Saturday 12th July 2025 • Promotional Content Isle of Wight


Discover an island brimming with unique charms — including dramatic sea stacks and a thriving population of red squirrels. Words: Nori Jemil


with the Isle of Wight. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it’s the UK’s largest island and a microcosm of its heritage — all thatched cottages, centuries-old pubs and undulating landscapes. Some of the Victorian era’s most infl uential fi gures came here to relax and be inspired, and while remnants of their time here remain, the island is hardly preserved in aspic. Today, award-winning distilleries, cool hotels and Michelin- recommended restaurants abound, along with a thriving festival scene. T e only way to get there is by


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boat, so you’re forced to slow down immediately, setting your watch to ‘island time’. Make the most of its sunny disposition in summer or come during shoulder season for the walking festivals in May and October.


Where are the best places to discover the island’s quirks? Known to the ancient Romans as ‘Vectis’, the island appears in the 11th-century Domesday Book as the ‘Isle of Wit’ — a splendid moniker for a place Queen Victoria would later make her home. Her royal residence, Osborne House, was built in the style of an Italianate palazzo, and is full of 19th-century whimsy. Pay a visit to the Indian-style Durbar Room, an extravagant banqueting hall decorated with intricate plasterwork and pendant lamps. Actors frequently appear in role


here, so you may well spot Victoria or Albert gliding down a quiet corridor. You might also spot a member of the island’s thriving red squirrel population in the groves leading to Osborne’s private beach. To improve your chances, spend a few hours at Parkhurst Forest, an ancient wildlife haven near Newport. Further west lie Yarmouth and the


Tennyson Down, Isle of Wight IMAGE: AWL IMAGES


neighbouring village of Freshwater, where Alfred Lord Tennyson once


Summer festivals


All the essentials you need during festival season, from home comforts for your camping pitch to accessories to keep you cool in a crowd. Words: Berkok Yüksel


Helinox Chair One (re)


When your legs need a break but the music’s still going, the Helinox Chair One comes in handy. Weighing just 2.25lb and packing down easily into a compact case, this camping chair is easy to carry or clip onto your gear, and sets up in in a matter of seconds. Plus, the mesh panels keep you cool on hot afternoons, while the ergonomic design means you can sit down and settle in for an entire set, or relax in the sun back at the tent. £109.95. helinox.co.uk


Coleman Darwin 4 Plus


BlackOut Tent T is compact, lightweight dome tent is ideal for catching up on sleep between acts, thanks to a UV-resistant outer layer and a light-blocking fabric that keeps the inside dark and cool, even when the sun’s shining outside. T e ventilation panels keep the air fl owing during warmer nights, while the sturdy frame holds against winds and downpours. It sleeps four, so its perfect for a group or spacious digs for one. £109.99. colemanuk.co.uk


Lifesystems Camping


First Aid Kit While most festivals in the UK, especially larger ones, have medical tents on site, it’s always wise to bring your own back-up fi rst aid kit for minor injuries you don’t want to upend your day with. Designed for portable, outdoor use, this lightweight and compact option includes all the essentials for treating cuts, grazes, burns and blisters — ideal for the likes of knee-scraping falls and even cooking mishaps. £37.99. lifesystems.co.uk


Gandys Mini Bali Backpack


Larger than a bumbag yet smaller than your average rucksack, this backpack is just the right size for manoeuvring through crowds. T e brass buckles and leather trim add a touch of retro fun, while the waxed cotton protects against showers. T e padded back panel and shoulder straps ensure it’s comfy enough to wear during the day and all the way through the night. Plus, you can fi t a water bottle in either side. £85. gandysinternational.com


Rab Neutrino 200 Down


Sleeping Bag After a weekend of dancing, queuing and averaging 20,000 steps a day, the last thing you want is an extra load on your shoulders on the journey home. Weighing 20oz and packing down to just 8x12in, the Rab Neutrino 200 is a great low-bulk sleeping bag. But that doesn’t mean you sacrifi ce warmth. It’s fi lled with goose down to keep you toasty on early mornings and late summer nights. £330. rab. equipment


6 YETI Tundra 45 Cool Box Measuring 65cm wide by 40cm high, this cool box is as tough as it gets — it’s even certifi ed ‘grizzly resistant’ in the event of a bear encounter. T e three- inch PermaFrost insulation, which keeps drinks ice-cold on the hottest day, making it perfect for post-set beers. £300. uk.yeti.com


First published in the June 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). Read the feature in full at nationalgeographic.com/travel


ackage all that’s wonderful and quirky about England, set it adrift in the English Channel, and you’ll end up


T e Travel Guide 5


T e only way to get there is by boat, so you’re forced to slow down immediately, setting your watch to ‘island time’


Red squirrels can be spotted in the Isle of Wight IMAGE: NORI JEMIL


said the air was worth ‘sixpence a pint’. T e poet laureate (1853- 1892) spent many years at nearby Farringford House, a gothic manor surrounded by ornamental gardens. A keen walker, he was known for cutting a dash in his distinctive black cloak over the westerly downs, where you’ll fi nd hiking trails and a grand monument named in his honour.


Where should I stay on the island? West Wight, with its postcard- perfect Needles — a series of three soaring chalk stacks — is ideal for nature-lovers. Overlooking the pebble beach at Freshwater Bay, the newly renovated Albion Hotel has elegant rooms with sage-green interiors and Victorian-style furnishings. Enjoy drinks at the Travelling Tavern, a repurposed double-decker bus known for attracting a local crowd.


What about local produce? T e Isle of Wight’s balmy microclimate and higher-than-average hours of sunshine make it perfect for the island’s growers. At T e Garlic Farm, you can pick up deli items and try unusual dishes like chocolate and black garlic ice cream, watching as red squirrels nibble hazelnuts from feeder boxes. On the outskirts of Ryde, there’s the award-winning Mermaid Gin distillery, the product of which can be sampled at the adjoining Mermaid Bar. T e distillery gets its citrus zest from Ventnor Botanic Garden, whose sunny location on the Undercliff allows fruits, fl owers and herbs from across the globe to grow outdoors.


First published in the June 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). Read the feature in full at nationalgeographic.com/travel


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