The past and present collide vividly in the south-west coastal village of Brighstone. A paradise for sailing and surfing, this is also a place that brings the age of the dinosaurs memorably to life and bears testament to the religious - and criminal! - history of the area. The heart of Brighstone is beautiful, a chocolate-box fantasy of thatched cottages with flowers rambling round the doors. A museum run here by the National Trust explains how the locals lived in Victorian times. The old church, dating back to the late 1100s, could tell even more tales if it could talk: Brighstone, down the years, was a haven for smugglers, hiding brandy transported from France under floorboards and haystacks. A one-time cattle shed was transformed in 1993 into the island's first exhibition of dinosaur remains: the working Dinosaur Farm Museum organises regular fossil hunts at nearby beaches where preserved footprints exist and where bones are regularly discovered. Walking, mountain-biking and fishing (especially for sea bass and mackerel) are enjoyed as much as the beaches below Brighstone. There are wonderful sunsets and clear skies suiting astronomers, while a cliff walk down to the relatively uncrowded Compton Bay is superbly rewarding for surfers.
Attraction
Camping
Cottage
Doctor
Pub and Bar
Restaurant
School
Brighstone C of E Primary School
Shops
Ye Olde Shoppe
The Village Shop
Activities
High Adventure Paragliding Centre(Airsports)
Places to Stay near Brighstone
NorthCourt (1.73 miles)
NorthCourt was built in 1615 by the deputy Governor of the Island, ... More | visit website
Gothic View Gourmet B&B (3.72 miles)
Freewaters Cottage (3.81 miles)
Click here to book this cottage with Hoseasons
Enjoying glorious views in an area of outstanding natural beauty, this delightful, single storey, converted dairy nestles at the head of a secluded valley in the picturesque ... More
Wight Mouse Inn (4.64 miles)
The Wight Mouse Inn is a unique 17th Century county coaching inn in the village of Chale on the beautiful Isle of Wight. We offer delightful accommodation that has a ... More
Hermitage Court Farm (5.00 miles)
Hermitage Court Farm is the Isle of Wight’s most secluded and tranquil Bed and Breakfast accommodation: the ideal place in which to get away from the hustle and bustle of ... More
The Chequers Inn (5.13 miles)
The pub offers an extensive ... More | visit website
Sandpipers (5.51 miles)
Sandpipers Hotel is situated in Freshwater Bay, just 50 metres from the beach and close to the Tennyson walking trail. The newly refurbished bar areas sell a wide range of Real Ale ... More
Freshwater Bay House (5.56 miles)
Click for special and substantially discounted rates from Laterooms
Freshwater Bay House, named after the semi-circular bay on which it stands, is a famous landmark within yards of some of the finest walking on ... More
Braunstone House (5.84 miles)
Travelodge Newport Isle of Wight (5.89 miles)
Travelodge Newport Isle of Wight is located in the heart of Newport, which is an ideal location for business and leisure travellers who need quick and easy access to the town centre and its surrounding ... More | visit website
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