About us
The ethos here at Unlimited Island is that everybody should be able to travel, sightsee, have fun, relax and partake in any activity they wish regardless of the level of ability. The team here all have first-hand understanding of living with a disability and recognize that to make the most out of life, sometimes a little planning or scouting ahead can be necessary! So, to take the hours of boring and frustrating research off your hands, and to really make the most of our extensive knowledge of the beautiful Isle of Wight, this site was founded to give you an idea of what to expect when you get here and some handy info to ensure you get the most out of your stay.
All venues reviewed have been personally visited and endorsed by a member of the team. As with any tourism hotspot, new venues are opening and closing all the time so do keep an eye on the site for updates.
Please do feel free to contact us at info@unlimitedisland.co.uk with any questions, thoughts or suggestions on how the site might be improved as we would love to hear your feedback.
Founder – Claire Walker
Claire moved to the IoW in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the atmosphere and beauty of the island. Seeing from the very start the potential the island could offer people with disabilities, Claire began researching and compiling a directory of venues, places to stay and methods of travel so that friends and family might visit easily.
As a very independent person living with Multiple Sclerosis, Claire has 20+ years of living with the condition and refuses to allow her condition to get in the way of her living a full life the way she chooses. Claire says:
‘The idea for UI actually stems from a visit to a well known attraction on the mainland where I was taking my 8-year-old daughter and her friend for the day. As I was relapsing at the time, I called ahead to ask what accessibility was like for wheelchair users and was told that it was fantastic, with wide open paved pathways, lots of space to move and lots of resting points around the venue. Sadly, they forgot to mention that the venue was built at the bottom of an old quarry and there were endless STEEP hills with no lift access…
It got me to thinking, that even with all the will in the world and the best of intentions unless you have experienced living day-to-day with a disability, you’re not likely to have a full understanding of what people are really needing to know before they travel to a new place. So, being lucky enough to live here on the island, I wanted to put something together to enable anybody to holiday here and love it as much as I do, and to have a reliable and trustworthy tool to provide a ‘sneak preview’ so they can be fully prepared. Unlimited Island was born, and I hope it encourages people with disabilities to come, stay, and have an incredible experience.’