wightlife winter issue 201415

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GO.STAY. DO ! ALAN TITCHMARSH... EXCLUSIVE ISLAND GIFTS... AND HEART-WARMING ISLAND ADVENTURES WHERE THERE’S... ROOM TO BREATHE. ALSO INSIDE winter 2014/15 ARE WE THERE YET? Step aboard and the fun starts GET FIRED UP Outdoor activities to keep you warm WINTER WONDERS Guide to what’s on this season Your FREE guide to visiting the Isle of Wight this winter

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Page 1: Wightlife winter issue 201415

GO.STAY.DO!ALAN TITCHMARSH... EXCLUSIVE ISLAND GIFTS... AND HEART-WARMING ISLAND ADVENTURES WHERE THERE’S... ROOM TO BREATHE.ALSO

INSIDE

winter 2014/15

ARE WE THERE YET?Step aboard and the fun starts

GET FIRED UPOutdoor activities to keep you warm

WINTERWONDERSGuide to what’s on this season

Your FREE guide to visiting the Isle of Wight this winter

Page 2: Wightlife winter issue 201415

welcome

A warm welcome from all the staff at Wightlink. We hope you enjoy our free

guide on how to make the most out of your visit to the Isle of Wight this winter.

No need to wait for Summer when an Isle of Wight Winter has endless cool stuff to

try close to home in the UK’s mildest climate. Pages 4-5 feature a few Winter Wonders with our pick of the best places to visit and those not-to-be

missed dates for your diary. Find family freedom and all the answers to every child’s

favourite question Are we there yet? on pages 6-8. Evergreen

Alan Titchmarsh tells us why ‘Wight’ blossoms for him all year

round on page 9. Start planning your stress-free, quick fix winter Escape with

pages 10-13. Explore surf and turf ways to Get Fired Up from November

to March on pages 14-17. On page18 it’s time to Get set for 2015

with Wightlink and find out why the Isle of Wight is a top UK holiday destination.

And finally, get the Island Life look with unique and unusual Island

exclusive gifts on page 19.

Whether you want a short break boost, some family fun or a romantic getaway,

the Isle of Wight has it all this winter.

www.innsofdistinction.co.uk

THE NEW INN - IOW Dining Pub of the year for 2015 along with inclusion for the second year running in the prestigious Michelin UK pub guide.

IN ALL OUR KITCHENS

MORE THAN JUST A PUB!

NEWPORT01983 522709

SHALFLEET01983 531314

FISHBOURNE 01983 882823

SEAVIEW01983 810616

It's our tenth year of "TWO FOR ONE" � e Island’s original and best “Two for One” o� er available at all the pubs from

Monday 20th October running each night of the week from Sunday through to � ursday, three course menu (di� erent in each pub) £19.95 per person,

buy one get one FREE, pre booked tables only, menus to view online.

Optional bottle of wine for £10 reduced from £19.95 and this year a new “TWO FOR ONE” loyalty card

www.innsofdistinction.co.uk

NEWPORT

SHALFLEETYARMOUTH

TOTLANDFRESHWATER

VENTNOR

THE BOATHOUSE THE NEW INN

SHANKLIN

RYDE

EAST COWES

COWES

FISHBOURNE

BRADING

GODSHILL

The Needles BEMBRIDGE

SEAVIEW

SANDOWNBRIGHSTONE

NITON

SOUTHAMPTON

PORTSMOUTH

LYMINGTONTHE STAG

THE FISHBOURNE

Our INNS OF DISTINCTION Christmas Brochure for pre Christmas parties, Christmas day lunch (only a few tables le� ) and New Years Eve Celebrations

Another successful year of events, guides available in a handy wallet size card in each of the pubs, 2015 events to be launched soon

Our tenth year of special “Wine” nights, talks, local food matching and spectacular dining nights with award winning chefs

First pubs on the Isle of Wight to be asked to join the “Wight Marque” local produce accreditation

scheme

Second year of being asked to produce platters of food using IOW produce for the “Isle of Wight Houses of Parliament Day” with Andrew Turner, Visit Wight and Taste of the Wight

Participation in local food fayres, chef cooking demonstrations and participation in local IOW schools

AA DINING AWARDS IN ALL PUBS

Investment in our apprentice scheme and successful “Get the Job” campaign with IOW Radio

