Best campsites for the Isle of Wight AONB
Here is our pick of the Alan Rogers Assessors, expert-recommended campsites for the Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers about half the island and has been recognised since 1992. It encompasses many different types of landscape, mostly characterised by chalk which has shaped the topography, the natural habitats and flora and fauna.
To the south, there are wonderful panoramas from the downs above Ventnor and the Undercliff. Enjoy the Tennyson Heritage Coast and chalk downs in the southwest, with epic sea views across the Needles chalk stacks and dinosaur footprints at Brook Bay. There’s the delightful Hamstead Heritage Coast overlooking the Solent, a peaceful shoreline interspersed by little creeks, cliffs and a wooded interior where red squirrels still find sanctuary. The Osborne Coast, with its exotic vegetation and Victorian structures, is famous for its royal connections.
Some 80% of the island is dedicated to farming, with plenty of traditionally maintained fields and hedgerows. There are plenty of chalk cliffs, sandy bays, wooded pastures, hay meadows and muddy creeks to ensure rich and varied wildlife.
Top Isle of Wight AONB Camping Options
Southland Caravan and Motorhome Club site is located in the grounds of a former nursery and it has matured nicely with many attractive shrubs and trees. The pleasant surroundings have won many awards. In the peaceful country setting of the Arreton valley, it is a sheltered and well run park with 151 large, level pitches (some seasonal) backing on to and separated by high hedging. Comfortable and spacious, all have 10/16 amp electricity and 6 are serviced. Two acres of land on the western edge of the park overlooking the valley have been developed as a nature area. Nearby are the villages of Arreton and Newchurch.
This is a small, family-run working farm, with many unusual, friendly animals including Alpacas, pigs, goats, pony, horse, water buffalo, donkey, poultry etc. and small pets. Level pitches (some with electricity) are available for tents, caravans, campers and motorhomes; hardstanding with water is also available. Those looking for accommodation rental options can choose from pods, mobile homes or cottages.
Whitecliff Bay is a very large complex divided by a main road, with a holiday home and chalet park on the right-hand side (230 units) and a large area on the left-hand side also dedicated to static caravans with a decreasing area at the bottom of the hill available to touring units.
Small family run touring caravan site located approximately in the middle of the Island on a working arable sheep farm. The site is situated in an old orchard, part sloping. Picturesque quiet rural setting with open views of the countryside, ideal for walkers with plenty of footpaths, dogs are very welcome. A bicycle shop on the farm hires out bikes with a cycle track within 1/2 mile. There are several good local pubs in the village. Sandown with its sandy beach is 4 miles, children's adventure park is 1.5 miles, fishing 0.5 miles. The site has 10 grass serviced pitches.
Situated between Yarmouth & Freshwater, Heathfield is a pleasant contrast to many of the other sites on the Isle of Wight in that it is a ‘no frills’ sort of place. Despite its name, it is no longer a working farm. A large, open meadow provides large grass and level pitches with 16A electricity. The large field is divided into three distinct areas by large mature hedges. There is no shop as you are only eight minutes from the centre of Freshwater.
This family run park, opened in May 2007, has been sympathetically developed by the owners working closely with the Forestry Commission to maintain the natural beauty of the ancient woodland, Whitefield Forest. There is a mixture of well drained, all-weather hardstanding and grass pitches (90 in total) all with 16A electricity hook-up; 14 are fully serviced. Varying in size (100-170 sq.m), the pitches are level and sheltered with some on terraces. They are all suitable for tents, caravans and motorhomes. There is good access to the park and the pitches. Some slight road noise is audible from a few pitches.
In a village situation in the rural western part of the island, The Orchards Holiday Park is a family owned holiday park with stunning countryside views and high quality facilities. The park’s neat 17-acre touring area has 118 marked pitches suitable for tents, caravans and motorhomes, on terraced or gently sloping paddocks broken up by apple trees, mature hedges and fences. All pitches have 10A electricity, 45 have hardstandings and 17 are ‘all service’ pitches, also with hardstanding. A separate area contains 65 caravan holiday homes (statics). There is an impressive, central Facilities Centre which includes all of your touring needs, washing up area, laundry, family bathroom and family shower room and much more. The Orchards is a good base from which to explore the island and there are two beaches within five miles.
Originally part of the grounds of an historic house, this pretty family holiday park is situated in 14 acres of beautiful countryside in the valley of Stenbury Downs and Saint Martin’s Downs, close to the sandy beaches at Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor. The camping field is set in a grassy meadow through which a stream meanders and separated into distinct areas by rustic wooden fences. With hard access roads, there are 110 spacious marked pitches for touring units and tents, all with 14A electricity. There are 30 fully-serviced pitches, 20 with hardstanding. The old walled orchard contains 40 good quality caravan holiday homes. There is also the access-friendly Orchard Lodge (all accommodation on one level with ramp access to outside), plus two self-contained apartments. It is an ideal spot for birdwatching and riding and for walkers and cyclists there is an excellent network of footpaths and cycle paths.
Adgestone Camping & Caravanning Club site is to be found in a countryside setting on the beautiful Isle of Wight close to the popular Sandown resort. A very well laid out site with some secluded pitches orientated towards families. Adgestone has a swimming pool (which will be open and heated from the Spring Bank Holiday until the first week in September) and a children’s paddling pool. There are many walking and cycling opportunities from the site. Beach lovers are spoilt for choice with the seaside resorts of Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor, Cowes and Ryde all close by. Dinosaur Isle, Shanklin Chine, the Needles and Blackgang Chine should not be missed for days out. Adgestone Vineyard, overlooking Brading Down, is worth exploring for its spectacular views across Culver Down and Sandown Bay. Fishing is available on site in a private carp pool chargeable, also fishing on River Yar from 16 June to site closure free of charge. The site has 270 grass pitches (some seasonal), most with an electric hook-up point. There are also 12 Safari tents available for hire.