Isle of Wight 

The Isle of Wight has been a relatively secluded island paradise for yachtsmen, cyclists, ramblers and beach babes for over a hundred years. Forget about the crowds, traffic and jam-packed beaches of the mainland, here you will find rolling pastoral land (cows and all) and gently undulating hills that spill into pristine swimming beaches.

A day trip is defiantly feasible; however indulging in a little more time to really explore the lovely coastal villages should be high on the list. One third of this stunning getaway is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As the weather is milder than the rest of Britain, outdoor lovers will find this an ideal location.

• For the quintessential, chilled out Isle of Wight experience, hang in Ventnor. Heading north to Cowes will reveal a Georgian harbour town. Then go on to do the beautiful scenic journey from Ventnor to Alum Bay, where you can take a chairlift up and down the famous multi-coloured cliff faces. Last stop, you can't miss Ryde or the Carisbrooke Castle in Newport, the ‘Capital’ of the Isle of Wight.