Thistle Cottage's location is perfect for exploring the Isle of Wight. The car and passenger ferry port of Fishbourne is close by, providing easy access to the mainland. An extensive variety of footpaths, bridleways, and cycle routes are nearby, including Firestone Copse, a beautiful woodland walk just a short drive across the creek.

Wootton Bridge offers a selection of local shops, takeaways, and pubs. Places of interest within a short drive include Osborne House, the stately holiday residence of Queen Victoria; Quarr Abbey with its resident monks; and the impressive Carisbrooke Castle. The Victorian town of Ryde is also a short drive away, offering a variety of restaurants, bars, cafés, and shops, as well as a gently sloping sandy beach spanning approximately one mile to Appley. Ryde also features a cinema and bowling alley.

Ryde Town

Ryde is the largest town on the Isle of Wight, and with its prominent position along the seafront and hovercraft and passenger ferry links it is little wonder it is often referred to as “The Gateway to the Island”.

In addition to an expanse of sandy beaches which stretch right along the town, Ryde has a great selection of boutique shops, museums and galleries for you to visit along with lots of other things to see and do along its esplanade.

Ryde offers a great variety of things to do which will interest all ages, not least of which are the hovercraft and catamaran ferry from which you can travel to and from the mainland.

Hovertravel are the world’s oldest hovercraft operator and operate the last remaining hovercraft passenger service in Britain, whereas a trip on the Wightlink catamaran service will take you down Ryde’s recently restored early 19th century pier, which carries both vehicular traffic and train services.

Head along Ryde esplanade and you will encounter a number of great places for family entertainment, including the Superbowl and LaserQuest.

Further along there is a fun fair for young children and a very popular canoe lake which leads on to Ryde’s sandy beaches.

At low tide the sea goes out a long way making it a popular place for sports and outdoor activities, and a regular venue for beach soccer tournaments.