love island

If the sun’s shining, then you can’t go wrong with a short walk along the Isle of Wight’s coastal path. Gurnard to Cowes, Bonchurch to Ventnor or Appley to Seaview are all good choices and are short enough that your date won’t have to politely endure blisters.

If the thought of keeping up a conversation for an entire walk seems a bit risky, then try a slightly busier activity. Horse riding on the beach with Sally’s Riding School is good fun...and if it’s a disaster then you’ll have a great story for your wedding speech. Foodies will enjoy seeing the experts at work at Adgestone Vineyard, Goddards Brewery or The Garlic Farm. Needless to say, any garlic purchased should under no circumstances be consumed on the first date!

Perhaps this all sounds too much like a cliched rom-com? Adventurous couples may prefer to complete a few laps with Wight Karting in Ryde or head for Tackt-Isle in St Helens, which hires paddleboards and kayaks. More extreme sorts should try Coasteering at Freshwater Bay, which involves sticking on a helmet and being led round the jagged rocks until you reach a cave (perhaps double check that your date is really keen on this option…).

Tandems require a whole lot of teamwork and will quickly help you establish your compatibility. They are available for hire from Wight Cycle Hire in the West Wight or Route 57 in the East Wight.

Also check the events guide for Strings live music venue in Newport. An evening out watching a bit of loud music is an ideal way to avoid awkward silences.

After a successful first date, book a table of the Isle of Wight’s excellent eateries. The choice is ludicrously good, whether you fancy a pub with an open fire or a restaurant with a sea view.

There are currently six Isle of Wight restaurants featured in the Michelin Guide, if you think the best approach is some posh nosh. If you prefer something more casual, try The White Mouse Inn in Chale, The Woodvale at Gurnard or The Spyglass in Ventnor.

For more pubs and restaurants with a sea view, head for the seafronts in Shanklin, Ventnor or Sandown. If you run out of things to say, stare out the window and pretend you are overwhelmed by the view.

Right, we’re getting serious now. Head to Honeybourne Jewellery in Ventnor to pick your handmade ring and then select one of the many great proposal spots on the Isle of Wight. Somewhere secluded is the key here (or onstage at the Isle of Wight Festival if that’s more your sort of thing).

Will it be a quiet beach at sunset, such as Yarmouth’s Sandhard Beach or one of the South Wight’s rocky bays? Or what about a high point with views for miles, such as The Pepperpot? True romantics charter a boat and propose at sea. Just double check that your partner doesn’t suffer from sea sickness or it might not go to plan.

Next up, it’s the obligatory engagement photo shoot. Head for the cliffs of Compton Bay or Freshwater Bay and gaze lovingly at each other as a photographer bellows instructions.

For a little help with planning, head for East Afton Farmhouse. As well as being a wedding venue, it is also hosting its biggest ever wedding showcase on 18th February, with more than 80 local suppliers, food tasting and live music.

The Island’s villages are jam-packed with historic churches if you fancy a traditional wedding venue. Otherwise, how about a wedding in the grounds of Osborne House or Appuldurcombe House?

And what about the honeymoon, or an anniversary?

Will it be the fine dining and legendary hospitality of The Royal Hotel in Ventnor or the treatments and treats at Lakeside Park Hotel and Spa overlooking Wootton Creek? Or perhaps a smaller scale guest house is more your thing – such as Haven Hall Hotel in Shanklin or The Hambrough in Ventnor?

Alternatively, get yourself a glamping tent or a geodesic dome – such as those at Tapnell Farm and gaze out to sea with a glass of champagne in hand!

Guest Blogger, Robbie Lane (Isle of Wight Guru)