Lesley’s guidebook
Neighbourhoods
Ventnor is the nearest small town to Bonchurch and about a 10 minute drive down Bonchurch Shute. It has a Tesco Direct and Co-operative Supermarket. Tesco is open to 11.00pm.
There is a warm and friendly family butcher. Also selling cheeses, cooked meats, free range eggs, home-made pies and a variety of deli products including infused olive oils.
Five- a-Day is the local greengrocer selling Island produce all beautifully fresh.
Daily baked fresh bread is now available from several cafés on the high street.
On the sea-front there is Haven Fisheries selling the fresh catches of the day…a little pricey but their fish cannot be beaten. The Haven is open from 10am-4.00pm.
Wednesday is half-day closing for most shops in Ventnor.
There are cash points outside Tesco and inside the Co-op.
Ventnor also has a post office.
Ventnor has many pubs, cafes and restaurants. Tramezzini amongst others on the High Street, the Crab and Lobster pub, and Hello Sailor, Smoking Lobster and the Spyglass Inn on the Esplanade, but there are new eateries opening every season.
37 locals recommend
Ventnor
Ventnor is the nearest small town to Bonchurch and about a 10 minute drive down Bonchurch Shute. It has a Tesco Direct and Co-operative Supermarket. Tesco is open to 11.00pm.
There is a warm and friendly family butcher. Also selling cheeses, cooked meats, free range eggs, home-made pies and a variety of deli products including infused olive oils.
Five- a-Day is the local greengrocer selling Island produce all beautifully fresh.
Daily baked fresh bread is now available from several cafés on the high street.
On the sea-front there is Haven Fisheries selling the fresh catches of the day…a little pricey but their fish cannot be beaten. The Haven is open from 10am-4.00pm.
Wednesday is half-day closing for most shops in Ventnor.
There are cash points outside Tesco and inside the Co-op.
Ventnor also has a post office.
Ventnor has many pubs, cafes and restaurants. Tramezzini amongst others on the High Street, the Crab and Lobster pub, and Hello Sailor, Smoking Lobster and the Spyglass Inn on the Esplanade, but there are new eateries opening every season.
Bonchurch is one of the oldest villages on the Island. The spring feeding the pond in the village is believed to be the reason why humans settled in the area. There is evidence of Stone Age man and Roman settlement, and it is said that the Saxon patron saint St Boniface also visited the area.
Bonchurch village was first recorded in the Domesday Book and at that time was known as Bonecerce. In July 1545 the victory of men and women of the Isle of Wight over French soldiers at the Battle of Bonchurch is widely thought to have prevented the French invasion of the Island.
In the 1830’s the Bonchurch Estate was sold off by the Reverend James White, the husband of Rosa Hill, heiress to the Manor. Bonchurch’s stunning situation, nestled between the distinctive northern backdrop of St Boniface Down and the English Channel, its favourable climate and “sea air”, rapidly led to it becoming a fashionable holiday destination with eminent and wealthy Victorians. Many exclusive private villas were built and existing large houses such as East Dene and Undermount were extended.
From the early 19th century many famous literary artists of the time came to Bonchurch. In 1819 John Keats, while staying at Shanklin, gave an account of his visit to Bonchurch in a letter to his sister, declaring that he "might win the heart of a lady – and the rheumatism – if he could play a guitar outside the romantic cottage windows of the village".
The poet Alfred Swinburn spent his childhood at East Deane. Charles Dickens, spent seven months at Winterbourne in 1849, where he wrote part of his great novel "David Copperfield". While staying at Winterbourne Dickens wrote to his wife Catherine – who was in London: “I think it is the prettiest place I ever saw in my life, at home or abroad”.
Other famous visitors to Bonchurch include; Karl Marx, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and more recently (it is rumoured) ….Johnny Depp!
Bonchurch today is largely as it was in Victorian times with only a few modern bungalows and houses. It has two churches, one dating back to the 11th century, a working forge, a village pond, the esplanade and a 19th century village inn offering excellent Italian food and a friendly welcome.
WALKS
There are some stunning walks in easy reach of the cottage. Just across the road a footpath takes you to the Landslip or Monks Bay. The Landslip is a picturesque woodland walk and is great for children who love to explore and climb. Since the last big landslip some fifteen years ago a series of sturdy wooden staircases have been built down the cliff-side to connect The Devil's Chimney with the coastal path. On reaching the top of the Chimney you can look out from the Parapet Walk onto the tree canopy or gaze down over the sheer rock wall into the wooded Landslip. The Victorians loved exploring The Fairy Glade and rubbed the rock known as 'The Wishing Seat' smooth. The coastal footpath takes you on a fairly flat walk through The Landslip to Shanklin Old Village, several miles of woodland and fine coastal views over Sandown Bay to the chalk headland of Culver Cliff. The path is uneven and can be muddy and slippery in places, so stout shoes are advised!
If you take the path the other way you will come to Monk’s Bay. A pretty secluded shingle cove. Legend states that monks from Lyra in Normandy landed at Monks Bay, and erected a building in dedication to St. Boniface. This building could be the wooden building which is believed to have existed in the 9th century where the Old Church now stands.
