Isle of Wight Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight,  Proud of its island and individual county status, the residents of the Isle of Wight have long fought against the building a link to the mainland. After all it is the uniqueness of the island’s situation so near the south British coast yet separate, that makes it such an attraction for many of its visitors each year. The Isle of Wight, also known as ‘the Garden Isle’, covers 147 square miles, that’s just 23 miles east to west and 13 miles from north to south. For a reasonably small island it has made a pretty big name for itself. Newport is the main town, located in the centre of the island, with Sandown, Ventnor and Shanklin as the major coastal resorts on the south east of the island, with Ryde being the major port located further north. The most famous site though is that of the chalk rocks that make up the impressive site of the Isle of Wight Needles. The island is also well known for its varied geology, where the contrast between the north and south of the island is quite stark. Across the island the landscape ranges from stunning sandy beaches to rocky coves, high chalk cliffs and large areas of beech woods and conifer forests making this a popular place for geography school trips for kids from all across the country. Exciting archaeological remains have also been found on the island indicating evidence of an Old Stone Age human settlement. The island was subsequently inhabited during the Bronze and Iron ages too, before the later arrival of the Romans, the evidence of which can still be seen in exisiting Roman Villas. Later famous occupants include Lord Tennyson who bought a house at Freshwater, John Keats, Charles Darwin, and Charles Dickens who all fell for this glorious island, with its spectacular scenery and abundance of natural wildlife. All in their own way appreciated that the Isle of Wight is a very special place that most people find once they have discovered, they wish to return to time and time again.