Days out on the Isle of Wight: rain or shine!

Sometimes it rains, sometimes it pours – even during the beautiful British summer. For those (hopefully rare) occasions, the Isle of Wight has plenty of interesting, unusual and adrenaline-inducing activities that will keep the whole family occupied. So strap on those biking helmets and tighten up those knee pads as we take a quick tour of our favourites.

If the forecast for the day ahead is a touch on the drizzly side, make your way to Canopy Skatepark, an all-weather skateboarding space set down a quiet lane, close to the South Wight hamlet of Chale Green. Housed in a former barn, it caters to every type of skater, from absolute beginners to seasoned, hardy professionals.

Before hitting those ramps though, check the schedule to find the best time to visit – whether you’re looking for a girls-only skateboarding session or an instructor-led slot to perfect those ollies and kickflips. Located on a disused farm, the venture is part of a wider project to rejuvenate the site and offer a top-notch facility for visitors and locals alike. In the future, expect outdoor classrooms, nature trails, axe-throwing arenas and on-site accommodation too.

For those looking to rev things up a bit, Wight Karting on the outskirts of Ryde should easily satisfy your need for speed. The Island’s only all-weather outdoor karting track, anyone from the age of eight years and up can don a helmet and slide into a suit before taking to the 520-metre track to tackle those hairpin bends.

So far, almost 70,000 visitors have dropped by this family-owned attraction, with 34.098 seconds being the current fastest time to beat. Alongside the winding trackway, with its speedy petrol-powered go-karts whizzing by, you’ll find a clubhouse with changing rooms, a licensed bar and food and drink available to pre-order if you feel like making a day of it.

Meanwhile, over at the Isle of Wight Mountain Bike Centre, a spot of light rain certainly won’t dampen the mood for those taking to the trails. Based on Cheverton Farm near Shorwell, the site features an array of purpose-built mountain biking routes, traversing dense woodlands and undulating open fields – originally built for the 2011 Island Games (an international sporting event for islands around the world).

Once in the saddle, the trails vary from blue (moderately intense) to black (pretty tricky) and include flow trails, jump trails and technical trails where you’ll be navigating between tree stumps, roots and wooden roll-ins (which, if you don’t know, are a type of ramp). From May to September, it’s open every day of the week from 08:00–20:00 and available for just £10 per person with a day pass.

For those looking for something a touch less muddy and bone-rattling, why not pick up a golf club and get putting at Lost World Adventure Golf – an Aztec-themed indoor crazy golf course, built atop the wooden planks of Sandown Pier.

Moving from holes one to eleven, you’ll encounter monkeys, lions, lightning and even smoke effects too as you meander through the recreated ruins, before tallying up those scores to find out who was the prime putter of the group. While it might only take half an hour to work your way round, it’s open all day and ideal for dodging any short-lived downpours.

Supposedly the Island’s bounciest and wettest attraction, the Isle of Wight Aqua Park at Tapnell Farm is a suitably moist and slippery attraction for the damper days of the holiday. Competitors aged seven and over (and more than 110cm in height) can splash and slide their way around 20 different obstacles, including free-fall slides, bouncy staircases and inflatable runways.

Wetsuits and buoyancy aids are supplied on arrival, as well as changing rooms and a well-positioned spectators area for those who prefer to take it all in from the sidelines. After completing the course and working up an appetite, The Cow restaurant is conveniently close by, serving award-winning burgers and gently seared steaks.

Finally, if you canter over to the green fields above Newport, you’ll find the Island Riding Centre, an impressive equestrian complex including stables, livery yard and riding school – as well as an on-site bar and restaurant for those parents not keen to saddle up and brave the stirrups. With a surprisingly spacious indoor arena (bigger than an Olympic-sized swimming pool) the centre’s horse-based activities make a fantastic option come rain or shine.

Options for young visitors include one-to-one lessons, group lessons and a pony ride and pamper session (lasting 30 minutes and including a gentle introduction to riding). There’s also a holiday club on offer, where young riders can take part in the day-to-day life of the stables, helping to make feeds, fill hay nets and muck out too.