Dear Sea Shells by the Beach (Bonchurch Waterfront Bliss) guests,
Hello from beautiful Bonchurch and thank you for choosing Sea Shells by the Beach for your holiday. I want to get your holiday off to a good start and thought it could be helpful to give you some information ahead of your arrival.
Cottage Access
Sea Shells by the Beach cottage is accessible from 4:30pm onwards (this is to give my team time to make it gleaming and welcoming for you.) If you arrive before 4:30, you are welcome to park in the clearly designated guest parking area but please can I ask you not to ring the doorbell as I will be very busy making it lovely for you! After 4:30, you will find a set of sanitized keys in your first blue and white striped passageway door . Walk straight down this private passageway turning left at the bottom and you will find a second set of keys in your blue cottage front door.
Grocery Stores
You may want to stock up immediately on supplies and the cottage is fully equipped with many storage cupboards and a large fridge freezer.
Some guests like to pre order a food delivery from the main Tesco on the Island at Ryde, (http://www.tesco.com/store-locator/uk/?bID=5567) for a delivery slot around 5pm-6pm or later. If you are coming via Ryde, this large Tesco is located on the road from Ryde to Sandown. In Ventnor, there is a smaller Tesco with a car park opposite to collect provisions yourself (open to 11pm every night) and a good Co-op (open every night until 10pm, except Sundays when it closes at 4pm).
There is also a Waitrose in East Cowes which makes deliveries (http://www.waitrose.com/bf_home/bf/313.html). If you are coming via East Cowes you will find Waitrose by turning immediately left after exiting the car ferry.
There is a lovely Marks and Spencer on the Island in Newport and a food only one in Cowes/West Cowes (not East Cowes) The Newport one has a good food hall ,clothes , home furnishings etc and is usually closed by 7pm (4pm on Sundays) but no delivery service (more’s the pity). All these stores have websites which show their precise location and opening times.please check the closing times as they change .
Additional Information
The cottage has a bureau with Isle of Wight tourist books and some local take away restaurant leaflets and places to visit, walks and cycle routes, equipment instructions and medical and veterinary contact infomation plus some games and books. A special process called FOGGING will ensure these and everything in your cottage will be disinfected ,destroying any viruses.
.In part of the decked area of the garden is a beach hut shed with x6 cushioned sun loungers, tennis ,cricket and beach games, crab pool nets etc. There is a large barrel BBQ in the garden, secured by a plaited rope ,which unclips.
There is also a private and secure passageway to your cottage where bikes and other outdoor equipment can be stored.
The Isle of Wight has some beautiful coastal and woodland walks but bring warm clothes and wellies as we do of course get coastal breezes.
Wi-Fi and mobile phone reception
There can be poor mobile phone reception in Bonchurch but tech-wise guests can use their smartphones with the cottage WiFi. The cottage itself is equipped with a landline for 999 calls (hopefully none!) and Whats App is fantastic. You will find the wifi log on and password instructions on the corridor worktop as you walk in. PLEASE read the notice which tells you which log on to use as several will come up on your phones and only one is correct!
Motorways and Island Road links
It’s worth checking your mainland journey with the highways agency www.highways.gov.uk/traffic-information/
You’ll know that the Isle of Wight is a beautiful rural and coastal location but the downside is that road closures can result in meandering detours! Just to be sure, you can check with Island Roads http://www.islandroads.com/1-home.html
- Telephone them on 01983 822440 between 8.30 am -5.30pm weekdays
- Email them at info@islandroads.com
Ferries
The Isle of Wight is served by three car ferry routes. Two are operated by Wightlink between Lymington to Yarmouth and Portsmouth to Fishbourne.
Wightlink operate discounted fares for Blue Badge disabled customers and also Tesco vouchers can be used. Apparently there are discounts for members of English Heritage and the AA (CAR RECOVERY)
A further service is operated by Red Funnel between Southampton and Cowes.
Route 1 – Lymington to Yarmouth (Wightlink)
The ferry generally runs at least every half hour, on quarter to and quarter past the hour and is most accessible to those traveling to the Isle of Wight from the New Forest region, Bournemouth, Poole and other locations in Southern Dorset. The crossing time is around 35 minutes and passengers are advised to be at the port 30 minutes prior to departure.
Route 2 – Portsmouth – Fishbourne (Wightlink)
This ferry generally runs every half hour at peak times, on the hour and the half hour, and is most accessible from the East and North of England but also from London. The journey time is around 40 minutes and passengers are advised to be at the port 30 minutes prior to departure.
Route 3 – Southampton -East Cowes (Red Funnel)
This ferry generally runs every hour or 90 minutes and is most accessible from the West and North of England. The journey time is around 55minutes and passengers are advised to be at the port 30 minutes prior to departure
Very best wishes for a safe and pleasant journey over. Please do ring or email me if I can help further.
Annabelle (Sea Shells by the Beach, Bonchurch)
01983 629113
annabellepacey@hotmail.co.uk