All bedrooms having achieved a 4 star AA rating for 5 years running

Successful reward card scheme whereby over 3000 card holders receive points

as they spend

SOME OF OUR LATEST

ACHIEVEMENTS

design • editorial • advertising • print precision creative and media precisioncreativeandmedia.co.uk 3

Wightlink Ltd, PO Box 59, Portsmouth, PO1 2XB

Page 3: Wightlife winter issue 201415

Join 2.5 million annual visitors tapping in to the Island’s perennial

attractions and holiday vibe. The winter season is just as special as

the summer. It has an air of calm and warm appreciation, a certain

smugness that while the rest of the world thinks the Island goes to

sleep, the truth is the all-year-rounders are out on the beaches and

hilltops making the most of the space and choice available.

You can walk and cycle this wonderful Island in fresh air freedom at no

cost at all, taking in the awesome scenery, 60 miles of beaches and wild

countryside. And there’s plenty more to do and see at a range of Island

attractions. So this winter why not visit…

The Needles ParkThe Needles Park is an Island pin up, the place that springs to everyone’s

mind when they picture the Isle of Wight.

OsborneEnjoy a guided tour of Queen Victoria’s opulent holiday home and

gardens. As she said herself, “It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot”!

Carisbrooke Castle Admire the Princess Beatrice Edwardian garden and visit the museum

to delve into the fascinating history of this stunning castle dating back

to 1100.

Isle of Wight Steam RailwayThis family day out is equally as successful for a romantic treat, with a ten

mile round Island trip in old fashioned train carriages from one beautiful

stop to another.

Dinosaur IsleRoam the recreated landscape with life-sized models of the Isle of Wight’s

most famous dinosaurs including – new for 2014 – the latest find: the

most complete Valdosaurus skeleton ever found in the world!

Ventnor Botanic GardensThe amazing microclimate at the heart of the famous ‘Undercliff’ is

home to subtropical plants growing unprotected outdoors, inducing the

enigmatic Giant Waterlily.

Electric WoodsExperience a dazzling array of lights and lanterns at the stunning ‘Spirit of the

Orient’ Electric Woods, at Robin Hill Adventure Park, during the February half term.

Quarr AbbeyVisit the pilgrim chapel and church at Ryde to find out about Saint

Benedict, the history of the community and the fascinating daily life of the

Benedictine monks.

Winter’s not ‘low season’, it’s ‘go season’ –

the best time to discover the real Isle of Wight

inter ondersw

Sunset over The Needles / © Visit Isle of Wight Cycling the coast / © Visit Isle of Wight

Isle be there - dates for your diary

6 & 7 December OsborneExperience the spirit of a Victorian Christmas at Osborne with traditional

games and entertainers. Ride the carousel, meet Father Christmas and

Queen Victoria as you tour some of the festively dressed rooms of this

magnificent house.

Select dates thoughout winter Dinosaur IsleFossil walk guided tours with the experts who can help you understand the

Earth’s timeline and search for new finds in one of the world’s best fossil

finding locations.

6 & 7, 13 & 14, 20-24 December Isle of Wight Steam RailwayThe Isle of Wight Steam Railway runs Santa Specials to Santa’s Grotto at

Havenstreet including a Winter Wonderland walk for everyone. Adults enjoy

mince pies and mulled wine on certain dates.

FebruaryIsland wideWhy love Wight? Because you can whisk your loved one across the

water for a very special Valentine’s Day surprise. Staying in some superb

accommodation featured in this magazine, enjoy fine wines and candlelit,

romantic dining.

February Half Term – Book early! Island wideDon’t miss your chance, be sure to book now for an amazing time with the

kids. See pages 6-8 for family fun and great places to stay and play.

26 February - 8 MarchIsland wideThe Acoustic Isle event is an unplugged winter warm-up on an Island

boasting world-class music festivals. Talented acts from near and far

perform in intimate venues all over the Island. Keep an ear open for more

details of who’s playing where and when.

