I was so excited when Wightlink Ferries said they would sponsor the Southsea Folk awards for 2021 as I have always loved watching their boats sail on the coastline out from Portsmouth. Wherever you sit and take in the view, whether that be Spice Island or along the seafront you can be sure to witness that familiar logo travelling past!
The last 18 months have been pretty crazy when it comes to trying to travel anywhere abroad for a holiday but the great thing about the Isle of Wight is that it feels like you are going abroad even though you are just hopping over to the island. It is such a great place to go! The fact that kids go free all Summer holidays as foot passengers on the FastCat is such a bonus too and something you can think about when booking a trip. You could even take your bikes to cycle around the island which is a fun thing to do and allows you to take in the breathtaking views over there.
It is so easy to book online, pack up your car and hop across the Solent and with the Wightlink’s Portsmouth to Fishbourne ferries taking just 45 minutes it feels like a fun boat trip before you even get there! Prices start from just £55* for a midweek day return with the car in school holidays. You can go on a day trip and feel like you have been away for much longer.
Here are some top ideas for things to do if you travel over to Ryde for the day from Vicky Flip Flop who loves the Isle of Wight and travels there often from Southsea.
One thing that blows you away on the island is the sandy beaches that are golden and soft on your toes. From the glorious beaches at Ryde and Sandown to Shanklin and Yaverland, the beautiful beach view and seaside feeling are bound to draw you in. Being off the southern tip of the UK means that the Isle of Wight has a milder climate than other parts of the country so you really do get that holiday abroad feeling.
I love that the island has so much nature. Here is a chance to see red squirrels or the white-tailed eagles in all their glory. Having been introduced back to the Isle of Wight in 2019, they are really thriving there and having been hunted to extinction and not been seen on the shores of England for over 240 years it is exciting news to hear they have settled on the island so well.
You can also visit the Wild Heart animal sanctuary at Sandown which offers a variety of animals from tigers and big cats to lemurs and also monkeys and reptiles.
Of course, I love food and there are some really lovely places to eat on the Isle of Wight so you could go over on a day trip, hit one of the lovely restaurants and eateries, then sail back.
I have always known about the Jurassic coastline along Dorset but did you know that The Natural History Museum stated the Isle of Wight as being the dinosaur capital of Britain? This is because 15 species of dinosaurs stomped along this island. You can go fossil hunting along the natural sites there and even visit Britain’s first dedicated dinosaur museum Dinosaur Isle! So any budding dinosaur fans out there can really delve into bone finds and magnificent fossils found over time.
Click on the icons below to the website and socials of Wightlink Ferries to book a day trip or holiday over there.
*offer terms and conditions apply, visit https://www.wightlink.co.uk/things-to-do-on-the-isle-of-wight/family-fun
