Quick IOW Links

Transport

Air

Land

Golf

Water

Food & Drink

Isle of Wight useful websites and information

This page is added to as time permits and further ideas occur. In no way however should it ever be regarded as other than just a small selection of what is available but we hope that it will be of assistance in planning your holiday on our beautiful Island of Wight.

Wherever available we show the telephone number. In respect of those with web addresses (those underlined) please just click on the name of the organisation and their website will open in a new window: just close that window to return to us.

Unbiased reports and opinions

For completely unbiased reports, opinions and comments about the Wight Montrene Hotel from recent guests please go to the following International Websites (which are completely outside of our control!)

As previously said these are International websites and they do not therefore understand the difference between Stars and Diamonds or Hotels and Guesthouses. Mrs Jones' doubtless very nice 4 Diamond guesthouse is therefore shown as 4 Star as opposed to our 2 Star Hotel! But the comments leave no doubt as to our quality and value!

Transport

RED FUNNEL FERRIES
0870 444 8898 Operate car and foot passenger IOW ferries from Southampton to East Cowes and fast passenger ferries (Red Jet) from Southampton to West Cowes.
GPS NAVIGATION - Post Codes for IOW Car Ferry Terminals are:
Southampton (Terminal 1, Royal Pier) - SO14 2AQ East Cowes - PO32 6RF (Wight Montrene Hotel - PO36 8BN)

WIGHTLINK
0870 582 7744 Operate car and foot passenger ferries from Portsmouth to Fishbourne and from Lymington to Yarmouth, foot passenger catamarans from Portsmouth to Ryde.
GPS NAVIGATION - Post Codes for Car Ferry Terminals are:
Portsmouth - PO1 2LA Fishbourne - PO33 4EU Wight Montrene Hotel - PO36 8BN)

THE AA HOTELS
The AA's search engine for all their graded Hotels and Guesthouses.

JJ's TAXIS
01983 401980

LAZY DAYZ TAXIS
01983 407092

TELTAX
01983 402560

1ST CALL CAR RENTAL
01983 400055 Car rentals from Sandown.

SOUTH WIGHT RENTALS
01983 864263 Car rentals from Shanklin - from a van to a Porche!

Air

ISLE OF WIGHT FLYING CLUB
01983 408374 The Club is based at Sandown Airport which is approx. 1.5 miles from the Wight Montrene. Birnie Air Services at the airport operate PLEASURE FLIGHTS lasting from 10 to 20 minutes every day from Easter to October.

HIGH ADVENTURE PARAGLIDING CENTRE
01983 752322 Based at Freshwater Bay they run from one day courses through to club pilot qualifications. Day Tasters start from £89.00 (weekdays) or £115.00 (weekends). They use a dozen flying sites, all of them with great views and sea breezes.

VECTIS GLIDING CLUB
01983 524132 Gliding at 2000 feet above the sea and cliffs and inland around Bembridge is an unforgettable experience. Trial flights are available at weekends and on Wednesdays during the summer season and start at £45.00.

Land

ISLAND OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE
01983 524912 Newport. Lets you go wild in safety in a 4X4 vehicle. Prices start from £90.00 for a half day..

WIGHT OFF-ROAD
01983 730120 Mountain Bike hire with all the necessary extras, can be delivered to and collected from the Wight Montrene. They also do guided rides. They will be running the Wight Off-Road Challenge (part of the WightAir Fetival in October) and are opening a shop in Lake/Sandown.

WESTRIDGE RACING LTD
01983 565222 Ryde. IOW Kart Racing on the first "all weather" karting track on the Island. The centre comprises two tracks, one junior and one senior - which is one of the longest outdoor tracks in the South East. The centre offers a unique experience for both people on holiday and those on corporate events and the "Pitstop" cafe and shop are open from 9am. Unless booked for a corporate function an "Arrive and Drive" system is available.

WIGHT LLAMA TREKS
01983 551128 Guided walks in beautiful West Wight with llamas trained to walk on a leash and carry a pack. From a one and a half hour family walk up to a three and a half hour picnic - or even a very special Sunset and Champagne walk!

BRICKFIELDS RIDING SCHOOL
01983 566801 Nr. Ryde. BHS approved riding scholl, lessons and country treks. First time/Novice/Experienced riders.

GHOST WALKS
01983 520695 Several locations depending on the day of the week.. The Dark Side of the Island as you visit the scenes of Ghostly Hauntings and Dastardly Deeds!

