Cowes
The town of Cowes in the north of the island was a small fishing village until the 19 th century when it developed rapidly into a major international yachting centre. With the founding of the Royal Yacht Club in 1820 in West Cowes Castle, Cowes became a magnet for the rich and well connected. Every August Cowes is host to the world famous annual regatta. The event, known as Cowes Week, attracts yachtsmen and spectators from all around the world, which creates a festival atmosphere in the town.
Cowes is divided by the River Medina and there certainly is a contrast between the two sides. East Cowes is industrial and somewhat plain while West Cowes is full of shops and attractions. The narrow and winding High Street that blends into Bath Street is most attractive, containing an array of Edwardian, Victorian and more modern shops and several very charming inns.
The street should be particularly interesting for yachting enthusiasts and other sea-farers, given that several of its shops sell a wide range of nauticalia, from compasses to the latest gadgets.