The natural wonders of Britain: The Needles, Isle of Wight
Discover Britain’s beautiful natural wonders, from mysterious caves to precipitous coastlines.
In this blog, we will tell you all about the natural wonder of the Isle of Wight, The Needles and Needles Lighthouse.
The Needles are chalk rocks just off the western coast of the Isle of Wight and are the Island’s most famous attraction. They used to be part of the headland, but were separated from the coast, due to erosion. For a spectacular view of The Needles, visit The Needles Old Battery, which is a Victorian fort that was used to protect Britain from invasion. You will notice that the rocks aren’t similar shaped to needles at all. The rocks were named after two members of a group crashed into the sea after a storm in 1764.
Events are held throughout the season at the Needles Park and various activities are offered for children as well as for older family members. There is an exhilarating chairlift to ride from the top of the cliff to the Alum Bay beach, where you can see the multi-coloured sand cliffs. In addition, the view from the chairlift is absolutely amazing!
Other attractions for you and your family to enjoy include the Sweet Manufactory and the Alum Bay Glass Shop – a unique shop which sells hand-made glass items. There are various shops spread out over the 19th century style pier, which offer great value gifts. The Needles Rocks and Lighthouse are truly worth a visit; it’s a fun day out for the whole family!
Make the most out of your stay at the Isle of Wight by staying at our beautiful Priory Bay Hotel in Seaview, which is only a 50 minute drive to the Needles, a drive you won’t regret taking!
At Priory Bay Hotel you can enjoy a stroll on the private beach, take a dip in the sea and discover the amazing cuisine of our Head Chef and local boy Oliver Stephens; it’ll be an explosion on your taste buds! Find out here what makes the Priory Bay Hotel so mesmerising and why a visit to the hotel will be one to never forget!
Stay tuned for our next blog where we will tell you all about the natural wonder of Sussex, the Seven Sisters cliffs!
The Needle images by Katherine Davis and Danny Chapman.