Easter Fun on the Isle of Wight

 With lots of family-fun events and accommodation going cheap, why not hatch a plan and egg-scape to the Isle of Wight this Easter? 

Chessell, which lies in the heart of the beautiful, unspoilt West Wight countryside, has just been awarded the ‘Best Island Cream Tea’ from the Wight Good Food Guide – so treat the family to an ‘Ultimate Island Cream Tea’ with delicious home baked scones, locally made preserves and real clotted cream from Calbourne Classics farm which is just along the road from the pottery (www.chessellpotterybarns.co.uk).

At Chessell Pottery, you can decorate your own ceramic egg cup and amuse the kids while you create a lasting Easter gift.  During Easter Weekend only (2-5 April) ceramic egg cups will be just £5 including glazing and firing, which is a saving of £5.90 off the normal price – you can’t beat that!

Quay Arts in Newport Harbour is hosting an Easter Art Week for Kids.  Activities include a selection of craft workshops - The Shadow Puppet’s Apprentice(12 April/£15), Garden Squares (13 April/£15), Jewellery Workshop (15/16 April/£35) and Eggheads where children can make and decorate eggs inspired by nature’s patterns and folk decoration (14 April/£15).   Places are limited and must be booked in advance.  Box Office tel. 01983 822490, www.quayarts.org

Dinosaur Isle on Culver Parade in Sandown is open 10am to 6pm (from April) and over Easter is hosting a Dressing up as Dinosaurs Day (Friday 2 April) at which children will also be able to paint, draw and colour using the museum’s geological exhibits to fire their imagination.     Younger children can play with the museum’s soft toys and use the illuminated sandtray   There will also be three guided fossil walks on 2, 3 and 5 April searching for dinosaur bones!  Details of prices and booking arrangements are available from the website www.dinosaurisle.com, or telephone 01983 404344.  

Families looking to get outdoors and celebrate Easter in the fresh air, in a traditional and magical style can take part in a number of egg hunts, including theCadbury Easter Trails at Isle of Wight National Trust properties - Mottistone Manor Garden (Easter Sunday, 4 April) and The Needles Old Battery (Easter Monday, 5 April). Just follow a trail map around the properties visiting trail points and collecting clues.  Special eco-packaged, ‘Egghead’ Easter eggs will be handed out to every child who completes the trail.  Normal admission prices apply (National Trust members free) plus £1.50 for each trail sheet/participating child. (www.nationalturst.org.uk). 

All participants will also get to take part in the ‘Face on your Egg’ competition: the hunt for talented youngsters to help design the next generation of Eggheads.  The winner could see their face on an egg in-store in 2010, as well as receiving an all expenses paid trip to Cadbury World. 

The multi-award winning Seaview Wildlife Encounter will be holding their annual Great Mystery Wildlife Quiz Trail over the Easter weekend (2-5 April).  This is the park's biggest event of the year and is hugely popular with children and adults.    Visitors can collect their free entry form at the entrance reception and hunt for all the fun, educational wildlife clues hidden around the park whilst still following the popular hands-on programme of exciting events with informative keeper presentations. Each child receives a delicious creamy Easter egg if they have found all the answers.  Normal admission prices apply: adults £8, children £6 and seniors £7.  Tel: 01983 612261, www.seaviewwildlife.com

Any child under 12 years can ‘stay for free’ when sharing a room with its parents at the Cliff Hall Hotel in Shanklin over Easter (subject to availability, minimum booking 3 nights).  Perched high on the cliffs above Shanklin beach and esplanade, the Cliff Hall Hotel is just a short walk from Shanklin Old Village with its shops, pubs and restaurants.  The hotel has an outdoor heated swimming pool and a games room.  This offer runs from 5-11 April and is based on 2 adults sharing.  B&B starts at £36 per person per night.  Children 4-13 yrs old are normally charged at half-price when sharing with an adult. Visit wwwcliffhallhotel.co.uk for more information. 

Whatever you do and wherever you stay, there is plenty on the Isle of Wight to keep the whole family happy this Easter. www.islandbreaks.co.uk (pics courtesy of the Isle of Wight Tourism Services)