My wife and I are shortly going to to the Isle of Wight for a few day’s holiday
I am in a wheelchair post stroke so I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to good places or attractions to visit whilst we are there; any info. On the wheelchair accessibility of these places would be appreciated
Thanks in advance!
Jon (and Tess)
Hi Jon/Tess
I am not in a wheelchair but my wife was for many years. So nothing specific about IOW, but just to say go for it! You may find it an idea to call ahead and ask about accessibility but everyone is extremely helpful and it’s surprising how much help there is.
Slightly different tac but when you come to it going abroad and air travel theres so much help airports etc all good.
So it’s true you are wise to ask and a little more forward thinking is worth it - but a chair really opened things up again for my wife and I. Eventually she got a mobility scooter and that really gave us full countryside access again (in fairness it was a bit more robust one than the shopping type). It’s a question of what works best for you.
Anyway ive rabbited enough apologies it may not all be relevant to your question but I hope some of it may help.
Have a great trip mate
If you want to leave your car during the ferry crossing then register beforehand and they should park your car next to the lift.
If you use a manual chair then many attractions will have electric wheelchairs/scooters available to borrow. This will save your wife having to push you everywhere. Alternatively you could hire a powerchair/scooter.
I would suggest contacting the tourist information office.
Hope you enjoy your holiday.
Janet
@Janetb is right, contact the tourist office. They have some information online but will be able to answer all of your questions.
I’ve been visiting the island for years and love it there. A personal recommendation would be the donkey sanctuary, which is mostly flat fields with plenty of paths and it’s one of my happy places. The path between Freshwater and Yarmouth is an old railway line so very flat and with a good gravelled surface (last time I used it). It goes through interesting wetlands so lots of nature to see. Start at the End of the Line cafe in Freshwater and explore as far as you can manage before returning for a cuppa.
There are some National Trust properties on the island too, so you could contact them to see how accessible they are.
You’ll have a great time there - enjoy!
Wishing you a great trip. You know you are old and a Yankee when the only thing you know about Isle of Wight is that the Who played a killer show there in 1970ish.
Yah, my dad wouldn’t let me go to the IOW festival cos I was too young… I would just add that if you crossing to Ryde, the boardwalk is about at least half a mile long down to town seafront when you get off ferry and then up hill into town…but shd think it manageable etc
I recall when my parents Ruined My Life by not allowing me to go to the IOW pop festival - we lived just outside Southampton at the time, so I saw bedraggled versions of my schoolmates walking through the village all day.