Brannon's Picture of The Isle of Wight. George Brannon
ROAD TO FRESHWATER-GATE.
THE WESTERN QUARTER OF THE ISLAND, DISTINGUISHED
The Road over the Downs from Brooke to Freshwater-gate.
THE ROADS TO YARMOUTH, NEWPORT, &c.
The Road by Calbourne and Carisbrooke.
LANDMARKS AND OTHER CONSPICUOUS OBJECTS
Tour from Ryde, in which Parties sleep but one Night in the Country.
SEATS & COUNTRY-VILLAS
Their Proprietors or Occupiers.
LIST OF THE ENGRAVINGS.
I.—Norris Castle
II.—Pulpit Rock
III.—Carisbrooke Castle
IV.—West Cowes
V.—Osbourne
VI.—Town and Pier of Ryde
VII.—View from Bembridge Down
VIII.—Shanklin
IX.—Shanklin Church
X.—Cooke's Castle
XI.—The ancient Parish-church of Bonchurch
XII.—Ventnor
XIII.—Steephill
XIV.—St. Lawrence Church
XV.—St. Lawrence Well
XVI.—The Undercliff near Mount Cleeves.
XVII.—The new Light-house near Niton
XVIII.—Blackgang Chine
XIX.—Freshwater Bay
XX.—Watcombe Bay
XXI.—Scratchell's Bay and the Needle Rocks
XXII.—Map of the Isle of Wight
CHAPTER I.
THE PECULIAR ADVANTAGES OF THE ISLAND AS THE OBJECT OF
A SUMMER'S EXCURSION.
Variety is the characteristic charm of the Isle of Wight; the scenery being in fact a most happy combination of the grand and romantic, the sylvan and marine—throughout a close interchange of hills and dales, intersected by streams and rivers: combining the quiet of rural life with the fashionable gaiety of a watering-place, or the bustle of a crowded sea-port. But generally, its landscapes are more distinguished for beauty than sublimity, and hence the very appropriate designation of "the Garden of England!" an emphatic compliment cheerfully paid by the thousands annually visiting its shores for pleasure or for health: and perhaps there is scarcely another spot in the kingdom, of the same narrow limits, which can concentrate more of those qualities that at once charm the eye and animate the soul. Nor should it be overlooked how large a source of interest is derived from the proximity of those two celebrated towns, Southampton and Portsmouth: and the beautiful termination given to most of the open prospects by the retiring distances on the opposite coast.
——"Intermixture sweet,
Of lawns and groves, of open and retired,
Vales, farms, towns, villas, castles, distant spires.
And hills on hills with ambient clouds enrolled,
In long succession court the lab'ring sight."
But the crowning beauty of the Island is certainly the Sea! viewed