Carnivàle
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, UK
From the creators of Bestival, this waterfront home on the Isle of Wight — with a pool, skate ramp, and access to the Solent — is what happens when barefoot island living meets private festival. The same freedom from rules, the same chance for exploration and play, can be found at Carnivàle. Like a page from The Swiss Family Robinson (goats and all), this is a place to create your own society; gathering fruit, jumping in the sea, and telling stories by the fire.
Introduction
Here’s the rules: we spend every sunset at the rum shack, have upside-down cake for breakfast, and never go a day without getting our feet wet. On Isle of Wight time, we make our own commandments. With a heated pool, skate ramp, woodfired hot tub, sauna, and direct access to the Solent, Carnivàle feels like a secret camp where groups can come to cosplay as castaways. And all this within walking distance of the colourful clapperboards of nautical Yarmouth, with its sourdough pizzerias and seaside cocktail bars. If a week as marooned archipelagians feels like just the ticket for the family reunion, or a “no-fly Ibiza” sounds like the place to test out island life, this luxury waterfront home is an all-access pass.
Inside
Any outward austerity is just a guise. Behind its monochromatic shell — all white brick and big windows — this island residence hides a bazaar: a tuk-tuk won at auction, vintage Bollywood posters, Rajasthani doorframes, and a crocheted peace sign taken from the main stage at Bestival. Challenging its miminalist blueprint, and retaining hints of its 1970s disco culture, the walls are lined with setlists and surrealist paintings. In a way, it’s a museum of everything. From the Chau gong to the compact drumkit, the steel kitchen to the Moroccan tagine, and the amethyst geode to the test tube chandelier, Carnivàle is a home of many tricks. Paradise found, where good vibes are carried in on trade winds.
Outside
Every summer, the Isle of Wight is reborn. Green, gold, blue — bursting with a kaleidoscope of orchids and musk mallow. Many come for just a day, wishing they’d had the foresight to stay a while longer; the clever few set up camp at places like Carnivàle. With kayaks, paddle boards, an open-air kitchen, tufted mustard daybeds, and a loosestrife-lined pathway to a warm garden pool, this is a no-need-to-leave estate. But the 70-mile-long coastal path is on the doorstep, providing an escape route to Yarmouth; there, Nantucket-style pitstops peddle affogatos and locals line up for lobster and chips. For those dreaming of a "Wight Christmas", it'll be crab pies, pantomimes, and walks in the footsteps of poet Lord Tennyson.
The Facts
- SleepsUp to 10 guests from £8,495 per week
- Bedrooms and bathroomsThere are five bedrooms at this waterfront home, three on the ground floor and two on the first floor. The main bedroom has an en suite, and the other four share access to three family bathrooms. There is a ground floor WC.
View bedrooms - FeaturesOutdoor heated swimming pool (available May – September), woodfired hot tub, sauna, outdoor kitchen, yoga studio
- PetsTwo well-behaved dogs are welcome
Each pet is charged at £60 per week or part thereof - Arrivals and departuresArrival Time: 4pmDeparture Time: 10am
- FamilyBabies and children are very welcome. One cot and one highchair are available.
- PracticalitiesThere is private, off-road parking for six cars. The kitchen has an Aga with gas hob, two dishwashers, and a fridge-freezer. The utility room contains a washing machine and tumble dryer. Please note that the property has direct water access, so do exercise due diligence if you are travelling with children or dogs. There are goats and chickens on-site which are tended to daily via the garden.
- Homestay includesA luxury welcome hamper, iPad, Wi-Fi internet, Smart TV, Weber and Green Egg barbecues, a stainless steel outdoor kitchen, wetsuits and dryrobes, kayaks and paddle boards, a rustic skate ramp, inset trampoline, books and board games, luxury bed linens, towels and bathrobes, and logs and kindling to get you started.House book - your property and destination guideDiscover more
- Private cateringSeeking a celebratory dinner or fully catered escape? Our recommended caterers will work with you to create personalised menus for your stay. Details are shared through our house book on confirming your booking.
- RetreatsFrom foraging weekenders to crash courses in cold-water therapy, our bespoke retreats bridge the gap between luxury and back-to-nature philosophies. Create a hand-crafted stay that puts connectivity at the fore.
- RestrictionsParties considered on prior permission from the owner
- Other informationProperty terms and conditionsFrequently asked questions
Prices & Availability
Yarmouth
With Georgian and Victorian influences, and a maritime lifeblood that means fresh catch is always on the menu, Yarmouth is a quietly cool, community-first seaside town that feels world´s away from the mainland.
