Isle of Wight Autumn Adventures

With the nights drawing in and autumn colour appearing on the trees, the long summer days are over but that doesn’t matter here on the Isle of Wight. There are still plenty of things to do, places to visit and walks to be had.

Bright autumn days are perfect for getting out and about on your bike or on foot. With 500 or so miles of pathways to walk along including 64 miles of coastal path, you can experience all that the Island has to offer for keen (and not so keen) walkers. There are flat walks for kids and the less able and rugged paths for those who are more intrepid. Enjoy sea views, downs, estuaries and Sites of Special Scientific Interest as well as conservation areas, rivers and dinosaur hunts.

Get on your bike and explore Bicycle Island. You can bring your own bike across to the Island or hire one while you’re here, including electric bikes for those challenging hilly parts! There are routes to suit all abilities including off road bridleways and purpose made tracks on the former railway line and over 200 miles of cycle routes to enjoy. You should also have a look at our Slow Travel Guide which gives information about how to travel around the Island without your car using bus and train services or your own legwork!

There are loads of child friendly adventures happening on the Island during the autumn months with Island attractions holding specially themed nights throughout October and into November including October half term. Have a Halloween style Fright Night or celebrate Diwali or have a spooky time down on the farm. Whatever you decide to do, the kids will love it. Or try some other sorts of adventures with paragliding, tree climbing and other adventure sports.

After frenetic summer days, why not try a wellness break for size on the Island? Much beloved of the Victorians who came here to ‘take the air’ and revitalise, you’ll feel the decompression begin as soon as you step onto the ferry and cross the water. Follow in the footsteps of royalty, artists and poets and step back in time for some rest and relaxation just a couple of hours from London by train. The Island is rich with heritage and you can enjoy castles and palaces, museums and galleries.

Of course there is always food and the Isle of Wight has some fantastic local producers. Enjoy in -season game and meat, vegetables and fruits in restaurants and pubs across the Island. Treat yourself to an Island produced ale, glass of wine or gin in hostelries with fires and the of course, almost legendary Island welcome – it's what we do best. There are also famer’s markets and independent shops in towns and villages selling locally grown and produced goods from chutneys and jams to oils and vinegars, cakes, bread and beer.

For adult autumn visitors there are some great events to enjoy. Get on a bus and have a beer (or two) and enjoy classic buses, real ales and see the Island from a completely different perspective. Or meet some of your favourite authors at the Literary Festival in its stunning historic venue. There are also shows, theatres, concerts and venues with programmes of events spanning everything from harps to classic car shows and hops to Octoberfest.

And where to stay? A yurt perhaps? Or maybe a geodesic dome? Or a traditional hotel or B&B? Whatever you decide, the Island has all of these and much more, so you’ll be spoiled for choice. And with many accommodation providers offering autumn deals, you could bag yourself a bargain.

Whatever you decide to do and however you’re travelling, it couldn’t be easier to get to the Isle of Wight via Lymington, Southampton, Southsea or Portsmouth. There are regular rail connections to the south coast via SWR.

Travelling as a foot passenger is simple due to our excellent transport links with trains, buses, foot passenger ferries and our hovercraft service.