I fancy a holiday on the Isle of Wight. Is it worth it

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Osborne House

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Q.� Easy to get to

A.� Remarkably, considering it's an island. The Isle of Wight is about 23 miles wide, and 13 miles long. It is served by three car-ferry routes - which gives you an idea of its popularity. They run from Lymington to Yarmouth; Southampton to Cowes; and Portsmouth to Fishbourne. There's also a passenger-only catamaran from Portsmouth to Ryde; and a passenger-only hovercraft� from Southsea to Ryde. Commercial flights land at Bembridge, at the eastern end of the Island.

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Q.� Phew! Plenty of people descend in the summer, then

A.� True. The island's warm climate means there are many attractions, particularly boating: the world-famous Cowes Week regatta is held at the beginning of August.

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Q.� I like to visit historical sites and stately homes. Are there any on the island

A.� Plenty. Try Carisbrooke Castle, where Charles I fled in 1647 and was betrayed. Or there's Osborne House, where Queen Victoria spent much of her widowhood and where she died. (Watch out, incidentally, for a feature on Osborne House in People & Places).

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Q.� What about attractions for the youngsters

A.� Easy. There's the Needles Pleasure Park, Flamingo Park, Brading Wax Museum, Blackgang Chine Theme Park, Glory Art Glass, ice rink and ten-pin bowling. And there's also a steam railway - with locos hauling Victorian and Edwardian carriages. Broadly speaking, the east side of the island is the commercial part; the west side is much quieter.

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Q.� Blackgang Chine. What's that

A.� A chine is a ridge or crest of land. In this case it stretches over many acres of woodland towards the sea. It's a very beautiful spot and now contains a theme park. As the cliff crumbles into the sea�- a fairly common occurrence -archaeological remains have been uncovered, including dinosaur fossils that are on display. The chine is privately owned and was first opened to the public in 1843. The woods are illuminated at night and make a particularly fine spot for a twilight walk.

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Q.� Any other famous moments in the Island's history

A.� East Afton Farm, Freshwater,�was the venue for three rock festivals in the 1960s. of them the second, in 1969, starred The Doors and Bob Dylan. The final, in 1970, had Jimi Hendrix at the top of the bill. It also featured, among many others, Free and The Who. In 1897, Marconi established a wireless telegraph station at Alum Bay.

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Q.� Alum Bay. That sounds familiar.

A.� And so it should. The bay's coloured sands were used in glass and pottery manufacture and even became a tourist attraction. Most houses of a certain age will contain a knick-knack from Alum - a test-tube affair with layers of different sands.

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Q.� Travel details

A.� Try Hovertravel http://www.hovertravel.co.uk. Telephone: 01983 811000. Red Funnel Isle of Wight Ferries http://www.redfunnel.co.uk. Telephone: 01703 334010. Wightlink. Telephone: 01705 82774.

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By Steve Cunningham