“Take it and come to the Isle of Wight: Christmas Eve - afternoon tea with a glass of Prosecco all me a fanciful idiot, WIN A CHRISTMAS TO followed by a 3 course dinner and complimentary bottle Where, far from the noise of smoke but whenever I visit the REMEMBER AT KEATS of wine. Island by way of the Lymington- and town, Christmas Day - leisurely breakfast with a glass of I watch the twilight falling brown COTTAGE, SHANKLIN Bucks Fizz. 4 course Christmas lunch including a glass Yarmouth ferry, I look at the of Prosecco & a glass of Port with your cheese. Win a 3 night stay for two in this delightful boutique All around a careless-ordered garden, Boxing Day – hearty breakfast and three course silhouette of the glorious Isle of B&B in the heart of Shanklin Old Village this dinner with complimentary bottle of wine. Close to the ridge of a noble down.” Christmas (24th, 25th & 26th December 2017). Wight opening up before me and Beautiful beaches and walks are close by and with Tennyson I think, “It’s a book! It’s like an meals and accommodation taken care of, all you’ll need to do is relax and enjoy a magical Christmas open book!” on the Isle of Wight. Prize includes: Three nights accommodation in the stylish Keats Cottage B&B, named HEROES “She thinks of nothing but the after respected poet John Keats who stayed Isle of Wight, and she calls it the and wrote here in the 19th century. tennyson minghella to Island, as if there were not another An inspirational trail around the Island island in the world.” Cross Solent ferry travel included Discover more about historic Keats Cottage keatscottage.co.uk Jane Austen, Mansfield Park Find out more and enter the competition at visitisleofwight.co.uk/keatschristmas COMPETITION CLOSES 31ST OCTOBER 2017 “It is the prettiest place I ever saw in my life.” “There was a Young Lady of Ryde, Dickens on Winterbourne, “My favourite view in the world is of Whose shoe-strings were seldom untied. Bonchurch the Tennyson Down, as seen from the She purchased some clogs, I’m not the first writer to be inspired by this Military Road at sunset. Sheer beauty.” And some small spotted dogs, jewel of an island. From Alfred, Lord Tennyson to Lynne Truss And frequently walked about Ryde.” Anthony Minghella, writers have breathed the air here, walked the cliffs and gazed at the glittering Edward Lear sea – and then dashed home to put pen to paper. “I sometimes wish I was back on “Some locations possess a special The contemporary author Isabel Ashdown describes the shore at Sandown; don’t you?” quality, a gentle energy in the air a “gentle energy in the air” here that makes her that makes me want to write; the want to write, and I know exactly what she means. Lewis Carroll Dickens felt it; Keats felt it. As a lucky visitor to Isle of Wight is one of those places.” this special place, I hope you feel it too. Isabel Ashdown To read more quotes from Lynne Truss “It’s a great day for the Isle of Wight.” our Literary Heroes Anthony Minghella – ‘..the tinny whirr of the candyfloss please visit accepting his Best Director Oscar machine, the thump of the rubber visitisleofwight.co.uk fridge-lid, the rustle of sweets on “It is impossible to imagine a weighing scales, the chip of coins Travel around the Island without prettier spot.” being thrown into the open till.” a car and you’ll discover so much Queen Victoria Philip Norman – Babycham Night more. We have miles of footpaths, cycle and bridleways, an excellent bus network and our own unique Continuing the rich literary tradition train line. of the Island, the Isle of Wight Literary Festival was founded in 2012. Offering a diverse and thought-provoking programme, events feature poets, politicians, historians, To find out more about travel, accommodation, biographers, journalists, fiction writers, things to do and places to eat and drink go to actors and scientists. visitisleofwight.co.uk Past speakers include Max Hastings, Mary Berry, Victoria Hislop, Simon Callow, Alan Johnson, Kate Mosse, Michael Morpurgo, Celia Imrie, Peter and Dan Snow. There is also a vibrant youth programme. The Literary Festival takes place in October and is mainly Tennyson based at Northwood House, a Grade II* Georgian manor house set in 20 acres of parkland in the heart of Cowes. isleofwightliteraryfestival.com By Sea rom 1853 until his death in 1892, Since 2012 this dramatic Gothic house has been CAR FERRY Wightlink Portsmouth – Fishbourne 45 minutes Farringford was the main home of the meticulously restored and decorated in a late 19th- Wightlink Lymington – Yarmouth 40 minutes renowned Victorian poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson. century style that reflects the Tennysons’ tastes