but if you do make it to the top you’ll come out at The Pitts which is a road housing some of the most beautiful Victorian mansions in the village.
From Grange Cottage, it is a lovely 10 minute walk through the trees (past the old St Boniface Church) to the two closest beaches: Monks Bay and Horseshoe Bay. These Bays are separated by climbable rocks and are fantastic, safe places for children with sand, swimming and lots of rock pools to explore at low tide.
At the top of Bonchurch Shute there is a superb walk through ‘The Landslip’, a coastal woodland, perched on top of the cliffs, which has been modelled by landslips and erosion. Sheltered by ancient oaks, you can walk through the deep stone gorge called the ‘Devil's Chimney’ and either stroll back, or continue to Monks Bay and home to Grange Cottage.
Ventnor is a 10 minute walk away from the Cottage. It has acquired a stylish reputation over the last few years thanks to boutique hotels (such as The Hambrough with its Michelin star restaurant) and some attractive shops serving a new, fashionable clientele. Ventnor’s bay of south-facing sand is one of the Island’s three Blue Flag beaches, and a great place for children to build sandcastles and play in the sea.
The easiest way to get to Bonchurch from the mainland is via car ferry from Portsmouth to Fishbourne. The crossing takes about 40 minutes, and then it’s a 30 minute drive from the ferry to Grange Cottage. You can also visit as a foot passenger on the Wightlink catamaran, which leaves Portsmouth for Ryde where a train carries you down the coast to Shanklin station. It’s then a 10 minute taxi ride to the Cottage. Other options are Solent ferry services from Portsmouth, Southampton and Lymington to Yarmouth, Cowes and Fishbourne.
Please contact us if you would like anymore information about the Cottage, the surrounding area or wider attractions on the Isle of Wight.
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