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Island 'guru' ranks best benches with a view

Jamie Morris
BBC News, Isle of Wight
Jamie Morris heads to Freshwater Bay to meet the Isle of Wight Guru at some of his favourite island benches

"It's a self-proclaimed title, there wasn't an election for it. I'm sure there's people that know more than me."

As I approach Freshwater Bay, I'm half expecting the Isle of Wight Guru to be wearing a plain white gown and sat with his legs crossed. Instead I am met by a man slouched over a wall wearing a down jacket and trainers.

Carisbrooke born and bred, Robbie Lane spends most of his time sharing his love for the dinosaur isle on his tongue-in-cheek website - a guide to island life and tips on how to save money when you travel there.

"Over the years I've done some weird guides," he says. "Best car parks on the island, but also guides on how people can have a free day out or cheap place to eat."

A man is sat on a bench on a hilltop. He is wearing a blue coat and blue jeans with white shoes. There is grass all around and the sky is blue. The land falls away where the cliffs cascade down to the sea below.
Mr Lane says the bench at Compton Down is special because he proposed to his wife in the bay below

One of his most recent guides is the island's 10 best benches with a view.

Among those over on the West Wight - his favourite part of the island - is the bench overlooking Alum Bay and the Needles, the bench halfway up Tennyson Down, and a bench atop Mottistone Down.

To make the list, benches are marked on view, comfort, and their preferably short walking distance.

"Although it's slightly weird, slightly nerdy to like benches, actually its a good way to see an area you don't know because the bench was put there with the thought it gives the best view," he says.

A man is sat on a bench on a hilltop. He is wearing a blue coat and blue jeans. There is grass all around and the sky is overcast. The sea is below.
"Growing up on the island, you realise now it isn't a normal place, its a special place."

At Freshwater Bay, recent storms have engulfed many of the benches in stones from the beach.

"I was heartbroken. One of the benches along there the arms broken off because the stones have smashed it. It's not in the top ten but it's a great bench."

When he started his website Mr Lane says he thought of calling it Isle of Wight Tips, but his wife said it sounded like somewhere you drop off your recycling.

"How about Guru she said, that sounds like you know what you're talking about. It catches me out a bit because sometimes I don't know everything about the island," he says.

A man is seen in the side mirror of a car driving down a road with a grassy bank on the side. There are cliffs in the distance. The car is blue and the window is down.
He also plotted a route named the Wighty 90 - a 90km round trip on the island's most scenic roads

For years residents and holidaymakers have complained of a costly and unreliable ferry service. Earlier this month Keir Starmer described the service as "simply not good enough".

Robbie says one reason he started his website was to help people make trips to the island more affordable.

He says for holidaymakers one of the most effective ways to save money on ferries is to book your ticket with your accommodation.

"What you'll often find is two people sat next to each other on the ferry and one has paid £300 to bring their family over in the car and the other £50. Because they've got a deal with their accommodation provider.

"I don't want people to be put off by the Isle of Wight because it's too expensive. Do a bit of research and find the lowest price, then decide."

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