We've visited the Isle of Wight many times, but on this occasion we spent a long weekend with Gill's family in a holiday park and decided to bike there from our home (at the time) in Horndean, Hampshire.

By today's standards, this was no epic biking marathon for us, but it felt like a hearty challenge at the time. After an easy trip from home to the coast, we took the Wightlink ferry across to the island and then biked all the way round the east coast until we reached our camp site at Shanklin.

From Hampshire's perspective, the Isle of Wight has a bit of an overseas, country bumpkin type reputation, but this is its saving grace as far as I'm concerned. When you come here, you feel like your worries are gone (or at least put on pause) and you can enjoy the scenery and laid back lifestyle in any way that you choose.