Carisbrooke Castle / © Visit Isle of Wight

Yarmouth

Dinosaur Isle / © Visit Isle of Wight

Visit wightlink.co.uk/do and discover all that's best to do, experience and enjoy on the Isle of Wight this winter. Contact Island attractions for winter opening dates and times.

wightlife • winter 2014/15 • wightlink.co.uk4 5

what’s on

Page 4: Wightlife winter issue 201415

Yes, we are!This winter

get some fresh

air family fun

in the closest,

faraway holiday

destination the

UK has to offer ➜

Are we

there yet?

mini adventures

6 7Images © Visit Isle of Wight

Page 5: Wightlife winter issue 201415

On the short trip to the Isle of Wight, when your kids ask the age-old

question, “Are we there yet?”, you can reply with a triumphant smile,

“Yes! We are!”, because there are so many quick and easy ways to

reach the Isle of Wight with Wightlink. You can arrive at your chosen

mainland port and kick off your holiday not long after you set out

from home.

There’s a fantastic variety of family friendly places to stay and eat with

some real novelty touches to make it all even more unforgettable. How

about a shiny silver retro American Airstream or a stylishly restored British

caravan with Vintage Vacations for an offbeat camping getaway? Maybe

you’d prefer to wake up in the heart of the woodland in an Isle of Wight

Treehouse? Or a country club where the whole family can be indulged?

If you go into the woods today…Situated on the north east coast, just outside the country village of

Whippingham, the Into The Woods treehouse accommodation is

surrounded by farmland and woods. From your decking you can watch out

for rare wildlife like woodpeckers and red squirrels, the endangered species

that has a small but thriving population of around 3,500 on the Island.

If you want to meet more furry friends, head to Sandown Bay where you’ll

find the Island’s original zoo. Here you can get to know Casper, the white

lion and other big cats, as well as lemurs, giant Madagascan jumping rats,

capuchins and porcupines. These close-up animal encounters at the ‘Zoo

on the Beach’ offer an inspirational wildlife experience for everyone.

Fuss-free family escapesThe West Bay Country Club & Spa in Yarmouth is ideal. The New England

style houses are equipped with everything you need and no matter how

short your stay, you will feel fully refreshed on your return. If you fancy

some time to yourself, the kids can join in most of the onsite activities for

free, including tennis, football and water polo in the 20-metre heated pool.

Chale Bay Farm Guest House welcomes families with children of all ages

and is less than 10 minutes away from the sandy beaches at Brook and

Compton. This is a popular choice throughout the year within a mile of

the much-loved seaside resort of Ventnor and near to Brook Beach, a hot

spot for fossil hunting.

No whining diningWhether you’re visiting for a one day wonder or a longer stay, savour

the experience all the more with tasty and reasonably priced family food

served in settings everyone will love.

Twice crowned the best family pub in the South East of England, you can’t

go wrong with The Horse and Groom on West Wight near Shalfleet. The

kids can run around The Paddock play area which has a bouncy castle and

crazy golf too while you choose from the home cooked local produce and

local ales. The Taverners country pub in Godshill is just as popular with

the locals as it is with visitors. It takes great pride in preparing delicious

dishes using the freshest and best local produce from around the Island.

On Shanklin Esplanade, The Waterfront Inn’s homely guest house,

brasserie and bar is just a stone’s throw from the blue flag sandy beach.

Reviewed by Charles Darwin in 1858 as “the nicest seaside place we have

ever seen”, this is a scenic choice with a mouth-watering menu. Walk off

a lovely lunch up the cliff steps to Shanklin Old Village or take a half hour

stroll along to Sandown.

Walking distance from our Fishbourne Ferry Terminal is The Fishbourne,

why not visit and take advantage of their fantastic Winter ‘two for one’

offer. With a daily changing specials board and locally sourced produce,

you will be spoilt for choice.

Adventure IslandWith so much to see and do, you can cram the shortest stay with many amazing

memories. This fresh air family fun and freedom in the setting of your choice

building dens in the woods, shell collecting and searching for traces of

the dinosaurs.

One of the richest areas for Dinosaur discovery in Europe, the Island is the

UK’s official dinosaur capital. You can join organised fossil walks and guided

footprint tours on the Dinosaur Island Trail.

Outdoor adventures continue on the 500m floodlit track at one of Ryde’s

must-do attraction, Wight Karting. And there are fun and games inside too,

with ten pin bowling at the town’s popular Superbowl.

Drive less, see moreThis Island can be completely circumnavigated by bike and the

best cycle trails feature in excellent detail on wightlink.co.uk/do

together with a range of spectacular walking trails. Go online for

cycling and walking routes suited to every family and all abilities. Then,

why not try the easy 5 mile Sandown route or 12 mile circular setting off

from the impressive medieval Carisbrooke Castle?