From Monk’s Bay you are in easy reach of Bonchurch Esplanade and a visit to the pottery. If you are feeling very energetic you can continue the walk into Ventor (about 20 minutes). An alternative is to drive to the esplanade and park at the small village green just before the sea front and walk to Ventnor from there.
To reach the downs behind the cottage drive out of Ventnor towards Wroxall. Turn right into Downs Lane, a narrow road, not signposted and easy to miss! The walks are spectacular with views across the Island and the sea. The downs are covered with bluebells, gorse and heathers depending on the time of year. St Boniface Down is the highest point on the Island. There is reputed to be a wishing well on the southern slope, where wishers had to walk the Southern slopes without looking back.
9 locals recommend
Bonchurch
Bonchurch is one of the oldest villages on the Island. The spring feeding the pond in the village is believed to be the reason why humans settled in the area. There is evidence of Stone Age man and Roman settlement, and it is said that the Saxon patron saint St Boniface also visited the area.
Bonchurch village was first recorded in the Domesday Book and at that time was known as Bonecerce. In July 1545 the victory of men and women of the Isle of Wight over French soldiers at the Battle of Bonchurch is widely thought to have prevented the French invasion of the Island.
In the 1830’s the Bonchurch Estate was sold off by the Reverend James White, the husband of Rosa Hill, heiress to the Manor. Bonchurch’s stunning situation, nestled between the distinctive northern backdrop of St Boniface Down and the English Channel, its favourable climate and “sea air”, rapidly led to it becoming a fashionable holiday destination with eminent and wealthy Victorians. Many exclusive private villas were built and existing large houses such as East Dene and Undermount were extended.
From the early 19th century many famous literary artists of the time came to Bonchurch. In 1819 John Keats, while staying at Shanklin, gave an account of his visit to Bonchurch in a letter to his sister, declaring that he "might win the heart of a lady – and the rheumatism – if he could play a guitar outside the romantic cottage windows of the village".
The poet Alfred Swinburn spent his childhood at East Deane. Charles Dickens, spent seven months at Winterbourne in 1849, where he wrote part of his great novel "David Copperfield". While staying at Winterbourne Dickens wrote to his wife Catherine – who was in London: “I think it is the prettiest place I ever saw in my life, at home or abroad”.
Other famous visitors to Bonchurch include; Karl Marx, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and more recently (it is rumoured) ….Johnny Depp!
Bonchurch today is largely as it was in Victorian times with only a few modern bungalows and houses. It has two churches, one dating back to the 11th century, a working forge, a village pond, the esplanade and a 19th century village inn offering excellent Italian food and a friendly welcome.
WALKS
There are some stunning walks in easy reach of the cottage. Just across the road a footpath takes you to the Landslip or Monks Bay. The Landslip is a picturesque woodland walk and is great for children who love to explore and climb. Since the last big landslip some fifteen years ago a series of sturdy wooden staircases have been built down the cliff-side to connect The Devil's Chimney with the coastal path. On reaching the top of the Chimney you can look out from the Parapet Walk onto the tree canopy or gaze down over the sheer rock wall into the wooded Landslip. The Victorians loved exploring The Fairy Glade and rubbed the rock known as 'The Wishing Seat' smooth. The coastal footpath takes you on a fairly flat walk through The Landslip to Shanklin Old Village, several miles of woodland and fine coastal views over Sandown Bay to the chalk headland of Culver Cliff. The path is uneven and can be muddy and slippery in places, so stout shoes are advised!
If you take the path the other way you will come to Monk’s Bay. A pretty secluded shingle cove. Legend states that monks from Lyra in Normandy landed at Monks Bay, and erected a building in dedication to St. Boniface. This building could be the wooden building which is believed to have existed in the 9th century where the Old Church now stands.
From Monk’s Bay you are in easy reach of Bonchurch Esplanade and a visit to the pottery. If you are feeling very energetic you can continue the walk into Ventor (about 20 minutes). An alternative is to drive to the esplanade and park at the small village green just before the sea front and walk to Ventnor from there.
To reach the downs behind the cottage drive out of Ventnor towards Wroxall. Turn right into Downs Lane, a narrow road, not signposted and easy to miss! The walks are spectacular with views across the Island and the sea. The downs are covered with bluebells, gorse and heathers depending on the time of year. St Boniface Down is the highest point on the Island. There is reputed to be a wishing well on the southern slope, where wishers had to walk the Southern slopes without looking back.
City advice
Getting around
Bus Services and Local Taxis
Bus Services and Taxis
Southern Vectis run two buses per hour to Ryde and to Newport from the bus stop on Leeson Road. Walk up the Shute and turn right. The bus stop to Shankin, Ryde and Newport is across the road. Turn left for the bus stop to Ventnor.
The closest taxi services are in Ventnor:
Charlies’s 01983 853697
Randalls 01983 852269
Chivertons 01983 853396
Don't miss
Isle of Wight - What's On
Pick up a copy of Island Life on the Ferry and/or check out these websites;
www.visitisleofwight.co.uk
www.isleofwightguru.co.uk