Wight

The Isle of Wight, commonly referred to simply as the Wight, is a county and unitary authority off the south coast of England in the English Channel. It covers about 380 square kilometers (147 square miles) and has a population of around 140,000. The island's largest town and administrative centre is Newport; other major towns include Ryde, Cowes, Shanklin, Sandown and Ventnor. The island is connected to the mainland by ferry services operated by Red Funnel (Southampton to East Cowes) and Wightlink (Portsmouth to Fishbourne), and by hovercraft or fast catamarans between Southsea and Ryde. The island is known for its coastal scenery, beaches, maritime heritage, and landmarks such as the Needles. It has tourist attractions including Carisbrooke Castle and scenic coastal walks. The Isle of Wight forms a ceremonial county and unitary authority, while historically it was administered as part of Hampshire.

The word wight has older origins in Old English wiht, meaning a creature or being. In folklore and literature, wights are often spirits or beings of various kinds. In modern fantasy, wight commonly refers to undead creatures, such as the Barrow-wights of J.R.R. Tolkien and the reanimated corpses known as wights in some contemporary fantasy series (for example, Game of Thrones). The term is also used more generally in English as a poetic or archaic synonym for a person.

The island has a notable cultural scene, including the Isle of Wight Festival, a long-running music festival first held in 1968, and a sailing tradition exemplified by the Round the Island Race. The climate is temperate maritime, supporting horticulture and agriculture.