Cowes is, of course, a hub for many sailing related activities from learning to sail for the first time through to world class racing.  Cowes is also a good base for exploring inland as there are frequent buses to all parts of the Island as it’s well connected through the island bus service.

Whilst I would like to explore further around Cowes all I’ve managed so far is a few walks along the coast towards Gurnard.  Below is my wish list of things that I would do in Cowes if I wasn’t participating in a sailing regatta.

Osborne House – Queen Victoria’s home which is on a grand scale and not too far from Cowes.  Regular buses and taxis will get you there.  If you don’t fancy paying the entrance fee then sail from Cowes to Osborne Bay and admire the building from the comfort of your boat or swim from Queen Victoria’s beach.

Tour the towns of the Isle of Wight – take the No. 1 bus to Newport from the Red Jet Ferry Terminal and then take your pick of the towns: Ryde, Freshwater, Sundown, Shanklin, Ventnor.  There are also train services using old London Underground rolling stock to link Ryde and Shanklin or a steam railway from Wootton to Smallbrook Junction.

Walk – the many many miles of footpaths.  The Ordnance Survey maps are readily available and there are walks to suit every disposition.  These are the top five walks but many more can be found using local guide-books or advice from the tourist information office.

Seaside – of course there’s plenty of seaside and the beaches of the Isle of Wight are well maintained.  There are guides available that describe some of the best.  A few of these such as Gurnard and Osborne Bay are close to Cowes.

Sights –  there are plenty of other sights but top of my list is the dinosaur museum.  I’ve no idea what this is but it’s new and a dedicated museum for dinosaurs.  I’ll be lobbying to visit this at some point this year.