If you’re feeling festive before or even after Christmas, Ryde has a year-

round ice skating rink at Planet Ice where Ice Tots can skate from 18

months (with the help of their penguin friends). For something more

tropical visit the giant anteater at Amazon World Zoo Park or step back

in time at one of the Island’s historic attractions.

With so much to see and do, get away together this winter for a family

day trip or short break where there’s... ‘room to breathe’. •

EVERGREENALAN TALKS WIGHTOne of the UK’s best-loved

personalities, Alan Titchmarsh,

gives a green thumbs up to the

Island he calls “his sanctuary” and

says he can’t believe more people

haven’t discovered it yet.

“I don’t think people appreciate the variety

of terrain or how big and beautiful it is. We

love the West Country, Devon, Cornwall and

Dorset but they take such a long time to get

to. The Isle of Wight has all that they have

to offer and it’s that much closer. I can never

work out why more of the British population

haven’t tumbled to the beauty of the Isle

of Wight and all its treasures… Osborne

House, Freshwater Bay and historic places

like Carisbrooke. There’s so much to do. We

just love it.

We use the Island as a sanctuary. Your

cares just fall away. We have a sign in our

house saying “Beside the sea all worries

wash away”… Coming across that bit of

water is tremendously therapeutic. I find it

so relaxing, the wonderful sea air.”

Away from work, Alan’s favourite thing

to do is walk on Afton Down.

There are butterflies and wild flowers. Like

a lot of locals, I love the Island even more in

Winter. It’s quieter. Just watching the sea,

the liners come in and out. On a lovely crisp

winter’s day we look across at the mainland,

or the North Island as we have come to call it,

and see the cloud rolling over when we’re in

bright sunshine. That happens quite a lot!”.

Alan put down roots on the Isle of

Wight fifteen years ago. He has a new home

in Cowes with his own solid clay, coastal

garden to tackle – which is exciting he says,

as “it’s going to be a whole new range of

plants to try!”. •

island life

“You’re walking on the spine of the Island and you see both sides.

Start planning your family’s fun-filled adventure at wightlink.co.uk/gogo

Snap it up! Upload your #IOWfamilyadventure pictures via

Instagram or post to our Facebook page to share the secrets of what

a wonderful Island we have here within easy reach, all year round.

Afton Down / © Visit Isle of Wight

where you can let imaginations run wild makes for unbeatable time together,

wightlife • winter 2014/15 • wightlink.co.uk8 9Image © Alan Titchmarsh

Page 6: Wightlife winter issue 201415

escapeTake some time out closer to home

on this energising Island, with a little

luxury thrown in ➜

FILE OF WIGHT FACT

The Romans called the Island “Vectis” which loosely translates as “lift”, possibly

because she lifts the spirits of all those

who visit.

Winter beach walking / © Visit Isle of Wight

escape

10 11

Page 7: Wightlife winter issue 201415

Stroll around quaint fishing villages like Seaview or head to Yarmouth to

experience Island life and wander round the galleries and boutiques.

Pick up a splash of Vampire Slayer Seriously Hot Chilli Sauce to take home

from The Garlic Farm, the place the press go wild for. Celebrated as the

best bulbs in the British Isles thanks to fifty years in the know-how-to-

grow business, recently raved about recipes have included black garlic ice

cream. So put your tastebuds to the test and try some yourself! It’s well

worth a visit.

If you’re looking for something a bit more sedate, Shanklin Chine, the Isle

of Wight’s oldest tourist attraction which first opened in 1817 has a more

tranquil affair in store. This famous leafy gorge in winding woodland with

steep sides is filled with rare plants, wildlife and waterfalls –

The Island doesn’t go into hibernation just because the nights draw in. In

fact, she positively glows with a warm and friendly welcome. To discover

more about Island wide events in winter head to wightlink.co.uk for a full

list of what’s going on.

When you need to get away from it all, treat yourself to the short, easy

trip to the Island that has so much more than you imagine… •

How can somewhere so close to home make you feel like you’re far

away on holiday? That’s the magic of the Isle of Wight. She may only

be a couple of miles across the Solent in clear view but the vast open

space and the sense of freedom you find here makes the Island feel

like an other worldly escape.

