Blackgang - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

St Catherine’s Oratory, which is situated on St Catherine’s Hill, Isle of Wight, overlooking Chale Bay, is the site of a prehistoric burial mound and a small medieval oratory, or chapel, the west tower of which is thought to have been used as a lighthouse. The 35-foot octagonal tower is Britain’s second oldest lighthouse after Dover’s Roman beacon, and as such, the Pepperpot has overseen much of the island’s history. Its creation, however, tells perhaps its most enlightening tale.

St Catherine's Lighthouse is a lighthouse located at St Catherine's Point at the southern tip of the Isle of Wight. It was built in response to local need for reliable light to guide shipping, following the shipwreck of the Clarendon. Perched high on St Catherine’s Hill, the Oratory is often quoted as being a fine example of a medieval lighthouse, although it's more likely to have been a bell tower with a beacon alongside.

Ventnor Botanic Garden lies at the heart of a remarkable microclimate on the south coast of the Isle of Wight. Surrounded by the chalk downs of the Ventnor Undercliff, the garden boasts an impressive collection of rare and exotic plants and trees. The garden's unusual climate is more akin to the Mediterranean and enables a wide variety of plants considered too tender for much of mainland Britain to be grown.

This beautiful Model Village nestles in the grounds of the Old Vicarage. Set in nearly two acres of gorgeous landscaped gardens this is a real retro find - a quintessentially English visitor attraction. There are two pubs: the "Griffin" – featuring a large griffin-shaped maze and children's playground – and "The Taverners".

A majestic and beautiful manor that sits in lovely gardens designed by Capability Brown. It was built in the 18th century as the seat of the Worsley family, Appuldurcombe was once the grandest house on the Isle of Wight. Admire the delightful east front and stroll peacefully through Lancelot 'Capability Brown's 11 acres of grounds. It is now managed by English Heritage and is open to the public.

Ventnor beach is the southernmost holiday beach on the Isle of Wight and is well-loved by locals and visitors alike. The south-facing seafront is sheltered by cliffs and boasts a lovely sand and shingle beach with pubs, cafes, amusements, paddling pool and car park. At low tide, a ridge of rocks appears from beneath the waves making a great place for children to explore, from the middle of the beach a channel has been cleared by fishermen long ago making it a great place to swim as it is free f