I want to start my story with one of my most favorite and emotional experiences whilst on holiday. I have been to the Isle of Wight and I liked the island very much. It is a green and covered in super flora and fauna and is nice and tranquil and one of the best places in Europe where my soul and mind can rest for a while from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But the town I liked most of all was that of Ventnor.
If you are going to visit the IOW, do drop into Ventnor. It's a lovely seaside resort with a long tradition, perfect for a family holiday as it has a real Mediterranean feel to it and is one of the hidden wonders of the island. It is situated right on the south coast tip of the Island looking out over the English Channel towards France. Built in part upon the inclined cliffs, it nestles in the shelter of steep sided hills and falls steeply towards the sea offering some magnificent views from the many viewing points one can stop at. This town is very nice because of its mild climate and therapeutic sea air. Just a minute or two from the town centre you feel this splendid atmosphere of sheltered tropical weather as Ventnor often receives the highest amount of sunny days for the whole of England.
Historically speaking, Ventnor began its life as just a small fishing rural community. Often associated with smuggling and the odd costal ship wreck due to the notorious Ventnor ledge, which used to catch unfamiliar sea captains unaware and cause catastrophic damage to their ships. In 1866 the Isle of Wright Railway was constructed and this date initiated fabulous growth with the community, the town prospered, flourishing with growth all over Ventnor. Due to the type of warm weather, Ventnor became a therapeutic centre with the UK's largest sanatorium for TB, which at the time was untreatable and deadly. Nearby Bonchurch became the haunt of a number of famous writers, including Charles Dickens.
He stayed in this village for a while very close to the Old Bonchurch Church, which has a really quaint plaque saying "Refurbished in 1086" outside on the wall. This small village is almost unchanged, with its village pond and pretty cottages can be reached by a pleasant and easy stroll along the sea wall from the harbour. Ventnor Botanical Gardens is one of the most famous attractions just outside the town. It is very beautiful and has a tremendous variety of flora and fauna on display. The local microclimate of Ventnor allows for many tropical and sub tropical plants of all kinds to grow, making for really fantastic experience as you walk through the many styles of gardens on display. Here you can find gorgeous plants from Japan, New Zealand and Australia. All through the village is the perfect place for growing many a rare flower or plant.
The temperature and humidity sees many flourishing tropical flowers just growing wild in many of the cottage gardens. However, around about in this area you can observe many features created by the landslip, as the surrounding hills are vulnerable to slippages due to their makeup and the steep hillsides they cling to. This geological aspect is called Graben. Due to this factor several houses have moved over the centuries as well as underground pipes and cables of supplies being destroyed as the movement occurs.
All in all Ventnor still remains one of the popular destinations to vacation to, Its sandy beach is great for relaxation; a walk along the coast path takes you to the famous 22 acre Botanic Gardens, Steephill Cove - one of the island's hidden gems. Do try and go there; take a camera it's just fantastic. Ventnor town has several supermarkets and a good mix of shops, pubs, cafes and restaurant, together with a great choice of accommodation and fine dining. Ventnor is considered one of the main IOW attractions.
Thanks To : American Tee
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