Families, friends and four-legged furballs can escape the stresses of modern mainland life in this exclusive and historic moat-sunk apartment, at the eastern end of The Needles Headland and Tennyson Down. Superb for water sports, sublime Freshwater Bay stretches to the west; where it was feared that foreign invaders might land (doggy restrictions May-September). Run free on fabulous fur-friendly beaches at white-cliffed Watcombe Bay, accessible from Freshwater Bay, Shepherd’s Chine (8 miles) and Rocken End (14 miles). The quaint village of Totland Bay (3 miles) has some lovely canine-cordial pubs, such as the Waterfront Bar with its breathtaking sea views and sunsets. Try the thrilling Chairlift at the Needles Landmark Attraction (4 miles) from Alum Bay cliffs to the beach below.
Across a bridge, through a tunnel and down some stairs, you’ll find this unique apartment. Through double doors from the hallway, the open-plan lounge/kitchen/diner is a delightful space for dogs and humans, allowing convivial living with all the mod-cons in a private place that was very different 150 years ago. The three delightful bedrooms lie along a corridor opposite the lounge; one king-size room has a brilliant en-suite. Through an original arch, the blissful bathroom is at the end of the corridor. Guests furry and smooth will adore living like a James Bond baddy amidst exquisite Isle of Wight countryside.
Find more marvellous dog-friendly beaches at Mount Bay and Orchard Bay (16.5 miles), basking in Ventnor Botanic Garden’s Undercliff; Monks Bay (18.5 miles), where Norman monks once landed; and secluded Luccombe Bay (19.5 miles), with its smugglers’ cave and sandstone cliffs. Explore the historic, winding streets of Newport (14 miles), Cowes (16 miles), Ventnor, Shanklin (19 miles) and Ryde (21 miles), and discover myriad independent shops, restaurants, galleries, theatres, museums and canine-cordial pubs. Delve the haunted history of Carisbrooke Castle (13 miles) and imbibe the heady delights of this miraculous island.