Main Island’s sights:

• Osborne House, the favoured seaside retreat of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Furnished mush as they left it, the house provides a great insight into royal life.
• The Swiss Cottage, built for the royal children to play in, is now a museum attached to Osborne House.
• The 11th-century Carisbrooke Castle. A walk on its outer wall and the climb to the top of its keep offer spectacular views.
• The island is a base for ocean sailing, especially during Cowes Week – one of the largest regattas in the world.

When people visit an island, most of them assume that a car will be indispensable. Things are different on the Isle of Wight. A good bus service, and a great network of footpaths and cycle routes, plus a frequent rail line down the east side of the Island, means that car-free travel is both a feasible and extremely practical option.

The simple idea is that the slow travel will give you hints and pointers to get out and really explore the Island. It’s an opportunity to discover hidden gems and lesser known places of interest, from overlooked archaeology and habitat to bustling village shops and Victorian churches and churchyards – all with an interesting story to tell.

Walking, cycling or taking the bus or train around the Island will enable to slow you down. You may discover hidden beaches, nature reserves  and tight-knit communities, where artists and other creative types thrive.

Slow travel is more of a mindset than an actual travel method. It’s about unhurried adventures; stopping in an area and really exploring it; taking time to fully experience a destination and its culture. It’s about discovery and being open to enjoying travel in a different more leisurely way.