has been enjoyed for its peace, tranquillity and natural beauty. As you wander through the woodland, passing waterfalls and following the stream down to the sea, you’ll soon see why this famous gorge has inspired poets, artists and writers.