Enjoying an unseasonable amount of warmth and sunshine, more than half the Isle of Wight has been designated an Area of Outstanding Beauty, with fifty per cent of its coastline honoured by the title 'Heritage Coast', an award only given to the finest beaches in the country.
Queen Victoria fell in love with the Island and after her first visit to Osborne House pronounced: 'It is impossible to find a prettier spot.' Then, as now, it was hard to disagree with the simplicity of this statement.