The ultra-green, festival-hosting Isle of Wight has reinvented itself into a hip little island offering something for everyone today, with exceptional waves for surfers, as well as kite-surfing, paragliding, and summer events that attract new crowds every year. The isle is shaped a bit like a front-on cow's head. At its temple is, fittingly, a town, called Cowes. At its respective ears sit the towns of Yarmouth and Ryde, both of which have regular ferry services to the mainland. And perched atop tall cliffs, behind the beach at Brighstone (about midway down the left of the cow's jawline), sits Grange Farm campsite.

Two flat, grassy fields go right to the edge of the cliff, and there's an overflow field across the road, aptly christened the Cool Camping Field. You'll need a sturdy tent for the winds blowing across the top of these fields, but the reward is a panoramic view across the sea and an easy scramble down to the beach below.This is a family-run, family-friendly site - kids will love getting close to a Noah's Ark of farm animals, including llamas, kune-kune pigs, goats, water buffalo, and a variety of poultry. A varied site on a varied isle.




COOL FACTOR Cliff-top, adventurous camping with panoramic sea views.

WHO'S IN? Tents, campervans, caravans, dogs - yes. Croups - sometimes, by arrangement.

ON SITE Campfires allowed on the beach below.Two fields with 60 pitches, most with hook-ups; extra Cool Camping Field only open for 28 days in July/August. A heated block has 15 showers, a coin-operated bath, toilets, and washing-up sinks. Laundry, hairdryers, phone, and drinks machine. OFF SITE Head out surfing/paragliding/kite-surfing, or take it easy exploring the main town of Newport.

FOOD AND DRINK The Blacksmiths Arms (01983 S29263) has a pleasant beer garden. See how far English wine has come at Adgestone Vineyard (01983 402503) in Sandown.

GETTING THERE From Yarmouth, follow signs to Freshwater Bay, then take the A3055 for 5 miles, Grange Farm is on the right. Contact Wightlink (www.wightlink.co.uk) or Red Funnel (www.redfunnel.co.uk) for ferry info.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT From Yarmouth/Newport, take bus no. 7 to Brighstone. Alight at the Three Bishops pub and walk ¾ mile to the site.

OPEN March-November.

THE DAMAGE Standard tent, 2 people, plus car £12-£17.