The Orchards

[thehoods]

Hi.

Has anybody out there been to The Orchards on the Isle of Wight. Thinking of going next July/August with two kids 12 & 10 and a dog.

Any feedback?

Thanks.

 

[Damian]

Phil, the Orchards is a good site, with pool (costs extra to use it)and with most sites at that time of year will be full.

Facilities are starting to look dated, but kept in good condition. Being at the West Wight it is a bit out of the way, but nowhere is more than about 45 mins drive away.

Nearest main shopping at Newport, about 10 miles.

Best ferry crossing, Lymington to Yarmouth, site only a couple of miles from the ferry port.

An alternative which you may like to consider is Whitefield Forest at Ryde, it is a brand new site set in a woodland setting and being improved every day. Nearest shopping 2 mins away at a new Tesco Extra which is being built now.

Very close to the main summer attractions at Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin etc and access is very good.

Best ferry for this one: Portsmouth to Fishbourne.

 

[thehoods]

Thanks for that Damian. We're now looking at Appuldurcombe down near Wroxhall. Have you been there or has anyone else been there?

Phil.

 

[Damian]

Hi Phil, yes Appuldurcombe is a long way out of everything, although it is a nice site, with a Bird of Prey sanctuary next door.

It is in a village on the South side of the Island but there is not a lot around there and the best beaches are a long way to travel each day.

Access is , shall we say, difficult,as it is a very narrow road with sharp bends which do not readily lend themselves to caravans.

Access from the boats is a long way over some of the worst Island roads, and the busiest in summer.

 

[thehoods]

Hi Phil, yes Appuldurcombe is a long way out of everything, although it is a nice site, with a Bird of Prey sanctuary next door.

It is in a village on the South side of the Island but there is not a lot around there and the best beaches are a long way to travel each day.

Access is , shall we say, difficult,as it is a very narrow road with sharp bends which do not readily lend themselves to caravans.

Access from the boats is a long way over some of the worst Island roads, and the busiest in summer.

Thanks for the reply Damian. Would you have any suggestions for a decent site on the Isle of Wight with plenty to keep the kids entertained?

 

[thehoods]

Thanks for the reply Damian. Would you have any suggestions for a decent site on the Isle of Wight with plenty to keep the kids entertained?

 

[Damian]

Phil, the thing with Island sites is the whole Island is there for entertainment.

The bigger commercial sites get very very busy and cramped in season, and the facilities suffer!! but if you are after this kind of thing, Whitecliff Bay at Sandown has it all, as does Lower Hyde at Shanklinand Nodes Point at Seaview, but as said, be prepared for noisy nights and lots of people in a small area.

The main tourist areas are Ryde , Sandown and Shanklin with plenty to do, along with days out to Blackgang Chine which is a kind of theme park, plus places like Dinosaur World, IW Zoo which is renound for its tiger breeding programme, Amazon World , etc etc.

 

[Ian341]

Hi Phil

We are booked into the Orchards for Easter. We visit every year and it is a fabolous site ! The pitches are well spread out and as the site is terraced it means everyone has a decent view. The entertainment on site is good and my son has not got bored there yet ! There is a games room which i think maybe free but not 100% sure. There is a take away on site and a very well stocked shop.

The site also does a great deal on ferry crossings where you pay a flat rate for x number of stays on site and ferry crossings with the Red funnel.

Hope this helps with your decision

Ian

 

[Gerald_374336620]

Hi Phil

We are booked into the Orchards for Easter. We visit every year and it is a fabolous site ! The pitches are well spread out and as the site is terraced it means everyone has a decent view. The entertainment on site is good and my son has not got bored there yet ! There is a games room which i think maybe free but not 100% sure. There is a take away on site and a very well stocked shop.

The site also does a great deal on ferry crossings where you pay a flat rate for x number of stays on site and ferry crossings with the Red funnel.

Hope this helps with your decision

Ian

The Compass Owners Club are running a holiday rally here in June for 2 weeks.More info.on the club web site.

 

[thehoods]

Thanks for that Ian, very helpful.

Phil.

 

[runnerphil]

one of the best we have been to on the IOW is whitecliff bay.

http://www.whitecliff-bay.com/

 

[runnerphil]

and it has free ferry for your caravan and car

 

[runnerphil]

one of the best we have been to on the IOW is whitecliff bay.

]http://www.whitecliff-bay.com/

http://www.whitecliff-bay.com/[/quote
and it has free ferry for you car and caravan!

 

[Chaps]

We stayed in a static caravan at Rookley Park which is just outside Newport this summer as we didn't get our tourer until October. While we were there we looked at the touring facilities and wouldn't hesitate to go there again. The toilet block was very clean and modern, the caravan pitches were all full service pitches with part hardstanding and part grass and the site had lots to do without being totally brash and 'in your face'. Indoor and outdoor swimming pools, fishing, pitch and putt, crazy golf, nice restaurant, bar with evening entertainment and a small shop all on site. There's a well stocked Co-op on the main road outside the Park which is within easy walking distance. We worked out that it would have cost our family of 2 adults and 3 kids

 

[Vic_5039745]

Hi Phil,

We were over on the IoW last month and decided to have a look at Orchards having stayed there some 12 years ago.

We were surprised at how the site had been expanded and although it was almost empty when we were there, it wasn't difficult to imagine how it would be in high season and we didn't much like what our mind's eye was feeding us. The pitches seemed very close together and not very big and what appeared to be lovely views across open country, would be completely obliterated by neighboring caravans.

We know it was virtually close season but the whole place seemed to have a bit of a run-down feel about it. I think there maybe better places to stay on the IoW..........

Vic

 

[thehoods]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Phil.

 

[giovanni_5060838]

Been to Appuldurcombe,that was my first proper caravan holiday some 2 years back,Weather was bad that year ealy august,so maybe i didn't see it in its best light,although it was packed.

BEACHES. well ventnor is near by did not seem over run and they claim to have the best weather of the IOW.

I did like ventnor.