Bembridge?

[Blinking]

Hi all,

Taking the kids on our first boaty holiday! Going to bembridge area for about a week, no real itinery planned.

Any rec's of whats there that the kids would enjoy?

Notice there's only 1 cinema on the IOW - too far from Bembridge tho to take the kids.

 

[KevB]

Bembridge is probably not the best of places to spend more than a day or two if you have kids. Not much there if the weather is anything but sunny and warm.

 

[Whitelighter]

Bembridge is a little isolated in terms of walkable attractions, but it depends on your scope and kids ages etc. There is a nice beach nearby, which has a cafe etc etc. Other than that, a short ish bus ride away is Carisbrook Castle, Black Gang Chine (if it hasn't slipped into the sea yet) and I remember walking to the Wax Work museum from Bembridge when I was about 7, and not complainging to much, so it must be fairly close by.

 

[Overdraught]

Hi, we're doing the same thing in a couple of weeks with our 7 & 5 year olds. We're based in Poole and spend lots weekends there. However, we are heading to Yarmouth on IOW. We know it well there and whilst not much to do for the kids, Totland Bay is 10 mins away by boat (or bus), Lymington is also only half hour or so where there is more to do. I would be prepared to venture a little further (Cowes, Yarmouth, Lymington etc all good places to visit. Suggest you call and book ahead in Yarmouth to get a walk ashore though

Have fun!

p.s. Don't recall petrol being available in Bembridge either. Thinking back couple of years when had to dispatch mates with Jerry cans to local garage!!

 

[fireball]

Don't forget Cowes week - 4-11 August ... it tends to get a bit busy in the central solent during this time!

 

[chuckaduck]

we went go karting the other year at ryde click this

Graet fun

 

[Overdraught]

Yes, for the first time we have managed to not be away for Cowes week. Holidays start on 9th Aug and are planning to head to Cowes for the fireworks friday night, then into Hamble Point (berth booked). After that back to Yarmouth.

Thankfully SWMBO parents have a flat in Totland so if 4 of us on small 4 berth cruiser gets a bit much, it'll be taxi to the flat!

 

[rhodesia]

Were coming up from Eastbourne to IOW 6th-12th Aug. Never been before, booked in at Yarmouth then Bucklers Hard. Plan to do walks,cycling etc. Family of 4 on a Sealine S23 our first family trip on the boat.
A little anxious navigating through the Solent as didnt realise it was Cowes Week! Any thoughts on going around the channel side although the route planner shows as longer?

 

[KevB]

[ QUOTE ]
A little anxious navigating through the Solent as didnt realise it was Cowes Week

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't be, it's big enough for everyone.

 

[mjf]

If the Wx is kind go and anchor for the day at Whitecliff bay.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

When we boated in the UK, we spent many days in Bembridge with our young child. Our favourite outing was to walk south from the marina to St Helens bay where you'll find the Baywatch cafe. Mum and Dad can quaff a bottle of wine or 2 whilst the kids play on the beach next door. Buy a kite and you can entertain your kids for ages (OK, 3 minutes) on the dunes behind the caff. Bembridge itself is worth ambling into from the marina. It has become quite gentrified and there are a few shops and restaurants to suit. You can also take your dinghy and potter around the harbour but make sure you have a strong engine and plenty of fuel as the tide can run hard
OK, thats taken care of 2 days so now you're going to have to go further afield which means getting a taxi, bus or rental car. The IoW steam railway will take care of one afternoon and there's a cinema in Newport. Shanklin, Sandown and Ventnor are fairly close and are worth a visit for a bit of 1950's seaside nostalgia. There's quite a decent zoo in Sandown and a sort of fun park at Blackgang Chine near Ventnor

 

[[2068]]

I would tend to avoid the channel side unless the weather is fair: there can be some quite big waves around St Catherines point, and although very beautiful in a desolate kind of way, there aren't many boltholes. Fantastic to do on a settled day, though.

During Cowes week, it isn't that hard to avoid the racers: if it's near the start, they're in a bunch, so you can go round them. If they're further apart and there's enough of a gap, you can go through them. Or just give the whole lot a wide berth and stick to the north of Bramble Bank...

dv.

 

[rhodesia]

Good advice, many thanks.