Freshwater Bay is perfect throughout the year for countryside escapes,
adventure activities, heritage, photography, walking and cycling.
The Island is bursting with life… or you could be romantic, just hide away and relax.
Photo: Albany Associates
Self-catering for two with wifi and washing machine is tough to find.
Keith and Naomi B. – London
Your kindnesses were outstanding.
Judith and Colin – Loughborough
David and Esme have thought of everything.
Karen and Brian T. – Sandhurst
Perfect out-of-season break.
Christine L. – Great Malvern
We look forward to coming back.
Hans-Rainer and Elisabeth Z. – Bremen, Germany
You went the extra mile. Unforgettable. Merci!
Jean-Marie and Karen A. – Ontario, Canada
The owners are lovely and welcoming.
Tamar H. – Tel Aviv, Israel
Thoughtfully laid out.
Rupesh and Rakhi M. – Northampton
Photo: Albany Associates
This is just like a second home.
Peter and Wendy S. – Stockport
A week just isn’t enough.
Daphne T. – Warrington
Our fourth visit. Comfy, all amenities and close to the sea.
David and Jackie I. – Princes Risborough
Excellent beds.
Peter and Carol – Tonbridge
The free bus passes were very useful.
Emad and Nadya – London
Thank you for all the comforts and information.
Lesley and Ian B. – Dorchester
We chose the accommodation not the location.
Andrew and Carolyn M. – Plymouth
Everything was just right.
Susan S. – Missoula, Montana
Slept like logs. Ate like lords. Lovely pubs.
Maureen and Richard S. – Oundle
Photo: Albany Associates
The seaside theme carries through from the garden to the bedroom. Very distinctive.
Paul W. – Leicester
The scullery is from the 1950s… but with lots of electricity sockets. Love the big sink.
Karen G. – Liverpool
Great welcome and tourism tips.
Denis and Jane D. – Bury St Edmunds
Loved it all.
Karen A. – Ontario, Canada
Island Treasure
Photo: Albany Associates
Most unusual. Full of character. Well done.
Judith H. – Lichfield
Everything desirable within walking distance.
Katja and Michael – Munich, Germany
We loved the coastal walk and open-top bus.
Roman and Irmgard T. – Ellwangen, Germany
The verandah is very colonial. Perfect for sundowners.
Barry E. – Derby
Photo: Albany Associates
Everything we needed. We really enjoyed our visit.
Wendy and John – St Neots
As soon as I sat down I was on holiday.
Christine P. – Newbury
Really comfortable. Loved it.
Bev, Andy and baby Joe S. – Stockton on Tees
Helpful advice on different places to visit.
Stephen and Christine H. – Hertfordshire
Very friendly welcome and helpful recommendations.
Breda and Patrick T. – Co Mayo, Ireland
First-class welcome. We enjoyed every moment.
Peter and Joy D. – Christchurch, Dorset
Photo: Albany Associates
Lovely cottage and garden. Wonderful and helpful welcome.
Tracey B. – Surrey
The dream come true.
Christine B. – Milford on Sea
We never tire of all the interesting places.
Peter and Doreen A, – Hornchurch
We shall miss all the footpaths and beautiful scenery.
Keith and Sandra A. – Ontario, Canada
Refreshed in mind and spirit.
Brendan F. – Birmingham
Near Compton Bay for surfing!
Abigail P. – Wiltshire
Photo: Albany Associates
Great to be collected from the ferry.
Patrick B. – London
Thoughtfully planned… a real treasure.
Veronica D. – Folkestone
Comprehensive attention to detail.
Tony, Norma and Mark N. – Cheadle Hulme
Little touches make such a difference.
Tucker Family – Twickenham
Photo: Albany Associates
Value for money. Best welcome pack ever.
Judi and Wayne – Horsham
Lovely relaxing place. We’d come again.
Julie and Kelvin J. – Walmer
A real home from home.
Nicky B. – Pontypridd, Wales
Our sort of place.
David and Alison B. – Witney
Perfect. Very, very comfortable.
Laurence and Nicky – Ealing
Just what we were looking for.
Mike and Rosemary. – Somerset
A week filled with surprise and awe.
Ted and Joy F. – Ontario, Canada
Photo: Albany Associates
Absolutely delightful.
Brian H. – Oxford
Brilliant location. Lovely garden. Very well thought out living area.
Jennifer D. – Woking
An attractive garden with lots of quiet corners to sit… in the sun or the shade.
John W. – Pembrokeshire
Beautiful and immaculate cottage.
Jan and Jeff C. – London
Lots of walks and coffee shops.
Deidre, Andrew and Chris J. – Exeter
An idyllic spot.
Yvonne P. – Halesowen
Photo: Visit Isle of Wight
Lovely and warm cottage. We’ve been really happy here.
Ray and Ruth – Surrey
Cosy and comfortable.
Liz W. – Gargunnock, Scotland
All very clean.
Ruthanne B. – Kent
Island Treasure
Take a look at the picture galleries on the home page.
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Previous visitors to Freshwater Bay have left us some quotable quotes…
What a lovely cottage! It is cosy, yet spacious, tastefully decorated and well equipped! I had a great week in Freshwater Bay in late May, hiking, eating cream teas and relaxing. I really wish I was back there. Thanks again for everything!
We’d love to see you again, Kate. There are always more walks… and cream teas! We have our first repeat booking this week… here in May, back in October.
There are local buses into the village of Freshwater where there is an independent fishmonger who sells fresh fish and seafood; a friendly baker; and a good butcher. Fresh fruit and veg are sold at Sainsbury’s Local. The Vine pub has family-friendly food. I’d allow 20 mins to walk into the centre of the village.
Just round the corner from Rabbit’s Bothie (3 mins walk) is a corner shop, Orchards. It sells fresh bread and some fresh fruit and vegetables. There is also a Co-op supermarket store which is approximately 15 mins’ walk away.
I would recommend the Highdown Inn as a good lunch stop as part of a walk/hike around the spectacular scenery of West Wight, Tennyson Down and Headon Warren. It’s roughly ½ hour’s walk from Rabbit’s Bothie. There is a very smart restaurant in the grounds of Farringford (former home of Tennyson) which is about 10 mins’ walk away. It has a good reputation.
There are two other places I would recommend in the daytime: the Victorian Tearoom at Dimbola Lodge photographic museum (2 mins from the holiday cottage) and Dandelion Café at the Holiday Fellowship Hotel, close to Freshwater Bay (10 mins walk.) Lunch menus at both are limited but they do good coffees and teas.
This was our first visit to the IOW and we could not have picked a better location for our stay. This is a really lovely well thought out property which was not lacking in any way. We really appreciated the wonderful welcome basket full of wonderful goodies and the information provided with whats on and recommended days out and the use of free bus passes for travel around the Island. We really enjoyed out stay.
The icing on the cake from two perfect guests. Come back soon! There is always more to see and do.
We has such a lovely stay at Rabbit’s Bothie. The house was spotlessly clean when we arrived and we were greeted with a generous ‘welcome’ pack of edible goodies. The location is perfect, a two minute stroll to Tennyson Down and Freshwater Bay and we slept like babies in the very comfortable bed. We would thoroughly recommend Rabbit’s Bothie to anyone planning a break in this wonderful part of the world. Thank you Esme and David.