And, relax!For a great way to unwind this winter take a spa and golfing minibreak –

you’ll find it all on the Island.

The Royal Hotel is set in exotic, south facing gardens overlooking

Ventnor’s coastline and is a feast for the eyes and tastebuds with its award

winning Appuldurcombe Restaurant and private spa. It rates very highly

on Trip Advisor with comments such as “the hotel is stunning, the food is

cooked to perfection and tastes exquisite”.

Although described as “the Isle where time stood still”, this is also an

Island that has very much moved on. Leading the way with innovative

and quirky accommodation, in summer, five fabulous yurts are discreetly

dotted around the 70-acre estate at Priory Bay Country House. This is

a great example of the Isle of Wight’s modest cool and sense of fun and

takes glamping to a new, luxury level; each yurt is uniquely designed with

its own ensuite bathroom. The hotel itself,

As well as a private secluded beach and an outdoor swimming pool, it also

has a croquet lawn and a six-hole golf course overlooking the Solent.

If you’re in search of the luxurious rather than quirky, then

The Hamborough Hotel could be for you. Often reviewed as “a little

piece of luxury on the Isle of Wight” it’s famed for high quality cuisine

and wonderful harbour and sea views.

A taste of the IslandYou’d happily be marooned here with the mouth-watering menus and

locally sourced specials like Bembridge crab and Kemphill Farm lamb. Fresh

fish and seafood at Salty’s in Yarmouth harbour are served in a sociable

bench dining set up that makes for lively, memorable mealtimes.

The George Hotel is right on the water’s edge between the castle and

pier, next to the Wightlink Yarmouth ferry terminal, a 17th century, old

world townhouse. With river views, great food and live music of all kinds,

all year round, take your pick from a selection of elegantly styled and cosy

en-suite accommodation.

For a place to stay where everybody raves about, head to The Little Gloster

in Gurnard. The chilled out atmosphere, wraparound sea views and inspired

dishes earn great reviews in the national press as a beachy boutique B&B

and winning brunch stop.

Oldest and wildestTo really clear your head with room to breathe, set off on one of the many

stunning walks with magnificent views featured on wightlink.co.uk/do.

The 14 mile Tennyson Trail and Freshwater Way are particularly popular

with spectacular views. Break up your amble along the rugged coastline

with stops in friendly traditional pubs serving hearty fare by roaring fires.

escape

Escape to the Isle of Wight this winter and discover great places to eat, rest and play at wightlink.co.uk/staystay

a great place to clear the mind.

is a rock stars’ favourite recently rumoured to have hosted royalty.

wightlife • winter 2014/15 • wightlink.co.uk12 13

Firestone Copse, Ryde

Fireside, The George Hotel

Godshill

The George Hotel, Yarmouth

The Royal Hotel, Ventnor

Afternoon tea at The Royal Hotel, Ventnor

Page 8: Wightlife winter issue 201415

GET FIRED UP

The coolest surf and turf activities

keeping you warm all year round ➜

Coasteering / © Visit Isle of Wight

get fired up

wightlife • winter 2014/15 • wightlink.co.uk14 15

Page 9: Wightlife winter issue 201415

wightlife • winter 2014/15 • wightlink.co.uk16 17

Keen cyclists and mountainbikers can take on tough hills with

steep gradients and fast descents. Families and those looking for

more relaxing rides have endless options through woodland and

on scenic coastal routes.

Visit wightlink.co.uk to select your ideal cycle or walking

category including the 14 mile Tennyson Trail from Carisbrooke

Castle along the central ridge of West Wight. The Island has

over 500 miles of marked footpaths and cycle routes in Areas

of Outstanding Natural Beauty, forests and wetlands. You see,

she has really earned her name as ‘Bicycle Island’. So saddle up

and get peddling because when you drive less on holiday you

certainly get to see more.

Adventure activitiesNo Island is complete without its own resident experts. The

only team of qualified outdoor professionals you need to

show you how much you can do (even if you think you can’t!)

and the safest way to do it is run by Owen Burson, Director

of Isle of Wight Adventure Activities. “The Isle of Wight

is outstanding.” says Owen. “The range of activities from

beginner to expert level is the best in the whole of the south

east, all found on one small Island. There’s no driving between

sites and locations and it has a short travel time instead of a

big chunk out of your weekend to get to Devon and Cornwall.

