I recently had a week’s holiday on the Isle of Wight, somewhere I had never been before (embarrassingly, considering my years living in Southampton). Here are a few things that I thought were worth a mention.

Osborne House. English Heritage have done a fantastic job restoring Queen Victoria’s private beach on the grounds of her holiday home. Completed in 2012, the understated workmanship is of a standard befitting, well, I wouldn’t dare say ‘a queen’, but at least far exceeds modern expectations!

Dimbola Lodge. I had reservations about Julia Margaret Cameron’s reputation as an artist before visiting this museum at her former residence, which doubles up as a tea room. It is an easy knee-jerk reaction to dismiss the praises of someone who had such great connections and affluence. A tour of her work, however, provides a powerful argument in her favour.

Swinburne. Visiting the childhood area of one of my favourite poets was a source of pre-holiday excitement. The lack of recognition on the island of his talents was pretty disappointing. I still took pleasure in going to Bonchurch and visiting his resting place. I decided against attempting to match his (self-claimed) feat of climbing the Landslip!

John Nash. I was intellectually stirred by the idea of someone designing a church for their own interment. John Nash had the privilege of this opportunity, albeit on a budget far smaller than he was used to. The result was St. James’ Church in East Cowes, his tomb stationed to the right of the entrance. Architecturally, it is unspectacular compared to his famous builds, but the lack of acknowledgement and the deteriorating condition of the church was sad. It’s a terrible irony that this particular build is devoid of celebration and protection; the one where the worker finally rests.

Walks. Well maintained and plentiful walking/cycling routes provide a means to take you all over the island. No ill-maintained footpaths through fields of cattle and jungle-like overgrowth! Passable gravelled routes! Jersey is similarly impressive. This model is a worthy ambition for the mainland and one that enables and encourages people to find more rewarding ways of getting about.

This month's favourites:
   Håkan Hellström, Du gamla du fria
   Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run
   Dirty Dancing (1987)