A busy weekend for Matt and Cat We've had such a busy weekend! Some of the Island's restaurants and cafes close down after the Christmas and New Year rush - but plenty do not, and we've been to no less than three places in the last few days, with our reviews coming soon. It certainly looks as though 2012 is going to be a great year for dining out on the Island - at least one new eatery we visited was absolutely packed, and this was in the middle of January.
If you're still feeling a bit sluggish after the excesses of Christmas, a bracing winter walk will help shake off the cobwebs. We love the walk up to the Needles Battery - even on the warmest of summer days you will experience a cooling breeze and, even at this time of the year it can be positively glorious. Hardier walkers may wish to stride to the Needles from Tennyson Down but whichever route you take, the walk is quite literally breathtaking with (on a clear day) views across the Solent taking in the New Forest, Hurst Castle and Dorset.
Needles Battery Tea Room is open most winter weekends - with no entry fee - plus, if you approach it from Alum Bay, parking there is free too. Although the indoor exhibitions are not open, the tearoom most certainly is, serving excellent tea and cake, and when we went, some nice warming vegetable soup - just what you need after that fantastic walk.