A lot of people like to try out a new activity with us in the

summer and then return to more of a challenge for the next

level up in winter.”

If you’d like to get a piece of the action, you can join in all of

the above activities and more. Plus if you fancy jumping over

rock archways, swimming through wave filled gaps, climbing up cliffs and ducking

under water into invisible caves… You can try Coasteering on the Island too.

Eat, sleep & drink WightYou want to be up for the right surf or the next thrill but you do need somewhere to

sleep (at least sometime). An added bonus from November to March is getting your

choice of hotel, B&B or self-catering cottage right next to whatever kind of adrenaline-

filled fun you have planned. You should also be able to enjoy your first choice of

restaurants and pubs to keep you well-fuelled for all the action.

Time outWhen you just want some R&R, to hang out with your friends or your partner, this is the

place to find time and ‘room to breathe’. The no stress Wightlink journey here helps put

you in low gear before you even set foot on the Island so you can save the higher gears

for all your adventures.

Now. About the weather...You’re the kind of person who braves the elements all year round. England’s

unpredictable weather just adds to the excitement! But the Isle of Wight does promise

some of the mildest weather you’ll find in the UK and an Island all to yourself – well, just

you and the rest of the outdoor hardcores! For couples and for friends. For surfing, sailing,

karting and zorbing. For walking and cycling. The Isle of Wight has so much more than

you imagine. •

get fired up

This is an Island of adventure, particularly in winter when there’s

more room to play and stay. With just about every activity

you can think of and some of your bucket list longings too, the

Isle of Wight has all the nation’s favourite outdoor thrills in one

awesome place.

Wight waterThe Island gets great wind and wave conditions for all kinds of sea

sports. Forget the seven hour drive to Cornwall in search of surf. Join

generations of those “in the know” about the Isle of Wight’s hidden

treasures. Surfing and sea kayaking are top choices with exhilarating

surf November to March. So pack up your board and get ready to surf

the Island’s hot spots on the southern shoreline.

If you want to try something completely new, why not give the

ancient art of Stand Up Paddleboarding a go? It might be old but it’s a

relatively new craze here in UK waters. Great fun and fantastic for core

fitness you can try SUP in pairs, as a whole family and even do yoga

out on the water.

Dry WightIf you prefer to stay dry, try some mind-blowing mountain boarding

(basically skate-boarding down a mountain) over the grassy cliff tops of

Tennyson Down, above The Needles, with big sky and sea all around.

FILE OF WIGHT FACT

•The Island has an almost sub-tropical climate and is officially the

sunniest place in the British Isles.

Coasteering / © Isle of Wight Adventure Activities

Get fired up for adrenaline pumping activities and put your sense of adventure to the test at wightlink.co.uk/dodo

Cycling / © Visit Isle of Wight

Zorbing / © Isle of Wight Adventure Activities

Compton / © Visit Isle of Wight

Kayaking / © Visit Isle of Wight

FILE OF WIGHT FACT

•The Island has an almost sub-tropical climate and is officially the

sunniest place in the British Isles.

Page 10: Wightlife winter issue 201415

Go. Stay. Do.Loved and adored by generations of families and groups of friends, with

attractions galore, beautiful beaches and great places to eat, sleep and

drink all within easy reach. Active or relaxed, romantic retreats or full on

family fun, it’s somewhere you can return each year and never do the

same thing twice.

So believe in the magic of the Island and next time you plan to visit make

a promise to stay a bit longer, because with all this to see and do, you’ll

always get to experience the Island in full swing!

Endless events Music lovers can tune in to the cool Island vibe with global events such as

the Isle of Wight Music Festival and Bestival. Outdoor adventurers can hike

or pedal their way around the Island with the Walking and Cycling Festivals.

Foodies can sample the best bulbs at the Garlic Festival, car fanatics drive

on over to V-Dub Festival and yachties enjoy life on the ocean wave at the

Round the Island Race, the Festival of the Sea and world-famous Cowes

Week. With non-stop action and adventure, nature and wildlife, history and

culture, it’s an amazing place to be, by day and night.

