Freshwater

The far western tip of the Isle of Wight feels properly wild once you leave the main roads behind. Freshwater sits where gentle farmland gives way to dramatic chalk downs and some of the island's most spectacular coastal scenery. This is Tennyson country - the poet loved walking these clifftops, and you'll understand why.

Afton Down stretches out above the town, offering cracking views across the Solent and plenty of space for kite flying or just lying in the grass watching red kites circle overhead. The real drama lies underground though. Neptune's Caves and Freshwater Cave burrow deep into the chalk, while Fort Redoubt stands guard over Freshwater Bay - a proper Victorian fortress that's well worth the climb.

Yarmouth Castle, just a few miles east, guards the mouth of the River Yar and tells the story of Henry VIII's coastal defences. The town hall there houses local exhibits if the weather turns. Art lovers should seek out Purple Haze gallery and The Earth Museum for contemporary island work.

Walking is the main draw here. The coastal path from Freshwater Bay to the Needles is one of England's finest cliff walks, though it's not for the faint-hearted. Inland, ancient woodlands like Backet's Copse and Mill Copse offer gentler rambles through deciduous forest.

Getting here means the Portsmouth ferry to Yarmouth - the most convenient route for the western Wight. Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Tapnell Farm or Heathfield Farm puts you right in the thick of this landscape, with walking trails practically on your doorstep.