Holidays in Arreton

The village’s renowned St. George’s Church is one of the oldest and prettiest on the island and was established during the Saxon period. It overlooks a beautiful pond shaded by trees and the reflection is something very special, often immortalized in local paintings and photographs. Opposite is the Island Brass Rubbing Centre and if you love the smell of lavender, pop into the sweet Lavender Cottage which sells, you guessed it, lavender!

The highlight of the village is the fascinating Shipwreck Centre and Maritime Museum, a Grade II-listed stone barn in the Arreton Barns Centre. Packed to the brim with maritime objects discovered over the years, you can wander around as sea shanties play along in the background. For a real piece of history, make sure you buy one of the copper ingots in the souvenir centre, rescued from a Victorian steamer ship which capsized off the nearby coast. Children will love discovering the old pirate currency ‘pieces of eight’ and ‘gold doubloons’ recovered from shipwrecks as they become immersed in mysterious stories of the ocean!

You can also visit the Isle of Wight glassworks while in Arreton Barns to watch the glassblowing demonstrations and there are lots of little craft shops there, selling everything from leather to local produce from the harvest.

A trip to the Isle of Wight would not be complete without a day out in Cowes. Besides the world famous regatta, there are other races throughout the year. The town is also full of pretty little shops and pavement cafes or you could charter a boat for the day and take your own picnic. Be sure to visit the Classic Boat Museum if you prefer to stay on dry land, and Northwood Park is great for evening strolls.