Camping in Isle of Wight

Camping on the Isle of Wight divides neatly between the sheltered north and the exposed south and west. Inland sites around Newchurch, Arreton and Shanklin sit in gentle farmland with hedges and woodland for shelter, and the ground is generally well drained and level. Clifftop sites on the west coast — Compton, Brook, Brighstone — give you far better views and much more wind. Pegs pull out of thin chalk downland turf more easily than you would like, so bring proper steel pegs and guy every line, even on a still evening. A summer sea breeze at Compton can become a genuine gale overnight.

The island's climate is among the mildest and sunniest in the UK, which makes the season longer than most of the country: many sites open from Easter and run to the end of September or October. May, June and September are the sweet spot — warm enough, dry enough, and without the August crowds or the peak ferry fares. July and August are busy and need booking well ahead, particularly around the festival and Cowes Week.

Wild camping is not legal on the Isle of Wight without the landowner's permission, and much of the coast is National Trust or private farmland where it is actively discouraged. There are, however, several very simple farm sites — Compton Farm being the best known — that give you something close to the experience legitimately, with composting toilets, cold taps and campfires permitted but no hookups or showers. If you want a hot shower and a plug socket, choose accordingly.

Pack for wind and for sun in equal measure: a windbreak, sturdy pegs, and shade, since many pitches on the downs have no tree cover at all. Bring water containers for the basic sites. Glamping has expanded quickly here, and safari tents, pods and domes at places like Tapnell Farm suit anyone who wants the countryside without the setup — they also solve the ferry problem, since taking a loaded car across costs considerably more than crossing as a foot passenger and arriving to a made-up bed.