Getting there
- On the Map This luxury waterfront home is located within the hamlet of Bouldnor, just outside of Yarmouth and on the Solent, on the west coast of the Isle of Wight.
- By Car Carnivàle is five minutes from Yarmouth, under half-an-hour in any direction from anywhere on the island, and three hours from London via ferry.
- By Train There are regular trains from London Waterloo to Lymington Pier, changing at Brockenhurst, with a journey time of two hours on South Western. From there, the 40-minute Wightlink ferry can take foot passengers (including dogs) to Yarmouth.
- By Air Isle of Wight Airport (served by Gatwick, Heathrow, Southampton, and Bournemouth airports) is half-an-hour away by car. If you wish to arrive by helicopter, please enquire for further details.
From the owner
“We have been creating music festivals and parties all over the world for 30 years; Carnivàle has the same vibe as our events, with pockets of places to entertain, and an indoor-outdoor feel that means you never need to leave to have fun.”
The house is very unique. It’s unlike most houses in the United Kingdom; we find that, whenever people come to visit, they say it feels more like Malibu or Australia. It’s bright and breezy, happy and colourful, making it a great spot for a family holiday, a wellness week, or a big get-together.
We both love travel and have done since we met 32 years ago. The house is full of bits and bobs we have picked up along the way. We love colour and textiles, and we’ve taken a chance and pieced our favourite fabrics together, hoping it works along the way. There was never a grand plan, we just followed our hearts like we do with the festivals.
Our dream day is waking up and going straight outside to listen to the birds, jump in the sea, and then socialise with friends down on the seafront. The kids would be out on the water playing and fishing (our sons have managed to catch large seabass and smooth-hound), and then we’d follow up with local produce cooked on the barbecue.
We hope you love our waterfront home — our mini festival site — and make your own happy memories here on the Solent.
The Lynwode’s
Owner recommendations
Live like a local, discovering the best hidden gem restaurants, walks and attractions during your holiday in Yarmouth with an insider’s perspective.
To Do
Yar River Trail, Yarmouth
Set out on the Yar River Trail, tracing the Isle´s longest river from Niton´s spring to Bembridge harbor. At 19 miles long, it´s possible to walk the length in an ambitious weekend.
To Eat
The Hut, Colwell Bay
Probably the most talked about restaurant on the Isle of Wight, on sunny days The Hut feels more like Ibiza. Arrive by boat or order the "Hut Truck" to pick you up from the house.
To Do
Crabbing, Yarmouth
At Yarmouth Sailing Club on the Isle of Wight, crabbing on the slipway is a cherished pastime. Families gather, nets in hand, enjoying simple moments by the water´s edge.
To Eat
Salty´s Pizzeria, Yarmouth
From diavolas to dough wheels to calamari fritti, Salty´s serves delicious, handcrafted sourdough pizzas topped with fine ingredients in this easygoing harbour pizzeria. Delizioso!
Unique extras
From private chefs to luxury at-home spa therapists and adrenalin-fuelled retreats, once you’ve booked your stay we’ll introduce you to our owner-recommended suppliers to create a truly bespoke, memorable escape.
Press
Below are a selection of features in which Unique Homestays has appeared. If you would like to feature the property in an editorial capacity, please contact the marketing team on +44 (0)1637 882014.
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The best underrated trips to take in the UK
Condé Nast Traveller
July 2024The best UK staycation ideas according to Condé Nast editors
Condé Nast Traveller
July 2024The loveliest remote hotels, huts and castles in the UK for a road trip
House & Garden
June 202412 of the best new UK holiday cottages
The Times
June 202420 of the best treehouse stays in the UK
The Times
June 2024The best holiday cottages in the UK
Condé Nast Traveller
May 2024Wealthy Britons are letting their homes — but you won´t find them on Airbnb
The Telegraph
May 2024Plum Sykes´s guide to The Cotswolds
Financial Times
May 2024
Luxury Self-Catering Cottages > UK > Isle of Wight > Yarmouth > Carnivàle
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Disclaimer: These particulars, whilst believed to be accurate, are set as a guideline so should not be relied upon as a statement of fact. The photographs show aspects of the property at the time they were taken and it should not be assumed that the property remains precisely as displayed. If there are points of particular importance that need clarifying before you book, please contact us.
