You might think that in order to get winter sun you have to fly miles across the world, but there’s an island in the UK that offers gorgeous mid-winter sun.
The Isle of Wight was recently named the sunniest place in the UK by the Met Officewith more hours of light than parts of Italy.
Research from Isle Escapes revealed that during the months of November, December, January and February, the Isle of Wight receives an average 78 hours of sunshine per month.
That comes to a whopping 12 percent more than Milan’s 70 average hours, 15 percent more than Geneva’s 68 hours, and 20 percent more than the 65 average winter sunshine hours in Paris.
This warm weather could be down to the warming effect provided by the Solent – the strait that separates the Isle of Wight from mainland England.
The island experiences its own micro-climate of sorts, which means its weather is usually free from extremes like heavy snowfall and thunderstorms during the winter season.
It has already been named the sunniest place in the UK, but this is clearly evident during the winter, when the Isle of Wight gets 42 percent more sunshine hours than the rest of the country.
If you fancy getting a glimpse of some of that sun for yourself then the Isle of Wight is a great place for an island getaway whilst still staying close to home.
Just off the coast of Hampshire, the island is famed for being the dinosaur capital of Britain with the remains of more than 20 species being found on the island.
It’s also a great place for a bike ride with multiple tracks and paths which criss cross the island – in fact, the Isle of Wight is one of the top cycling destinations in the world.
If you’re feeling up to it, you can cycle a loop of the island in a day – it comes in at around 105km and is well signposted so you won’t need to rely on your phone to find your way.
The route is mostly flat but there are some inclines which will get your thighs burning – and it can get windy so make sure you’re up for the challenge.
If you want a more lowkey holiday then the Isle of Wight offers that too. There’s plenty of family-friendly attractions including the Monkey Haven animal sanctuary where meerkats, gibbons and even snakes are living happily in the care of keepers who are always happy to chat about their work.
For people keen on history there’s Osborne – the country retreat and family home of Queen Victoria which is now open for tours. After first visiting Osborne, Queen Victoria wrote: ‘It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot’ and she’s not wrong.
A visit to Osborne offers something for everyone to enjoy. Inside the house, get an intimate glimpse into royal life and explore private apartments and grand reception rooms which are packed with gorgeous furnishings and artworks from the Royal Collection.
If the sun is shining (which it likely will be) you can wander among flower-filled gardens, and relax on the beach where the royal children learnt to swim.
If you fancy a getaway to the Isle of Wight it’s easy enough to get to from mainland UK. Flights go from Heathrow and Gatwick daily, or you can fly to Bournemouth or Southampton before taking one of 150 ferry connections that go to the island.
As the Isle of Wight is part of the UK you don’t need your passport – just a packed bag and maybe a sunhat.