Considering relocating to the Isle of Wight?

As well long-term job security and opportunities for career advancement, a job with Island Roads also means living in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

With property prices on the Island generally lower than those elsewhere in the south, a mild climate and stunning scenery in every direction the Isle of Wight is a great place to live. More than half of the Island is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and there are countless beaches to choose from when exploring the Island’s 57 miles of coastline.

Although it may feel a world away from the hustle and bustle of city life, the Island is only a stones throw from the mainland with Portsmouth accessible in as little as ten minutes via the Hovercraft from Ryde – with fast rail connections up to London. There are also ferry links between Lymington and Yarmouth, Southampton and Cowes/East Cowes and Portsmouth and Fishbourne/Ryde.

The Island is perfect for people seeking an outdoor lifestyle with plenty of opportunities for coast & country pursuits and plenty of sporting activities on offer. It’s not all about the stunning scenery though, the Island also boasts a lively arts scene with world renown music festivals, rich history, attractions and delicious local produce with plenty of eateries from crab and chips on the beach to fine dining experiences.

There is always plenty to do on the Island – as a holiday destination attracting around 2.4 million visitors each year tourism is key to the economy and as such the Island has many attractions and places of interest for residents to enjoy time and time again.

If you are considering relocating here with a young family, the Island has 49 local authority-maintained schools including primary, secondary and special schools. You can find out more about the Island’s education system on the Isle of Wight Council website. There are also two independent schools and post-16 education or training options.

Here are ten reasons why the Isle of Wight is a great place to live and work!

1. Award-winning beaches – with 57 miles of coastline to explore, the beach is never far away
2. Sunniest place in the UK – more than 37 hours of sunshine a week compared to the national average of 29.7 hours
3. Cycling heaven – some of the smoothest roads in the country which attract top cyclists including Sir Bradley Wiggins! Miles of road and off-road cycling routes to suit all ages and abilities, plus a dedicated mountain bike trails centre
4. History – the Island was good enough for royalty with Queen Victoria spending time at her home at Osborne. The Island has also been home to or visited by Tennyson, Marconi, Churchill and King Charles I
5. Natural beauty – around half of the island is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with some of the country’s finest land and seascapes, estuaries, woodlands and chalk downs
6. Sailing – if being on the water floats your boat then the Island is perfect for you with clubs dotted around the coast and world class sailing events throughout the year
7. Foodie paradise – so many delicious local ingredients to choose from, and if you don’t fancy being the chef, pop to one of the Island’s many  pubs or restaurants (many with views overlooking the sea)
8. Walking – more than 500 miles of footpaths to choose from, why not challenge yourself to ‘Walk the Wight’ – an annual charity hike across the Island from East to West
9. Festivals – its not just music festivals that the Island is famous for, there’s also comedy, literature, walking, cycling – even a garlic festival!
10. Well connected – Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel offer regular services to and from the Island