Woodside Coastal Retreat on the Isle of Wight Review

Woodside Coastal Retreat is on the north east coast of the Isle of Wight

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Woodside Coastal Resort

We've made our way around most of the holiday parks on the Isle of Wight over the last few years and have lots of positive things to say. 

We recently paid our third visit to Woodside Coastal Retreat, so thought it was time we reported back.

The location at Woodside Coastal Retreat is one of the best on the Island

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First impressions and location of Woodside Coastal Retreat

The title of 'first impression' may be slightly misleading, as this was our third visit to Woodside Coastal. However, it's the first time we've got round to writing up our experiences, so we'll plough on.

First time visitors to Woodside Coastal Retreat will be forgiven for ending up in the wrong place when they visit. You'll start by turning off from the main road in Wootton, where we found one of the signs was pointing in the wrong direction. Once you overcome this minor obstacle, you'll eventually get to a sign for Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat, which is the sister resort. 

You need to go in here to check in and then drive along further until you reach Woodside Coastal Retreat. 

Woodside Coastal Retreat was built a couple of years before its sister park, which is much larger. In reality, they are one large site and there is a footpath that links the two. 

My first impression once we finally got to the resort was that this was a classy resort that was up there with the best locations you will find. 

The lodges almost go down onto the beach and the gentle gradient of the site mean that about half of the lodges have a pretty good view or at least a sea glimpse.

Accommodation is the spacious lodges that can be found across the Darwin Escapes portfolio

Get a front row lodge if you can as the views are outstanding

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Facilities at Woodside Coastal 

As we explored, it became apparent that Woodside Coastal Retreat itself does not have any facilities. It is more of a satellite resort, which is attached to the main and larger Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat. This is not a big issue, but it's worth understanding the difference between the two sites. 

The sister site has a bar and somewhere you can buy a coffee, but as far as I can tell it no longer offers evening meals. I'm also pretty sure that the gym is no longer there. 

We did though find that the staff in the reception and shop were very helpful and we enjoyed playing a board game in the café. 

Beyond that, the only real facility at Woodside Coastal is a very small playground, which can be found in the woods. This consists of a couple of wooden structures but entertained the children for 10 minutes.

The park looks across to Portsmouth on the mainland

Woodside Coastal and Woodside Bay are linked by a woodland footpath

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Accommodation at Woodside Coastal

As you'll gather, Woodside Coastal Retreat is not the place to come if you want to spend your whole time on site. It doesn't have a swimming pool or anything like that. 

However, we still absolutely loved our visit simply because the accommodation and the views are so good. 

The accommodation is entirely lodges, many of which have hot tubs. The front row lodges have a terrific unrestricted sea view, with only the odd tree getting in the way. As mentioned earlier, the lodges are a couple of years older than those at the sister park, but the ones we have stayed in have been pretty well equipped and are considerably more spacious than a caravan.

Every lodge has a balcony, which isn't something you get at some holiday parks

These lodges have more of a woodland vibe and can be found next to the footpath

Front row lodges have a view like this

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Local area of Darwin Escapes Woodside Coastal Retreat

You'll find Woodside Coastal Retreat on the northeast side of the Isle of Wight. The Wightlink ferry from Portsmouth arrives in Fishbourne, which is about 10 minutes' drive from the resort.

The beach at Woodside Coastal is really lovely. However, I would point out that it isn't a sandy paradise where you will be putting up a deck chair and spending several days. It's more the sort of beach where you will enjoy an early morning walk with the dog or take home a souvenir pebble. If you want a sandy beach, you can drive to Appley, which is about 10 minutes away. 

The beach at Woodside Bay is good for walking but not for swimming

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Final thoughts on Woodside Coastal

We very much enjoyed our latest visit to Woodside Coastal Resort. The front row views are really something special. I'm struggling to think of a holiday park on the Isle of Wight with a better view than that of the five or six front row lodges. If you want somewhere with a swimming pool and an on-site restaurant with entertainment, then this isn't for you. Instead, you'll be better to stay at somewhere like Parkdean Resorts Nodes Point or Away Resorts Whitecliff Bay. 

If those things don't particularly bother you then I would highly recommend Woodside Coastal Retreat.

This lodge, which is a couple of rows back also has a great sea view