Thomas's Guidebook
Food scene
The Cow
Newport RoadPO41 Yarmouth Coffee House
Quay StreetThe Hut
Colwell Chine RoadGreat for sunset cocktails and tasty seafood with a party vibe.
The George Hotel
Quay StreetThe Terrace
Quay StreetIf you're looking for a takeaway, this pizza place is a good one. They may not know where the house is but if you say you're nearby The Cow restaurant at Tapnell Farm this should help!
Fuoco Pizza
Avenue RoadIf you're looking for a takeaway, this pizza place is a good one. They may not know where the house is but if you say you're nearby The Cow restaurant at Tapnell Farm this should help!
The Red Lion
Church PlaceA pop-up cafe which is a great place to have a cocktail or beer in the sun and enjoy their bao buns or a poké bowl. You have to walk quite far down the lane so it's worth coinciding it with a walk to St. Catherine's Lighthouse and taking your swimmers for a dip off the slip way at the bottom of the hill.
11 locals recommend
Castlehaven Retreat and Beach Café
Castlehaven LaneA pop-up cafe which is a great place to have a cocktail or beer in the sun and enjoy their bao buns or a poké bowl. You have to walk quite far down the lane so it's worth coinciding it with a walk to St. Catherine's Lighthouse and taking your swimmers for a dip off the slip way at the bottom of the hill.
Piano Cafe
Gate LaneThe Coast Bar & Dining Room
14-15 Shooters HillFamily fun
Tapnell Farm Park
Newport RoadBeaches
Great for families, there are public loos, a tap and an ice cream van (sometimes) so remember to pack a picnic and everything you'll need for the day. Try and find the dinosaur footprints and look for fossils along the beach too.
38 locals recommend
Compton Beach
Great for families, there are public loos, a tap and an ice cream van (sometimes) so remember to pack a picnic and everything you'll need for the day. Try and find the dinosaur footprints and look for fossils along the beach too.
Freshwater Bay
This is a great beach for kids as lots of amenities close by! There is also The Hut which is perfect for a cocktail at sunset and lots of delicious food. If you're looking for something more casual you can eat in or take away at Longbeach, I'd recommend the scampi and fries.
37 locals recommend
Colwell Bay
This is a great beach for kids as lots of amenities close by! There is also The Hut which is perfect for a cocktail at sunset and lots of delicious food. If you're looking for something more casual you can eat in or take away at Longbeach, I'd recommend the scampi and fries.
Another great beach, we tend to walk to the left (if you're looking out to sea) to the furthest spot where it's sandy. The waves are small and a great place for little ones to run around. It is quite tidal so best to go at low tide. There's also the Waterfront which offers pub food and drinks. You can eat in or get takeaway and sit on the beach.
Totland Bay
Another great beach, we tend to walk to the left (if you're looking out to sea) to the furthest spot where it's sandy. The waves are small and a great place for little ones to run around. It is quite tidal so best to go at low tide. There's also the Waterfront which offers pub food and drinks. You can eat in or get takeaway and sit on the beach.
Walks from home
The Longstone
We'd recommend the Tapnell Trail: https://tapnellfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Tapnell-Trail-Map.pdf which you can join from right outside the house. It's a great loop especially when it's sunny weather.
10 locals recommend
Tapnell Farm
Newport RoadWe'd recommend the Tapnell Trail: https://tapnellfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Tapnell-Trail-Map.pdf which you can join from right outside the house. It's a great loop especially when it's sunny weather.
You can see the monument from the house and is a great walk either from the house. Walk through the farm as part of the Tapnell Trail: https://tapnellfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Tapnell-Trail-Map.pdf then through the golf course and down into Freshwater Bay so you don't have to walk along the road. Or if you want a slightly shorter walk, you can park at Freshwater Bay and head up from there. If you need some sustenance, stop by the Piano Cafe for something too.
46 locals recommend
Tennyson Trail
You can see the monument from the house and is a great walk either from the house. Walk through the farm as part of the Tapnell Trail: https://tapnellfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Tapnell-Trail-Map.pdf then through the golf course and down into Freshwater Bay so you don't have to walk along the road. Or if you want a slightly shorter walk, you can park at Freshwater Bay and head up from there. If you need some sustenance, stop by the Piano Cafe for something too.
Groceries
The Co-operative Food
Afton RoadThis is the closest large supermarket.
If you're travelling by ferry from Southampton to East Cowes Waitrose is close to the ferry terminal if you need to stock up.
19 locals recommend
Waitrose & Partners
Well RoadIf you're travelling by ferry from Southampton to East Cowes Waitrose is close to the ferry terminal if you need to stock up.
If you catch the ferry from Portsmouth to Fishbourne and need to visit a big supermarket you can stop in Newport on your way through.
9 locals recommend
Sainsbury's
Foxes RoadIf you catch the ferry from Portsmouth to Fishbourne and need to visit a big supermarket you can stop in Newport on your way through.
This place isn't too far from the house and has sourdough and other tasty treats delivered on a Saturday morning. You can call them on 01983 740843 to reserve things to pick up or head over earlyish so as not to miss out. They also stock lots of other island produce but it's a village shop so isn't very big!
10 locals recommend
The Village Shop
Main RoadThis place isn't too far from the house and has sourdough and other tasty treats delivered on a Saturday morning. You can call them on 01983 740843 to reserve things to pick up or head over earlyish so as not to miss out. They also stock lots of other island produce but it's a village shop so isn't very big!
This is a corner shop in Yarmouth and has a really surprising amount of tasty bits as well as unusual things you can't find at the supermarket. They'll have everything you need for a weekend away and more!
Harveys
This is a corner shop in Yarmouth and has a really surprising amount of tasty bits as well as unusual things you can't find at the supermarket. They'll have everything you need for a weekend away and more!
This is a great local fish shop and will have everything you need if you want to cook up a feast at home. Even if you're on the move they sell lots of bits you can stock up your picnic with.
J&B Fisheries
7 Avenue RdThis is a great local fish shop and will have everything you need if you want to cook up a feast at home. Even if you're on the move they sell lots of bits you can stock up your picnic with.
This is our local butcher and the perfect spot to pick up any meat for your stay, be sure to check the opening times.
P J Thorne Butchers
Avenue RoadThis is our local butcher and the perfect spot to pick up any meat for your stay, be sure to check the opening times.