Ventnor oppidum

Iron Age settlements don't get much more atmospheric than this windswept plateau above Ventnor. The remains of this ancient oppidum - essentially a fortified hilltop town - spread across the clifftops between Bonchurch and St Lawrence, offering tantalising glimpses into island life 2,000 years ago. You won't find much in the way of standing walls or dramatic ruins, but that's rather the point. This is archaeology for people who enjoy using their imagination, piecing together the story from earthwork banks, ditches and the odd pottery shard scattered about the grassland. The site commands proper views across the English Channel, and it's easy to see why our ancestors chose this spot for their settlement. History enthusiasts will love the challenge of interpreting what they're seeing, though families with young children might find it all a bit abstract. The walk from Shanklin takes about forty minutes through some lovely countryside, or you can approach from Ventnor itself. There's no visitor centre or interpretation boards - just you, the wind, and two millennia of history beneath your feet. Worth combining with a stay at one of the nearby holiday parks like Parkdean Resorts Lower Hyde or Appuldurcombe Gardens, both within easy reach for a morning expedition before the beach beckons.