It’s not too late to castaway on an island this half-term. That childhood favourite, the Isle of Wight, will be looking back to the summer of love with the return, after more than 30 years, of the Isle of Wight Festival.
The festival opens, of course, with an outdoor rock concert, Rock Island, at Seaclose Park, Newport, on Monday, June 3, headlined by Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, The Charlatans, Starsailor and Ash. If rock’s not your thang, there will be reggae, blues, jazz, folk, samba, funk and world music all over the island for the following fortnight.
In between, if the kids find the island’s perennial attractions - the sandy beaches and the long walks - too quiet, they can try sailing, paragliding or kitesurfing, or there are dinosaurs and big cats for the young ones to discover.
A week at a self-catering luxury pine lodge sleeping six people at Gurnard Pines, a short drive from Cowes, starts from pound;585 during half-term with Red Funnel, including return ferry travel from Southampton to Cowes. Facilities on offer include swimming pool, sauna, steam room, crazy golf, gym and tennis courts.
Red Funnel also has tickets to Rock Island for pound;35 per person. For more information call Red Funnel on 0870 444 8890 or visit www.redfunnel.co .ukholidays.
Isle of Wight tourist information has seven centres on the island, or contact them by telephone on: 01983 813 813.
