The Isle of Wight is host of to one of the largest collections of fossils in Europe and I’m not talking about the ageing relics who flocked there for what was, arguably, the biggest music festival ever in 1970, writes Bill McCarthy.

Sentry Mead has been accommodating visitors since the 1930s

It seems a little incongruous that an island of such relative tranquility could have hosted the Isle of Wight Festival, one of the most famous music events of all time – but a bronze statue of the legendary Jimi Hendrix, who died just weeks after performing there, is a permanent reminder at Freshwater Bay.

A form of that festival continues to this day as do other musical gatherings such as the International Jazz Festival and Bestival. But music fans and other visitors can also take advantage of some of the most stunning coastal vistas and inland green beauty that make up the biggest island of England.

It was home to the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson, and to Queen Victoria, who built her own residence at Osborne House at East Cowes. It is home to a myriad of wildlife and is one of the richest locations of dinosaur fossils in Europe.

With its miles of coast it’s no surprise that it is popular with families looking for seaside locations, but it also features picturesque walks and cycleways that offer the tranquility that is often missing in the island’s towns. Among them is an itinerary from Wightlink. Secret Wight offers a range of fresh air challenges for parents and children to tackle.

Families can set out on foot to find miles of virgin sand, rocky ledges, monster vegetation covering huge expanses of rock pools, flora and fauna rarely found on mainland Britain and even those dinosaur bones and fossils that have been hidden for millions of years. The island is situated between three and five miles from the mainland and is serviced by a number of ferries from various ports.

We travelled from picturesque Lymington to Yarmouth on the western side of the island with Wightlink.

The trip was part of Wightlink Green Getaways holiday programme, focusing on accommodation in peaceful rural locations. Previously we have travelled from Porstsmouth to Fishbourne, but as we were staying in the quiet, but pretty, Totland Bay, we landed just a couple of miles from our accommodation, the Sentry Mead hotel.

An imposing Victorian house that has been a hotel since the 1930s, the building has 16 individual rooms, the best of which give spectacular views across the Solent.

Owners Sarah and Jean-Pierre made something of a career change to become hoteliers. Both were flight planners until five years ago but obviously know what they are doing. They have started to refurbish the building and some of the rooms are nothing less than spectacular.

Floral delight - the beautiful garden at Sentry Mead hotel

On top of that the staff are naturally friendly and the hotel offers excellent food in a cosy and relaxed atmosphere. A nice touch is the complimentary coffee that is available from late afternoon onwards.

From the seaside atmosphere of Ryde to miles of mostly unpopulated downland, the island is surprisingly diverse. Try an offbeat trip to the island’s garlic farm. Here you can try all types of garlic and they even offer a garlic beer.

The Isle of Wight Steam Railway takes visitors back to the golden age of steam. Be prepared for queues though, this is a very busy attraction.

For those who love spectacular scenery the imposing Needles rocks are worth seeing, but be prepared for a walk. When the kids have tired with that the Needles theme park virtually next door offers plenty of rides for them to let off steam. The relics of that momentous festival in 1970 probably didn’t know what they were missing.­

* Bill McCarthy travelled to the Isle of Wight with Wightlink Green Getaways (www.wightlink.co.uk/greengetaways). A three-night break at Sentry Mead costs from £165 per person, including return Wightlink car ferry crossings from Portsmouth or Lymington.