Isle of Wight AONB

The Isle of Wight's entire coastline and much of its interior is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - and once you're actually here, you'll understand why the planners weren't exaggerating. This isn't one attraction you tick off; it's the reason you come at all.

What you're looking at is roughly 150 square miles of proper countryside: chalk cliffs that drop sheer into the sea, wooded valleys that feel untouched, farmland rolling down to hidden beaches. The Needles at the western tip get all the postcards, but the real magic is in the quieter corners - Sandown Bay if you want dramatic geology, Alum Bay for the coloured sand cliffs, or simply walking the inland footpaths around Shanklin where the landscape barely changes from how it looked 50 years ago.

Walkers absolutely thrive here. The coastal path is 67 miles of genuinely stunning terrain, and you can do it in chunks without committing to the full slog. Families fare well too, though the AONB itself doesn't "do" attractions - you're paying for the walking, the views, and the fact that development has been kept to a sensible minimum. History types will find Iron Age forts and Victorian seaside villages dotted through the designation.

Based near Newport, you're centrally placed for exploring it all. Stay at Isle of Wight Coastal Park if you want decent facilities, or go smaller and more rural via Compton Farm or Tapnell Farm just down the road. Allow at least three days to scratch the surface - anything less and you'll leave frustrated.