We’re biased of course because we live here, but we believe there’s something really special about Ventnor and it appears we’re not the only ones.
Journalist and broadcaster, Janet Street-Porter, has just joined the long list of those who admire Ventnor’s fragile Victorian beauty.
Writing for Saturday’s Daily Mail Weekend magazine she enthused, “Ventnor is Britain’s answer to fashionable Biarritz or Deauville – a once-chic seaside town that fell out of favour but is now being restored to its former glory.”
She goes on to say, “Ventnor is a dazzling confection of white villas which zig-zag up the cliff above the esplanade – any walk will involve a certain amount of climbing, but there is plenty of Victorian architecture to admire.”
Janet’s recommended walks
Janet is a massive fan of walking (she’s vice-president of the Ramblers Association and gave a talk on the Island during the 2009 Walking Festival), so it’s little surprise that in her piece about Ventnor, she picks out some of the best walks around the town (she’s forgotten to great walk up to the Downs, but is maybe saving that one for next time).
Go west along the seafront, past the paddling pool shaped like the Isle of Wight, and explore the lush green Undercliff. Head up to the Botanic Gardens for a snack and then return via the clifftop coastal path. For a longer walk, head further west to St Laurence, a beautiful village. For a shorter stroll, turn east along the esplanade in Ventnor to Bonchurch and the Old Church, a tiny 11th-century building. A steep climb will give you an appetite for a big lunch at the Bonchurch Inn.
You’ll always be welcome
We’ve been a fan of Janet’s work from way back during the Network 7 days and admire her outspoken attitude, so we’ll be welcoming her with open arms should she wish to return to our very special town.
Maybe she’ll be a guest on the Any Questions panel?
Image: © Platon
