The town of Cowes is something of a shining gem in the glorious Isle of Wight. Anybody familiar with this legendary and storied isle knows that it is one of the most beloved destinations in the entire United Kingdom. The town of Cowes is but one of the many highly desirable locales in the Isle of Wight but it can be argued that Cowes presents an atmosphere and an attitude that is perhaps best exemplary of the ravishing feeling that the Isle of Wight sends through the heart of anybody lucky enough to be visiting.
Many tourists in fact stop at Cowes first during a trip to the Isle of Wight and as such it has often been referred to as the "gateway" to the Isle. After all, the town is the starting point of the "Isle of Wight Coastal Path", a very popular government sponsored trail that leads to the most stunning visages this side of Britain. There is a state of the art ferry that shuttles passengers to deeper pastures within the Isle and it is known as the "Red Jet". There are also several other ferry and bus services that cater to the many visitors who use Cowes as their home base during their adventure.
What is interesting about Cowes, though, is the fact that it wasn't always a pleasant holiday destination. The town is very old and in years past, in the same way that it is used as a gateway to pleasure these days, Cowes was seen as a gateway to invasion by French forces and other warring factions throughout history. As such, Cowes is also home to ancient forts that date back to the days of Henry VIII and beyond. The West Fort in Cowes is the most popular site for those that visit the town with history on their minds and, though its original Tudor towers have long since crumbled, the fort is still a stunning piece of work that makes for a great photo opportunity. Unfortunately, the East Fort has long since fallen into disrepair and ruin to the point where it is now not even visible. Still, it can be quite exciting to walk through the ground where it once stood and imagine yourself as a soldier during the War of the Roses, valiantly defending Cowes from enemy forces in the dark of night.
Most people don't go to Cowes for the history, though, and the most popular attraction in the town is actually the many yachting events that take place each year there. The Cowes Regatta is the shining beacon in this respect and each year it doubles the population of the town as the three day festival rocks the water as it has for over one hundred and fifty years. At any rate, it can safely be said that those visiting Cowes will be more than pleased no matter what their interests are. This, perhaps, is the most telling aspect of what makes Cowes the perfect example of what makes the Isle of Wight so beloved throughout the world.
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