Wightstay knows how beautiful the Isle of Wight is - of course we do, we live here! It's always lovely to see stuff from other visitors who have appreciated the Isle of Wight.
We recently found Gareth's Walk and Travel blog, which has a fantastic review of a long weekend spent in the West Wight. Read more about it here. It's always great to hear how people have enjoyed the Isle of Wight. Is there anywhere you would recommend?
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
The Isle of Wight rakes in tourism awards!
Wightstay offer their huge congratulations to businesses and events on the Isle of Wight, following their success at the Tourism South East ExSELlence Awards 2009!
The awards ceremony took place at the Wentworth Club in Surrey, and the Isle of Wight was without a doubt the winner, with nominations in nearly every category!
The results are as follows...
Silver Award Winners
Tourism Event of the Year - Isle of Wight Walking Festival
Best Tourism Experience Award - Seaview Wildlife Encounter
Caravan/Holiday Park of the Year - Old Mill Holiday Park
Self Catering Holiday of the Year - Mersley Farm
Highly Commended Award Winners
Access for All - Sunny Bay Apartments
Caravan/Holiday Park of the Year - The Orchards Holiday Park
Flavour of the South East - The Garlic Farm
Sustainable Tourism Award - Bedford Lodge
Proof positive that the Isle of Wight is tops when it comes to places to visit in the UK - and for places to stay on the Isle of Wight, take a look at the rest of the Wightstay - with hotels, bed and breakfasts, camping, touring and holiday parks, great attractions, the Isle of Wight really is the best place to visit - especially this half term!
The awards ceremony took place at the Wentworth Club in Surrey, and the Isle of Wight was without a doubt the winner, with nominations in nearly every category!
The results are as follows...
Silver Award Winners
Tourism Event of the Year - Isle of Wight Walking Festival
Best Tourism Experience Award - Seaview Wildlife Encounter
Caravan/Holiday Park of the Year - Old Mill Holiday Park
Self Catering Holiday of the Year - Mersley Farm
Highly Commended Award Winners
Access for All - Sunny Bay Apartments
Caravan/Holiday Park of the Year - The Orchards Holiday Park
Flavour of the South East - The Garlic Farm
Sustainable Tourism Award - Bedford Lodge
Proof positive that the Isle of Wight is tops when it comes to places to visit in the UK - and for places to stay on the Isle of Wight, take a look at the rest of the Wightstay - with hotels, bed and breakfasts, camping, touring and holiday parks, great attractions, the Isle of Wight really is the best place to visit - especially this half term!
Monday, 26 October 2009
Catch the tail-end of an indian summer on the Isle of Wight this half-term
Occasionally the Isle of Wight feels just like the rest of the UK, but on so many days it feels genuinely special.
This morning was one of those days, despite the clocks having done their thing on Sunday. First day of half-term and walking to the office was warm enough without a jacket - it's shirt-sleeves for us! We have a light wind, very little cloud and beautiful sun.
Given the weather, we just couldn't resist a couple of photos on the way in to the office. Here's the view across Cowes Harbour:
With the Solent pretty much flat calm and the Red Funnel boats coming and going.
Here's the view up-river, past the Cowes Ferry (or Floating Bridge), the listed Hammerhead crane, towards UKSA:
If you're still thinking about taking the kids somewhere this week then you might be able to pick up a last minute deal on self-catering from our friends at Wight Farm Holidays. Or maybe one of the hotels on Wightstay, such as Luccumbe Manor Country House Hotel or Melville Hall Hotel would suit your needs better?
Not only is the weather good, but the sea is still warm enough to enjoy a bracing dip from one of the Blue-Flag approved beaches on the south coast. Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor all hold the Blue Flag for cleanliness - that's three out of a total of only 40 beaches across the whole of the south and south-west England which reach the Blue Flag standard. All of the Island's beaches are also currently testing above the higher recommended water quality standards, as well as getting 10/10 from us for the stunning views from them!
If you have any photos of the Island's beaches you'd like to share, do mail them in to us here at Wightstay and we'll be sure to show the best ones in a future post!
This morning was one of those days, despite the clocks having done their thing on Sunday. First day of half-term and walking to the office was warm enough without a jacket - it's shirt-sleeves for us! We have a light wind, very little cloud and beautiful sun.
Given the weather, we just couldn't resist a couple of photos on the way in to the office. Here's the view across Cowes Harbour:
With the Solent pretty much flat calm and the Red Funnel boats coming and going.
Here's the view up-river, past the Cowes Ferry (or Floating Bridge), the listed Hammerhead crane, towards UKSA:
If you're still thinking about taking the kids somewhere this week then you might be able to pick up a last minute deal on self-catering from our friends at Wight Farm Holidays. Or maybe one of the hotels on Wightstay, such as Luccumbe Manor Country House Hotel or Melville Hall Hotel would suit your needs better?
Not only is the weather good, but the sea is still warm enough to enjoy a bracing dip from one of the Blue-Flag approved beaches on the south coast. Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor all hold the Blue Flag for cleanliness - that's three out of a total of only 40 beaches across the whole of the south and south-west England which reach the Blue Flag standard. All of the Island's beaches are also currently testing above the higher recommended water quality standards, as well as getting 10/10 from us for the stunning views from them!