More ferries, great facilities You see there’s a lot to love and we love the Isle of Wight just

as much as you do. We want you to experience the best the

Island has to offer all year round. Whether you’re travelling by

car, train, coach or on foot, for a day trip, short break or longer holiday,

getting there with Wightlink has never been more convenient or

enjoyable. With ferries to and from Yarmouth in the West, and Ryde &

Fishbourne in the East - we’ve got the whole Island covered.

Book early, be flexible and saveWhen you’re booking your Wightlink crossing, we want you to benefit

from the best price possible. With flexi-pricing, the sooner you book and

the more flexible you can be with your dates and time of travel, the more

likely you are to pay a lower fare. We also want to give you great value for

money too. So visit our website for special offers running throughout the

year. And remember, if you book early and are flexible, you’ll save.

Start planning your Wightlink adventure today and enjoy a holiday together in 2015 where there’s...

GET SET FOR 2015 It doesn’t matter what time of year you travel, spring, summer, autumn and winter, the Isle of Wight is the ultimate

seasoned all-rounder

Room to

Visit wightlink.co.uk where you will find all you need to ‘go, stay and do’ on the Isle of Wight this winter. Don’t forget to subscribe to our free Wightlink newsletter for offers and local updates.

You can also get involved and keep up-to-date with Island Life and Wightlink on our social media channels.

FOR THE LADY WHO HAS EVERYTHING This unique and delicate silver set of 3 bangles

costs £109 from the Adrienne Wroath Boutique.

Every Adrienne Wroath creation is designed and

hand-forged by Adrienne onsite in her Newport

boutique, using hammers, files and flame. To see

nautical necklaces, boat bangles and more visit

www.adriennewroath.com

backSmugglea little piece of Island life each time you leaveHere’s some exclusive Island gifts for him, her, them, everyone! Treat yourself to

something special to remind you of your adventure on the Island that’s always new

and different, no matter how many times a year you’re tempted across the water.

FOR INSTANT ISLAND HEADSPACE When you’re missing or reminiscing about

your Island sanctuary, the Blue Labelle

Cleanse and Nourish Kit for £35 can revive

that energised feeling. The 100% natural

botanical skincare oils include anti-ageing

properties and are blended to suit all skin

types for your face and body. Bottled by

hand with love in Ventnor.

www.bluelabelle.co.uk

FOR A SHIPSHAPE LIVING SPACE In, out or shaken all about, the sturdy Easy

Seat from Wightsails is a nostalgically

nautical memento to put your feet up on

and bring you right back to relaxing times

on the Island. Handmade from recycled

sailcloth and reclaimed spinnakers they

make unique footstools and seats for your

home or great talking points on your patio.

Buy online for £75.

www.wightsails.com

FOR KIDS BIG & SMALL Go potty crafting keepsakes at

Chessell Pottery Barns every weekend

in November & December from

10am-5pm. Painting prices include a

studio fee of £5.50 and pottery prices

start from £7.50. Pick up your glazed

and fired masterpiece the following

weekend or arrange postage with

charges based on the amount of

pottery to be delivered.

www.chessellpotterybarns.co.uk

FOR ALL FOODIES No man (or woman) is an Island aficionado without

a visit to The Garlic Farm. The ultimate garlic lover’s

gift is The Garlic Lover’s Hamper for £23.95, bursting

with garlic goodies made from the best bulbs in the

British Isles.

www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk

STOCKISTS Adrienne Wroath Boutique 26 Holyrood Street, Newport, PO30 5AZ Tel 01983 716162 www.adriennewroath.com Blue Labelle Tel 01983 700 878 www.bluelabelle.

co.uk Wightsails Tel 01983 812 713 www.wightsails.com Chessell Pottery Barns Brook Road, Yarmouth PO41 0UE Tel 01983 531 248 www.chessellpotterybarns.co.uk

The Garlic Farm Mersley Lane, Newchurch PO36 0NR Tel 01983 865378 www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk

wightlife • winter 2014/15 • wightlink.co.uk18 19

island life

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Page 11: Wightlife winter issue 201415

festive guided toursWednesdays, saturdays & sundays Wed 19 November – Wed 31 december*Have a festive day out and join expert guides to discover how Queen victoria and her family celebrated Christmas.

* Last tour 2.30pm on saturdays & sundays, 6.30pm on Wednesdays. tours are not available sat 6 – sun 7 & Wed 24 december. Pre-booking recommended, telephone 01983 200022.

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