A weekend in the Isle of Wight

This is a weekend built around short hops and long lunches. Day one keeps you on foot: Mompesson House, in the care of the National Trust, then a stroll of under a quarter of a mile to The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum — close enough that you'll never need to move the car. Day two stretches its legs a little, with 21.4 miles to the National Trust's City Mill, and another 4.8 miles on to Marwell Zoo, which states disabled access.

Where you sleep sets the tone. Channel View Hotel puts you 0.4 miles from both Shanklin station and Shanklin beach, where the Environment Agency rates the bathing water Excellent. Prefer space? Willow Barn sleeps 7 (Oak Barn sleeps 4), both with EV charging nearby and Ryde Esplanade station 3.1 miles away. Thorness Bay Holiday Park adds a swimming pool, hot tub and bar, with Gurnard beach 2.4 miles off. Arriving by train, Shanklin is your station.