Isle of Wight - 4th-11th July 2008

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Isle of Wight
4th-11th July 2008


These photos were taken during a week in the Isle of Wight, 4th-11th July 2008.

The Island has reinvented itself in recent years, changing from a tacky mass-market tourist hell-hole with little on offer beyond burgers and chips, to a more up-market destination, with good food and good accommodation to capitalise on its still unspoilt areas, particularly in the west (with the exception of Alum Bay). To drive along the superb military road between Freshwater and Niton (or ideally to walk along the cliff top footpath) is unparalleled for isolation in the crowded south of England (although a few Audi RS4 owners and their ilk seem to have discovered the road to test their machinery). OK, so it rained almost every day the last time I spent a week there, and it did this time too, but when the sun shines it is a delightful place, as I hope the images below demonstrate. It was also very windy all week, even when sunny, and the small local excursion boats based at Yarmouth and Alum Bay did not operate at all. Please also look at the trip around the Island on the steamship Shieldhall.

Sections on this Page:-
PS Monarch
PS Ryde
Sandown
Totland Bay
Ventnor
Yarmouth
Yarmouth Harbour Taxis

Solent Photo Diaries:-
Photo Diary - Header Page
Portsmouth - 10th/11th December 2008 - including Norman Voyager
Isle of Wight - 4th-11th July 2008 - images from a week in the Isle of Wight - this page!
Isle of Wight Cruise - 14th June 2008 - images from a cruise around the Isle of Wight on the SS Shieldhall
Isle of Wight - 17th June 2007 - Hovertravel, Wightlink, Yarmouth Pier
Portsmouth - 3rd December 2006 - Royal Navy carriers, Warrior and Gosport ferries
Portsmouth - 7th September 2006 - 1 - Royal Navy carriers, Warrior and Gosport ferries
Portsmouth - 7th September 2006 - 2 - Cross Channel & Isle of Wight Ferries

Associated Pages:-
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Isle of Wight
4th-11th July 2008


Freshwater Bay

Freshwater Bay
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Freshwater Bay
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Freshwater Bay
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Freshwater Bay
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Freshwater Bay
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Freshwater Bay
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Freshwater Bay
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Freshwater Bay
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Freshwater Bay
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Freshwater Bay
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Freshwater Bay with steps up the cliff to a tunnel
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Sandown

Sandown Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 6th July 2008
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Sandown Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 6th July 2008
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Sandown Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 6th July 2008
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Sandown Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 6th July 2008
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Sandown Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 6th July 2008
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Sandown Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 6th July 2008
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Sandown Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 6th July 2008
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Sandown Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 6th July 2008
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Sandown Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 6th July 2008
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Sandown Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 6th July 2008
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Totland Bay

Totland Bay Pier is currently closed, beyond a short section used by the cafe. Given the rarity of surviving Isle of Wight piers, it seems a shame that it cannot be restored.


Totland Bay Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th July 2008
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Totland Bay Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th July 2008
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Totland Bay Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th July 2008
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Totland Bay Pier entrance
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th July 2008
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Totland Bay Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th July 2008
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Totland Bay Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th July 2008
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Totland Bay Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th July 2008
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Totland Bay Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th July 2008
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Totland Bay Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th July 2008
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Totland Bay Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th July 2008
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Totland Bay Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 4th July 2008
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Ventnor

Ventnor has undergone something of a revival in recent years, since my last visit around 20 years ago. The Esplanade is now quite lively, the local brewery again produces ales, and fine food is available - The Hamborough (just above the Esplanade) being one of the best restaurants on the the Island.


Ventnor
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Ventnor
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Ventnor
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Ventnor
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Ventnor
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Ventnor
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Ventnor
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Ventnor
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Ventnor
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Ventnor Haven
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Ventnor Haven
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Ventnor Haven
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Yarmouth

Yarmouth Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th July 2008
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Yarmouth Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th July 2008
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Yarmouth Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th July 2008
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Yarmouth Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th July 2008
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Yarmouth Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th July 2008
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Yarmouth Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th July 2008
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Yarmouth Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th July 2008
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Yarmouth Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th July 2008
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Yarmouth Pier
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th July 2008
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PS Monarch

Monarch was designed and built by her original owner, Brian Waters, and is named after the first Monarch of Cosens & Co. In 2004 she operated on the Stour River Bus service in Kent with the Lady Jane. Monarch (3) carries twelve passengers with seating space on deck and also in a comfortable saloon aft. She has taken almost 20 years to build, entering commercial service in 2004, running charters and some public sailings from Sandwich. Two friends and myself chartered the Monarch (3) on 30th October 2004. For 2005, operations shifted to Grove Ferry (9 miles upstream). In 2006 it was suggested that she would be offered for sale, to be replaced by a new motor-powered stern-wheeled vessel. This was not completed in time to run in 2007, and Monarch continued at Grove Ferry. Monarch was sold before the 2008 season and moved to Island Harbour on the River Medina between Newport and Cowes in the Isle of Wight.

Winds were too high to operate on the date shown below.

History of PS Monarch


PS Monarch at Island Harbour on the River Medina
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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PS Monarch at Island Harbour on the River Medina
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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PS Monarch at Island Harbour on the River Medina
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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PS Monarch at Island Harbour on the River Medina
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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PS Monarch at Island Harbour on the River Medina
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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PS Monarch at Island Harbour on the River Medina
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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PS Monarch at Island Harbour on the River Medina
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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PS Ryde

PS Ryde, derelict at Island Harbour on the River Medina
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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PS Ryde, derelict at Island Harbour on the River Medina
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 5th July 2008
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Yarmouth Harbour Taxis

Yarmouth Harbour Taxis (Thomas Taxis) operated the excursion boat Joybelle (previously from Teignmouth) in 2008 on Solent and Needles sea cruises, and also fishing trips. In 2007 they ran the ex-K&S Cruises Falmouth boat Temptress, but she was not passed by the MCA in 2008, and returned to the Fal. Also operated are three small open water taxis, named A1, A2 and Peggy Pop (the latter being somewhat larger than the others). These are availble to take people to moored yachts, and also operate an 'on demand' ferry service across Yarmouth harbour. They also run short cruises up the River Yar, primarily to see the wildlife.


Joybelle

Joybelle at Yarmouth
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th July 2008
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Joybelle at Yarmouth
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th July 2008
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Joybelle at Yarmouth
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th July 2008
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Yarmouth Harbour Ferry & Taxis

Yarmouth Harbour Ferry runs from the town steps near the Wightlink terminal to a pontoon on the opposite side of the harbour. There is an adjacent office in Yarmouth wher one can book the ferry. At the pontoon there is a folding orange signal which one activates with a rope, which calls the ferry. There is also a sign with a mobile phone number which I presume most people use these days. I decided to use the signal and the ferry arrived within minutes from Yarmouth. I was fascinated to see such a device still in use. The three small open water taxis are named A1, A2 and Peggy Pop (the latter being somewhat larger than the others).


Signal set to call the ferry
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th July 2008
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Ferry A2 arriving at the pontoon in response to the signal
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th July 2008
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Taxi Peggy Pop ferrying yachties to their boat moorings
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th July 2008
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Taxi Peggy Pop ferrying yachties to their boat moorings
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 8th July 2008
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