All praise to Brading
Brading Cottage, Whitwell, Isle of Wight
THE WELCOME
A beautiful 300-year-old stone cottage, its warm and cosy interior exceeds the welcoming exterior.
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
The cottage is in the village of Whitwell, near Ventnor, a perfect location for getting around the island. The picturesque village of Shanklin is only seven miles away.
THE SERVICE
Fresh bread, milk, eggs and a cake were all there waiting for us after our long journey. There was a booklet on how everything operated and information on the locality.
THE FOOD
The White Horse Inn, a two-minute walk away, does excellent home-made food. Dogs are welcome and there is a separate eating area for guests without dogs. I can recommend the crab baguette at Vernon Cottage Tearoom in Old Shanklin, also renowned for its amazing Old Shanklin Pie. The Ocean View Fish & Chips in Ventnor, came highly recommended by the cottage owners and we were not disappointed.
THE SCENE
There are plenty of coastal paths if you want to stretch your legs – and bays to explore. For those who enjoy the thrills on two wheels, there is the Isle of Wight Mountain Bike Centre in Cheverton Shute, Newport.
THE ROOMS
The kitchen was spacious. In the lounge area there is an open fire with comfortable sofas and chairs to relax in. The dining area looks out on to a garden full of fruit trees and with a fish pond. There is a ground-floor bedroom and shower room with a toilet. Upstairs there are two more tastefully decorated bedrooms and a family sized bathroom.
LOVED
The character of the cottage with all its quirkiness and exposed beams. A great location for sightseeing.
HATED
It took my tall husband a while to get the knack of ducking under the lower beams.
BOTTOM LINE
Prices for a week stay at Brading Cottage are from £410.
CHECK IT OUT
Sykescottages.co.uk.