Isle of Wight ferry provider Wightlink has announced two great new deals on sailings to the Island next year. Customers can take advantage of big discounts on both foot passenger fares and vehicle crossings throughout 2023, including during the Isle of Wight Festival weekend. With huge savings to be made, there's never been a better time to book a trip to the Isle of Wight in advance, especially with lots of new things to experience. 

Price Freeze for 2023

For a limited time customers can book Wightlink's 2023 sailings at the same prices as 2022 crossings.  Not only will visitors be rewarded for planning ahead with being able to bag their choice of sailings, but they can also save money on their trip to the Isle of Wight for 2023. The offer is valid on bookings made before 5 October 2022 for foot passenger and vehicle routes to and from the Isle of Wight throughout next year1. For more information and to book, visit: wightlink.co.uk/offers

Festival ferry from just £10

Wightlink has also launched its Early Bird prices for crossings to the Isle of Wight Festival 2023 and they too match the 2022 prices. Taking place from 15-18 June next year, music lovers can get ahead of the game and grab a bargain on ferry travel to the festival, with prices starting at £10 for adult foot passenger return tickets or £49.50 for return crossings by car2. For more information and to book, visit: wightlink.co.uk/festival

Reasons to visit - what's new?

Here are a few new things that might have missed your radar over the summer:

(+ Photos available here: https://we.tl/t-oxUwyScLPJ) 

Harvey Browns

Soft launched: May 2022

This destination farm shop, food hall, butchery and lakeside café bar opened on the Isle of Wight at the start of summer and has since gathered a solid following from locals. Set in stunning surroundings in the heart of the Arreton Valley, overlooking lakes dug by the Brown family's great grandfather (a well known farming family on the Isle of Wight), it's a beautiful place to visit for a few hours or to enjoy breakfast or lunch or even an evening beer or cocktail. Proudly nicknamed the “deli counter of dreams” by the owners, visitors can pick up a veritable banquet for picnics alfresco in the food hall. There are also plans to open up its seven acres of woodland for walks and connect with popular Isle of Wight cycle trails. harveybrowns.co.uk

The Terrace Rooms & Wine

Opened: August 2022

The Terrace Rooms & Wine has just opened on the Isle of Wight in Ventnor, at an iconic property overlooking the water. This seaside guesthouse and wine shop is a sister property to the well-established Terrace Restaurant in Yarmouth. It has six rooms, a 300-bottle wine cave where guests can taste, learn and buy bottles, and a small restaurant serving snacks in peak summer and dinner out of season. theterraceventnor.co.uk

Mermaid Zest Gin

Launched: June 2022

The new Mermaid Zest Gin was a summer hit, with the first batch selling out across the country in a matter of weeks. Visit The Isle of Wight Distillery's Mermaid Bar and watch production of this new gin in process. Mermaid Zest Gin blends grapefruit and cascade hops with island bergamot, lemon zest and rosemary, also known as 'the dew of the sea' from its Latin origin. The botanical mix is distilled and then infused with the signature gin, for a bright and fresh citrus spirit with a hint of sea air. isleofwightdistillery.com

National Trust Isle of Wight Explorer Pass

Launched: June 2022

The National Trust launched an Isle of Wight Explorer Pass which allows reduced-cost access to properties across the Isle of Wight for up to seven days in one ticket. The Explorer Pass provides access to the Old Needles Battery, Mottistone Gardens, Bembridge Windmill and Newtown National Nature Reserve Visitor Center. It also covers all National Trust car parks on the island, too. Visitors can buy it from the Isle of Wight's National Trust attractions in person. nationaltrust.org.uk

Canopy Skatepark

Opened: May 2022

Located in a 4000sqft refurbished barn in a disused farmyard, situated in rolling farmland with views out to sea in the South West of the Isle of Wight, Canopy provides an all-weather skateboarding space. Designed for recreation and education, Canopy caters for all skateboarders from beginners to pro-skaters. They are working with educational provider EduDiverse which provides youngsters with high quality alternative educational experiences. Visitors can also book to stay in the small family-friendly campsite too, with 7 pitches, a bell tent and safari tent. Communal buildings are being developed for pop-up restaurants, events and courses, with Bushcraft sessions already available in a beautiful ash tree circle. canopyskatepark.com

Bowhunter Archery Tag

Opened: August 2022

Archery tag is similar to paintballing, but with bows. Visitors can enjoy an exciting day of target practice, missions, team building and laughs.There is nothing more rewarding than winning archery tag with a team. Some of the activities on offer are agility challenges, battlezone archery, target practice challenges, speed runs and more. Does it hurt? Bowhunter's bows and arrows are made to a high standard and on each bow is a protective foam pad which reduces the impact significantly, meaning no paintball-style pain.

--ENDS--

Download photos here:  https://we.tl/t-oxUwyScLPJ

1. Terms and conditions apply. 2022 prices will be held for bookings made up to 5 October 2022 for any date of departure in 2023.
2. Terms and conditions apply. Isle of Wight Festival Early Bird fares apply to bookings made up to 2 October 2022 for Festival dates in 2023, until limits have been reached. £10 starting price is for an Adult Day Return departing on Friday, 16 June, Saturday, 17 June or Sunday, 18 June 2023, returning up to 04:30 the following day

Wightlink                                                                                                    

Wightlink is the leading cross-Solent ferry operator carrying almost 4.5 million holidaymakers, day trippers and Islanders across the Solent between the Isle of Wight and the mainland every year. Eight ferries on three routes complete over 45,000 sailings a year.

Having introduced its new environmentally-friendly ferry – named Victoria of Wight - in August 2018, Wightlink is proud to be heralding a new, greener era of travel between the Isle of Wight and the mainland. As a hybrid energy ship that runs partly on electricity, Victoria of Wight offers greener crossings between the mainland and the Isle of Wight. The Isle of Wight is also the sixth area in the UK to be awarded a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, meaning it's now recognised as one of the best places in the world to explore the sustainable way people interact with their natural environment.