Scallop Shell Cottage Luxury Family Holiday Cottage

18/01/2022

19/07/2020

A GREAT BRITISH STAYCATION //

Buckets and spades are ready and waiting and often included in our welcome pack for children! Head down to one of the many sandy beaches on the Isle of Wight to dig and create.

Having just spent a week at Scallop Shell Cottage we have dug our way around a fair free beaches: Small Hope Beach at Shanlkin; Freshwater Bay; Appley Beach at Ryde; Compton Bay and last but not least Steephill Cove.

18/07/2020

SUMMER HOLIDAY //

Hang up you hat and head for the garden to sip on a large ice cold ginger beer.

18/07/2020

BLISSFUL //

The view out to sea from Castle Haven Cafe near Niton.

Situated in Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty close proximity to St. Catherines Point on the Isle of Wight's southernmost shore, Castlehaven Cafe is located in the small caravan retreat set close to the water's edge, enjoying incredible sea views.

A visit to Castlehaven Cafe gives you the chance to relax in unspoilt surroundings and is an ideal setting for families, walkers, nature lovers and those just wanting to get away from it all.

It’s a hidden gem of the island and when the tide is out the perfect spot for rock hopping and a dip in the water.

16/07/2020

NEWTOWN CREEK //

The island has a wealth of little nooks, crannies and creeks to explore and Newtown is one of them.

This incredible image of the creek by shows off the hidden gems of this island perfectly.

Newtown is situated on the large natural harbour on the island’s north-western coast, now mostly a national nature reserve owned and managed by the National Trust.

Newtown Old Hall is an ancient building and is the only remaining evidence of the former importance of Newtown. It has existed from around 1699, with alterations in 1813. The red brick building stands in a grassy space that was once a wide street.

Newtown prodes itself on its adjoining National Nature Reserve with its visitor point, bird hides, harbour walk & woodland walk.

14/07/2020

NEAT ROWS //

Having managed to drag the children out for a walk up to The Pepper Pot and onto Hoy Monument, both of which are accessible from Scallop Shell Cottage, we were all struck by the beauty of the patch work quilt countryside which was dotted with neat rows of hay rolls.

Children rarely comment these days on abstracts outside of their digital world but when one describe the sprawling landscape ahead of us as a “colouring book sheet with dot to dot imprinted in the middle”, I was pleasantly shocked.

It sadly was too misty to get a shot of the hay rolls but I found a fabulous one by island photographer depicting these perfectly formed rolls.

14/07/2020

WILD FLORIST WILD //

A simply arresting wild hedgerow wreath, hand stitched by for a client in London but hanging with splendour in Scallop Shell Cottage at present.

📸

14/07/2020

FIREPLACE FEATURE //

Yesterday I picked up the most incredible handmade hedgerow wreath from the ever so talented Tanya Goodwin which is meant to be for a client in London but fits perfectly over the wood burner at Scallop Shell Cottage.

Think I will need to order another!

This image doesn’t do the wreath justice as it now is the focal point of the room and stops you in your tracks.

14/07/2020

ST ANGES CHURCH //

Every time I pass this church I am still blown away by its quaint beauty. Yesterday with the late summer sun on its front it had a bleached fresh appearance that stopped me in my tracks.

Here is a little history about this quintessentially English building.

The 1908 church, with thatched roof, wooden bell-turret and apse, is by the architect Isaac Jones. Its simple west elevation, with two small lancet windows flanked by buttresses, contrasts with the picturesque north frontage. Inside the walls are rough and the roof has braced tie-beams. The three-arched wooden screen dates from around 1943-6. The detailed carving, including vines and foliage, was by the curate, T.G. Devitt. The choir stalls have panels densely carved in geometric patterns.

Hallam Tennyson, son of the Victorian poet laureate who lived at nearby Farringford, donated land for this new church in Freshwater Bay. Hallam's wife Audrey suggested that the church be named for St. Agnes and it was consecrated on 12 August 1908. It is the only thatched church on the Isle of Wight.

The stone used to build the church came from an old farmhouse on Hooke Hill, Freshwater, the birthplace of the natural philosopher, architect and polymath Robert Hooke (1635-1703). The farmhouse date stone was incorporated into the vestry wall and can be seen from the outside. This can mislead people into thinking St. Agnes is 17th century when it was actually built in Edwardian times.

11/07/2020

OVER THE GARDEN FENCE //

The late afternoon view over the garden fence at Scallop Shell Cottage is reminiscent of a Hardy Landscape.

Picture perfect and happy to be home, even if it’s just for a week. There is nowhere quite like it.

11/07/2020

AS STILL AS A MILL POND //

Newton Creek, on the islands north western coast, is one of the most peaceful spots on the Isle of Wight. The creek is protected by The National Trust and is a quiet backwater with a busy Medieval past, now bursting with wildlife and a town hall with no town!

In fact it’s the only National Nature Reserve on the island and is a perfect place for a day out.

You can walk around the reserve, take the long or short walk or hire a canoe to view the creeks. 📷

10/07/2020

A HAPPY PLACE //

Usually each Saturday during the summer new guests arrive at Scallop Shell Cottage but this year we are lucky enough to be able to spend a week there ourselves! It’ll be a week of wet suits, water and waves. Happy times, in a happy place, on a happy island.