OWL & FALCONRY CENTRE (at Appuldurcombe House)
01983 852484 Wroxall, Nr. Ventnor. Daily flying displays mid-Feb.to end Oct.. Owls, hawks, buzzards, vultures, eagles and kites. Also admittance to the 18th Century House with landscaping by Capability Brown. 11 acres of grounds for picnics.

ISLE OF WIGHT GLASS
01983 853526 Nr. Ventnor. Glassmaking demonstrations Monday - Friday throughout the year plus Saturdays during the summer.

PLANET ICE
01983 615155 Ryde. Not sure whether ICE SKATING should be shown under land or water! Public skating sessions every day, special toddler sessions, tuition and courses available.

I.O.W. STEAM RAILWAY
01983 882204 Havenstreet (calling at Wooton, Ashey and Smallbrook Junction). The Isle of Wight also has an electric rail service that links Smallbrook Junction with Ryde, Brading, Sandown, Lake and Shanklin. The Steam Railway has 5 miles of track with several locomotives - the eldest of which dates from1876 with carriages from 1864!

LA BOWL
0808 108 5353 Ryde. The Tenpin Bowling Centre has 22 lanes of computerised bowling, bar, diner, patio area and nightclub.

Golf

The Island has 7 clubs. Arguably the most attractive are the SHANKLIN & SANDOWN (01983 752955) and the FRESHWATER BAY (01983 524912).

Soon we will have a page devoted to Golf. Meanwhile WESTRIDGE GOLF CENTRE (01983 613131) which is just before you get to Ryde is the Islands only "Pay as you Play" course, has a very good shop and some modern teaching technology.

Water

AQUA POWER SEA SCHOOL
07720 558611 Based in Yarmouth and offering powerboating and sport boat courses (RYA qualifications).

AQUARIUS DIVING
01983 568400/568405 Based in Seaview », Aquarius Diving is a 5 Star Padi Diving Centre offering courses from Beginner to Instructor and both shore and boat diving. Many of the pool diving elements of many of their courses are now held right here in the hotel's pool - so it could not be easier for the Wight Montrene's guests to try for themselves. Children from as young as 8 years of age can take the Bubblemaker course for just £25.00!

X-ISLE SPORTS
01983 873111 For kitesurfing, windsurfing, water skiing, wakeboarding and poweboating - all based in Bembridge. It has recently started a mobile surf school which can head to the best breaks on any Island beach (such as Compton or Whitecliff). Prices start at around £40.00 for a half-day surf.

SHALFLEET MANOR FARM
01983 531235 Boat safaris into the wildlife-rich Shalfleet Estuary. The leave every day approx. half an hour before high tide. Children must be over 12. £25.00 per person.

CACHALOT CHARTERS
01983 874100 Based in Bembridge and do sea-fishing trips ranging in duration from 2 to 10 hours. Catch is normally tope, conger eel, mackerel and black bream. Prices on request.

Food & Drink    click here to view »

THE GARLIC FARM
01983 865378 Based at Newchurch. Fantastic place that grows and sells everything to do with garlic. Heads, ropes, jars of plain or pickled garlic, mad garlic products such as Transylvanian Vampire Pickles. Everything to prepare garlic and even to stop it smelling! Obviously the driving force in respect of the Island's annual Garlic Festival in late August. N.B. The Wight Montrene will be promoting several GARLIC WEEKENDS during 2007 when the special menus will feature - yes, you've guessed - GARLIC!

GODSHILL ORGANICS
01983 840723. Sells whatever fruit and vegetables that are in season plus natural cosmetics and hair care.

ROSEMARY VINEYARD
01983 811084 Ashey, Ryde. At 30 acres quite large for a British vineyard. Has it's own cafe/bistro, walking trails and tastings. Producers, amoungst others, or a very pleasant, crisp, dry white wine which is featured on the Wight Montrene's wine list and affectionately known as Mad Ange.

HAMILTON'S FINE FOODS
01983 526098 Newport based speciality butchers selling Island-reared meat. Also prime British and Scottish Beef, English and Welsh Lamb, Poultry and Game. Superb bacon (not full of water like most Supermarket produce!) 22 (yes - 22!) varieties of hand-made sausage and of course their award winning Oakdale Black Pudding. We are glad to say that Hamilton's Fine Foods are the Wight Montrene's butchers. Not cheap - just the best!

CALBOURNE CLASSICS
01983 531204 Shalfleet. Three Gates Farm Shop selling clotted cream and other dairy blockbusters alongside delicious cakes, scones, shortbreads etc.