ADGESTONE VINEYARD

nr Brading An award-winning winery established in 1968, Adgestone is one of the country’s oldest and most successful vineyards, and now supplies top hotels and the Palace of Westminster. Situated on a south-facing, chalky slope in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the 10-acre site benefits from great growing conditions. Visitors can buy picnic hampers and go on cellar tours that take them through the winemaking process, followed by tastings. To mark your visit, personalise your own bottles of wine by designing labels for your purchases. The shop sells local products from wine to jams and honey. Visitors can take refreshments in the café, which serves freshly baked baguettes and home-made cakes.
Tel. 01983 402503, www.adgestonevineyard.co.uk
Daily, 10am - 5.30pm (winter times vary). Free entry, but small charge for cellar tours.

FORT VICTORIA COUNTRY PARK

Yarmouth Tel. 01983 823893, www.fortvictoria.co.uk

THE GARLIC FARM

Newchurch See and learn all about garlic at the UK’s largest and most famous garlic farm. A great new shop sells garlic plaits, Vampire Relishes, Transylvanian Pickles, and unique garlic for health products. On 16 and 17 August, the Island’s annual Garlic Festival takes place near the farm. You’ll also find a selection of pretty self-catering cottages here. The farmyard café – a perfect destination for coffee or tea and home-made cakes – completes the picture.
Tel. 01983 865378, www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk
Mon - Sat, 9.30am - 4.30pm; Sun, 10am - 4pm.

ROSEMARYS VINEYARD

Ashey One of the UK’s largest vineyards, producing awardwinning wines, liqueurs, ciders and juices. Enjoy walks, vineyard tours and free wine tasting. This is one of a small number of UK vineyards that produces red wines. There are audio tours and a TV display of the vine-to-wine process, as well as guided tours (small charge applies). As well as bottles and cases of wine, the shop also has a large variety of Island produce and gifts. The Vineleaf Café offers light lunches and snacks and affords spectacular views of the estate.
Tel. 01983 811084, www.rosemaryvineyard.co.uk
Mon - Sat, 10am - 6pm; Sun, 11am - 4pm. Disabled friendly, free admission and free parking.

SHANKLIN CHINE

Shanklin Part of our national heritage and the Island’s very first tourist attraction, this scenic gorge in sandstone cliffs has waterfalls and streams leading to the beach. Rare flora and fauna abound, and there’s a nature trail and plenty of historic features. The Heritage centre is home to ‘The Island Then and Now’ featuring ‘Flora of the Island’ and the new ‘Histree Trail Project’, together with PLUTO (Pipe Line Under The Ocean) which carried petrol to the Allied troops in Normandy. Also, local history displays and a memorial to 40 Royal Marine Commando who trained here for the Dieppe raid of 1942. After dusk, during the main summer months, subtle illuminations create a magical world. At night the Chine is transformed into a place of enchantment and mystery using the latest energy saving technology – the waterfall is a vision. Browse the gift shop, enjoy a cream tea in the Tea Garden or just sit, relax and take in the view. Dogs on leads welcome. Limited wheelchair access.
Tel. 01983 866432, www.shanklinchine.co.uk
20 Mar - 22 May & 15 Sep - 26 Oct: 10am - 5pm; 23 May - 14 Sep: 10am - 10pm (evening illumination). Adults: £3.75; children: £2 (5-14 inc); senior citizens: £2.75; family tickets & party discounts available; mobility impaired: £1.50 (access only by Esplanade entrance).

VENTNOR BOTANIC GARDENS

Ventnor Set on a beautiful stretch of coastline on the site of what was once the Royal National Hospital for Diseases of the Chest, this 22-acre site includes rare plants from many parts of the world, including sub-tropical species that don’t grow anywhere else in the UK. There are two exhibition areas in the garden and a special Southern Hemisphere section. Other areas include Mediterranean and Japanese terraces, a clifftop meadow, a walled garden, a medical garden and a temperate house. There’s also a children’s playground and a smugglers’ museum on-site. The modern Visitor Centre, meanwhile, houses the seminar room, botanical reference library, café, gift shop and excellent plant shop.
Tel. 01983 855397, www.botanic.co.uk
Open from 10am. Green House & Visitor Centre: 1 Mar - 31 Oct. Please call for winter opening hours.