Red Funnel Southampton – East Cowes 1 hour In this secluded spot on the Isle of Wight the and interests. The grounds have also been returned PASSENGER FERRY new Poet Laureate produced some of his most to their authentic Tennyson-era appearance, Red Funnel Red Jet Southampton – West Cowes 25 minutes complete with enchanting walled garden. Wightlink Catamaran Portsmouth Harbour – Ryde 22 minutes famous works: Maud was composed in the attic, Enoch Arden in the summer house and Hovertravel Southsea – Ryde 10 minutes Farringford is now open to the public as an historic Idylls of the King in the library. Farringford also home. Holidaymakers also have the opportunity to attracted many of Tennyson’s eminent friends, This brochure was funded by the enjoy a stay in our self-catering accommodation, Isle of Wight Business Improvement District. becoming a locus of literary and artistic activity. situated in the house and grounds. The writers Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, Charles Kingsley, William Allingham, Please visit farringford.co.uk to book a trip and Northwood House Coventry Patmore and Henry Longfellow learn more about Tennyson, his circle and the were among many accomplished visitors. enduring appeal of his magnificent poetry. 5 Shanklin 9 Newport and Carisbrooke A popular tourist destination for 200 years, Shanklin When imprisoned in Carisbrooke Castle in 1648, Chine was opened to the public in 1817. The Old Village King Charles I was inspired to write poetry. was a regular haunt of the poet John Keats. Today you can This Charles Kingsley wrote The Water Babies (1863) after dine and stay in the house he rented – Keats Cottage. reading the true story of child chimney sweep Valentine The air, The American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow visited Gray. Today you can see the memorial to Gray in Church as somebody said, in 1868 where he wrote a poem for the fountain outside Litten, Newport. The Crab Inn. Island Novelist Patrick Gale was born on the Island in 1962 is a little is worth In 1813 Jane Austen visited Shanklin and wrote: - his father was then Governor of HM Prison Camp Hill. “we hired a sociable and drove round… Shanklin John Keats began his poem Endymion (1818) which starts Chine, lovely” ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’ in Castle Road, Newport. paradise Sixpence Karl Marx 6 a pint Cowes 6 Tennyson With its stunning sea views and annual yachting 2 regatta Cowes has been an inspiration to Alan Titchmarsh, TV presenter and author who lives in the town. He set his novel ‘Rosie’ (2004) partly in Gurnard and Thorness Bay. Cowes Gurnard 2 5 East Cowes B 3 3 In 1793 it is believed the poet William Wordsworth inspected the Napoleonic Fleet at Cowes. Rew Street 7 Whippingham RYDE PIER HEAD RYDE Northwood ESPLANADE 8 A 3 0 2 Fishbourne Marks A 3 1 Freshwater Bay and Tennyson Down Corner 0 2 0 A 3 0 5 4 Ryde Quarr Hill Binstead RYDE Wootton ST JOHN’S ROAD Spring Vale Bridge 14 Seaview WOOTTON Porchfield Wootton Isle of Wight Hamstead Common Newtown Parkhurst Nettlestone SMALLBROOK B 3 3 Literary Havenstreet JUNCTION 4 0 Ventnor Downs Connections Cranmore 9 HAVENSTREET A 3 0 5 4 Ashey Norton Bouldnor A Yarmouth Shalfleet 3 0 5 5 St Helens Cliff End Ningwood Newport 1 ASHEY B 3 3 3 0 Freshwater A 3 0 5 4Norton Green Thorley Thorley Street B 3 3 9 0 Bembridge B 3 4 Carisbrooke The scenery of the Isle of Wight so inspired the Poet 0 1 Wellow 1 Shide Laureate, Alfred, Lord Tennyson that he made his home B 3 4 0 Downend Five Houses at Farringford, Freshwater in the 1850s as a tranquil escape Brading 9 5 Newbridge 3 3 B from his fans. A 3 0 5 Freshwater 5 1 BRADING Bowcombe Calbourne Arreton Tennyson’s ‘Freshwater Circle’ grew and included Lewis Totland Blackwater Morton B 3 0 1 3 9 9 Adgestone Carroll, Edward Lear and William Allingham as well as 15 Middleton B 3 4 Afton Langbridge 3 2 2 other artists including Victorian photographic pioneer Julia 3 Alverstone Yaverland B 3 Freshwater Bay B 3 Chessell 3 Newchurch 2 Horringford Margaret Cameron. 3 Gatcombe Merstone 11 10 12 5 3 3 9 Playwright George Bernard Shaw and his new wife B honeymooned at Ocean View, Coastguard Lane, SANDOWN A 3 0 5 6 Freshwater in 1898. Rookley Winford Hulverstone Sandown Brook LAKE The lure of Freshwater continued into the 20th century. Mottistone Chillerton Lake Author Virginia Woolf (great niece of Julia Margaret Apse Heath 5 Cameron) stayed at her house, Dimbola and created a play Moortown A 3 0 2 0 Shorwell ‘Freshwater – a Comedy’ based on the Freshwater Circle. Brighstone B 3 Limerstone 3 9 9 DH Lawrence, stayed at Freshwater Bay in 1909 and went Sandford SHANKLIN on to use the location in his novels.