Activities and Exercise
Our Studio
Guests have use of the beautiful, sunny studio attached to the main house. The studio is bright and airy with pivoting doors that open onto the garden. It really is the perfect place whatever your routine. It is equipped with yoga mats, balls, bands, wall bars, kettlebells, two hanging bags, ceiling bars, ropes, and Olympic rings.
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Yoga
You can turn your break into your own yoga retreat by booking Emma, one of the Island's pre-eminent Yoga instructors, to come and give you and your group a 90 minute yoga lesson (or three, or more) tailored to your level and choice of practice.
If self-practice is more your thing, then stroll across to the studio, roll out a mat, swing open the doors, and do your yoga practice to the sound of birds singing and with a view of horses cantering across the field beyond the garden. Or if you prefer your yoga al fresco, grab a mat and take it up to one of the fields. I personally recommend sunrise practice in the field above the old quarry. The perfect way to start the day!
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Kickboxing
We run kickboxing weekends - click here for more details.
Our studio is also well equipped for kickboxing self-practice sessions. It has bags, pads, gloves and guards and is a good size for an intense sparring session. Our friendly owner, a San Shou blackbelt, can design a session for you, tailored to your level and requirements, or could even put you through your paces if you are game.
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Cycling
The island is great for cyclists and The Granary is positioned perfectly for you to maximise your enjoyment of the routes. If mountain biking is your thing then you can ride straight out of the front door onto the bridleway routes up the hills. If you are a road biker then Wroxall is right on the cycleway and the Round the Island Route, see here for map and details.
Your bikes can be securely stored either in the stables or under the veranda by the terrace. There is also a hose for washing off mud.
Cycling Weekly love the Island!
Full details of cycling on the Island
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Running
Step out of The Granary and there is a great run in every direction. The bridleway through Manor Bottom is also part of the route for the fell running championships run every September. I have mapped a few of my favourite runs here, they vary in intensity and distance but all take in the wonderful views:
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Walking
All of the routes mapped above are wonderful walks too. One of the best walks on the island is right from the back door of Manor Bottom. Take the right hand path beside the stables (the left hand path leads to the Highland Cattle - you can look over the fence but please do not enter the field.) Follow it up across the field, then through the ancient copse (full of wild garlic and bluebells in May and June) where, if you are lucky, you might see a red squirrel. It gets very steep but it's worth it for the views from the top. As you emerge from the copse you go through a gate onto the downs, which are owned by the National Trust. Up the path a few more yards and you are on the top of St Boniface Down. (Up here you might see wild goats brought in by the National Trust to keep down the Holm Oak, and cattle and ponies introduced because their grazing maintains the grassland and encourages downland plants and ground-nesting birds.) In May and June these downs are a mass of bluebells and red campion. Bear left, heading for the radio masts and take the path on the right of them, which runs in front of the mast enclosure and has great views of the Channel and Ventnor below. Beyond the masts take the gate on the left and head for the car park. Follow the path along the top of the downs towards St Martin's Down (heading north - towards the mainland), past Celtic burial mounds. From here you can see right across the Island and over the Solent to the mainland. Go through the gate that marks the end of National Trust property. After 150 yards or so take the path down the hill to Middle Barn, (look out for the Highland cattle) then drop down into Manor Road, emerging by the two cottages in Middle Barn Lane and turn left to The Granary and Manor Bottom. (You can do this walk in an hour but if you stop to admire the views (and get your breath back) it's more like two.
For other walks please ask us for suggestions or have a look in some of the guide books in the lounge.
