IOW Cowes?

[heatherina]

Hello

Can anyone give us some info on visitor berthing for the IOW?
We are thinking of heading East late May/early June this year. Would like to stop somewhere on the IOW for a few days. Obviously going to avoid the Round the Island race which is the weekend of the May 30th.
We have never been so any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Ian

[element]

We have visited Cowes several times, last time was in 2017.
I love Cowes. Everything breathes Yachting. Isle of Wight also beautiful to see by bus. I remember for instance beautiful hikes near the Needles. Also very special to sail around the Needles on your own keel.

I always stayed at Cowes yacht haven. See for more info
www.cowesyachthaven.com

A bit posh but very nice atmosphere and close to the Solent and center of Cowes with pubs and restaurants.
Not cheap, I understood you can save some pounds when staying more upstream of the river. Personally I did not mind for a couple of days to be so close to the pub.

Yarmouth is also a nice place to visit with your boat. Less vibrant then Cowes but beautiful.

If you want more info, please let me know.

Harald

[gosportbluemist]

There are many options to stay in cows, a number of marina in west cows, this is a good place to stay as close to the town, but they are busy and nor cheep. however within a very short walk to everything the town has to offer. 

another option is to sail just beyond the chain ferry and stay in East cows, the Marina is a bit less expensive and has more space, However booking a birth is always a idea as Cows gets very busy in the summer. if you stay on the East side a short walk to the ferry and into town is not a problem, or there is a small ferry boat from the marina that will drop you off without the walk, and you can call them to pick you up. 

if you keep going up the river to the Folly inn, this is a quiet place, with a great pub, but is a bit far to walk to town, but there is a ferry. 

we tend to stay at East cows as the Lifeboat Pub is very good, and we can pop into town if we want to look around. 

I would say there are better places to stay on the IOW Yarmouth, Newton Creek, and Bembridge as an example, but Cows is worth a visit.   

[heatherina]

Thank you for taking the time to write some comments and pass on good advice.
I think we will plan to stop on the IOW twice on our trip, Yarmouth and Cowes.
We are heading to Portsmouth/Gosport, so we could stop off heading East and again on the way back West.

Thanks again
Ian and Heather