Geography

Known as the Garden Isle, this jewel of England indeed resembles a diamond in shape - being some 23 miles west to east, from The Needles to Bembridge, and 13 miles north to south, from Cowes to St. Catherine's Point. This, the 2nd smallest, and perhaps the most geographically diverse, of England's counties covers just 147 square miles and is bounded by about 60 miles of coastline. Within this watery border of the Solent to the north and the English Channel to the south lies 'an England in miniature'.

The natural processes of deposition, folding and erosion during the last 120 million years have resulted in the rich variety of the Island's surface geology. The clay soils in the north and mainly sandy loams in the south are bisected by a chalk spine running west to east across the entire Island, starting at the Needles and ending at Culver cliffs, and reaching 240 metres (787 feet) above sea level at its highest point on St. Boniface Down. The resulting and kaleidoscopic contrasts in the Island's scenery encompass open downland, beech woods, conifer forests, grazing land, wide sandy beaches, sheer chalk cliffs, rocky coves, creeks and estuaries.

The resident population of about 127,000 is concentrated in the main towns of the Island, all of which are coastal except for Newport - the county town at the literal centre of the Island. As a contrasting locality, the Island offers unrivalled opportunities for geographical study.

Environmental Issues

The Isle of Wight, being relatively small and populous, generates a considerable number of environmental issues, chiefly relating to the competition for resources. The essentially tranquil and rural nature of the Island is threatened by the needs of economic health manifested in both commercial and residential development. The driving force of wealth-generating tourism in particular can often be at odds with the need for the conservation and protection of wildlife habitats, areas of Special Scientific Interest, designated areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and land managed by the National Trust. Marine pollution is another 'muddy' issue, as is the old and often argued question of a fixed-link to the Mainland. Such issues characterise this jewel of an island as it acknowledges, and tries to reconcile, the needs of both its resident population and seasonal guests.

Rivers

Freshwater causeway © IW Tourism

There are three rivers on the Island, all flowing from south to north. In the centre, and almost dividing the Island in two, the Medina rises at its source on St. Catherine's Down. From here it flows north, to be joined by one of its tributaries, the Merstone stream at Blackwater, before continuing its lazy meandering until it reaches Newport Quay, where it becomes tidal. As it continues on its journey northwards, both banks are lined with marine-related industries and businesses, both service and manufacturing, while the river itself is bustling with its water-borne traffic of working and pleasure craft. The river reaches the Solent at its mouth where the twin towns of Cowes are sited. This estuary is about 17 kms from the source of the Medina.

The Island's longest river, at 27 kms is the Eastern Yar, which also has its source on the southern chalk outcrop of St Catherine's Down. From here it flows north-east, through the small town of Wroxall, before slicing through the Island's central chalk ridge at Brading, and then on to meet the Solent at Bembridge harbour - the mouth of the Eastern Yar estuary.

The third, and shortest river, at only 3 kms is the Western Yar which has its source in the salt marshes only a few hundred metres inland from Freshwater Bay - almost making the West Wight an island in its own right. From here it flows north to its mouth at the busy harbour town of Yarmouth. Like its sister river in the East Wight, the course and estuary of the Western Yar boasts reed beds, an abundance of wildlife, an old railway causeway, and outstanding scenery.

Settlement

The Island displays an enormous variety of settlement types, characterised by the main strands of the local economy - namely tourism, farming, and light industry - as well as a significant proportion of the population being retired This has resulted in a mixture of historic and modern developments, ranging from small harbour towns to busy ports, seaside resorts to market towns, and secluded rural villages to modern residential estates.

Transport

Your visit to the Island will introduce you to both familiar and different transport systems. The motorway or train on the mainland will be followed by the ferry - the first experience for many children of a 'real' ship and the sea. However, there are a variety of cross-Solent forms of transport, aside from the ferries which run between Lymington and Yarmouth, Southampton and Cowes, and Portsmouth and Fishbourne. These include hovercraft (Southsea to Ryde), passenger catamaran (Portsmouth to Ryde), and hydrofoil (Southampton to Cowes).

On the Island, a modern electric railway operates between Ryde Pier and Shanklin, using former London Underground stock. There is also the chance to travel back in time on the Island's steam railway, based at Havenstreet, and connecting with the modern line at Smallbrook Junction.

By way of further contrast, there is a crossing of the River Medina between East and West Cowes via one of the country's few remaining 'floating bridges', which painstakingly heaves itself to and fro by its chains.

There are over 500 miles of roads on the Island, and almost as many miles of well- sign-posted footpaths and bridle-ways made up of more than 1,400 separate public rights of way - offering ready access to both coast and countryside.

Weather

Surrounded by water, the Isle of Wight can be said to have a climate of its own. With relatively mild winters, an average annual rainfall of 76 cm (31.74 inches), and high light intensity, the local climate borders on sub-tropical and allows many Mediterranean-type plants and trees (even vineyards) to flourish in the open air. The South Wight is particularly blessed in this respect, and Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor (the main seaside resorts on the Island's south-east coast) regularly top the British league for recorded hours of sunshine.