The Birkdale

The scent of salt air drifts up from Shanklin beach, and from the upper rooms you can just catch the murmur of the English Channel beyond the rooftops.

The Birkdale offers something a bit different for the Isle of Wight — guest house rooms if you want proper beds and a cooked breakfast, plus camping pods out back for those after a more outdoorsy feel without the full tent experience. It's a good shout for couples wanting a seaside break with options, or families who can't quite agree whether they're camping or not. Shanklin itself is one of the island's prettier spots, with the old village charm up top and the Victorian seafront below. Dogs are welcome but worth checking ahead when you book.

There's wifi onsite, so you're not completely off-grid, and campfires may be possible — ask when you arrive rather than assuming. Open all year, which makes it handy for spring cliff walks or autumn beach days when most campsites have shut up shop. Expect a relaxed, slightly hybrid vibe — not a wilderness campsite, but a friendly base with a roof option if the weather turns.