If you have any photos of the Island's beaches you'd like to share, do mail them in to us here at Wightstay and we'll be sure to show the best ones in a future post!
Friday, 23 October 2009
Another busy weekend on the Isle of Wight, OR Something for the kids to do over half-term!
It' such a busy weekend on the Isle of Wight I'm not sure I know where to begin!
There's Isle of Wight Walking Festival Weekend - I said about that a couple of days ago - and of course on Saturday there is the Friendship Walk supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month - expect to see a whole host of people dressed up at the Western Yar on Saturday 24 October. This four mile walk around the estuary offers a wealth of heritage and wildlife sights and ends in a pink party with tea and cake, so remember to bring your party hats and pink outfits. Wightlink are also offering mainland participants free foot passenger travel from Lymington to Yarmouth making it the perfect event to invite all your family and friends along to. day, as we try to turn the entire place into the Isle of Pink!
There are plenty of Isle of Pink events taking place over the half-term holidays too! Pink fundraising activities will be taking place at Havenstreet Steam Railway during their wizard week, Blackgang Chine will become Pinkgang Chine as everyone is invited to dress up in pink witches and wizards outifts to take part in ther fancy dress competition and pink tresaure hunt on 29th Ocotober and Isle of Wight Zoo at Sandown will be holding a pink Halloween event on saturday 31st October. All the money raised from the Isle of Pink will help Breast Cancer Campaign get a step closer to beating breast cancer!
This weekend also see the V-Bay Festival - and if you haven't heard of it before, let me explain!
Dubbed the hippest resort, Ventnor is a vibrant place, filled with cultural history, great bars, stunning coastal views - I could go on, but the best way to find out is to visit yourself!
The V-Bay Festival hass been called the finale to a great Isle of Wight summer - and they're right! WIth so much going on, the town is filled with sights and sounds - from the Speakeasy Night with cabaret, jazz, casino and cocktails, a celebration of 50 years of Motown, pirate fancy dress parties, real ale festival and seafood festival, fun for kids and adults!
So much going on this week-end and through into half term week! The Island is a great place to visit for a week-end or even the whole week - so stop the kids getting bored this half-term and bring them to the Isle of Wight - with so many great hotels, guesthouses and B&B's, camping and touring sites to choose from, WightStay is the best place to look for your fun on the Isle of Wight!
There's Isle of Wight Walking Festival Weekend - I said about that a couple of days ago - and of course on Saturday there is the Friendship Walk supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month - expect to see a whole host of people dressed up at the Western Yar on Saturday 24 October. This four mile walk around the estuary offers a wealth of heritage and wildlife sights and ends in a pink party with tea and cake, so remember to bring your party hats and pink outfits. Wightlink are also offering mainland participants free foot passenger travel from Lymington to Yarmouth making it the perfect event to invite all your family and friends along to. day, as we try to turn the entire place into the Isle of Pink!
There are plenty of Isle of Pink events taking place over the half-term holidays too! Pink fundraising activities will be taking place at Havenstreet Steam Railway during their wizard week, Blackgang Chine will become Pinkgang Chine as everyone is invited to dress up in pink witches and wizards outifts to take part in ther fancy dress competition and pink tresaure hunt on 29th Ocotober and Isle of Wight Zoo at Sandown will be holding a pink Halloween event on saturday 31st October. All the money raised from the Isle of Pink will help Breast Cancer Campaign get a step closer to beating breast cancer!
This weekend also see the V-Bay Festival - and if you haven't heard of it before, let me explain!
Dubbed the hippest resort, Ventnor is a vibrant place, filled with cultural history, great bars, stunning coastal views - I could go on, but the best way to find out is to visit yourself!
The V-Bay Festival hass been called the finale to a great Isle of Wight summer - and they're right! WIth so much going on, the town is filled with sights and sounds - from the Speakeasy Night with cabaret, jazz, casino and cocktails, a celebration of 50 years of Motown, pirate fancy dress parties, real ale festival and seafood festival, fun for kids and adults!
So much going on this week-end and through into half term week! The Island is a great place to visit for a week-end or even the whole week - so stop the kids getting bored this half-term and bring them to the Isle of Wight - with so many great hotels, guesthouses and B&B's, camping and touring sites to choose from, WightStay is the best place to look for your fun on the Isle of Wight!
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Isle of Wight Walking Festival Weekend!
It may be not be the tropical sunshine of the summer, but the Isle of Wight is still a great place to visit at this time of year - and with plenty to do (especially with the schools half-term coming up), make the Isle of Wight your place to stay this weekend and beyond.
More later this week about what to do over half term, but first this weekend!
You can join in with the special Weekend Isle of Wight Walking Festival - an extra event to the already massive 16 day festival Isle of Wight Walking Festival (the largest of its kind in Europe), it is an opportunity to take part in all sorts of walks - wild food walks, twilight walks, friendship walks (part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month), Nordic Walk, a treasure hunt - and of course, at this time of year - spooky ghost walks!
Come to the Isle of Wight this weekend and find somewhere to stay with WightStay. We have just what you're looking for, be it a hotel in Shanklin, a bed and breakfast in Freshwater, and farmhouse cottage in Newchurch, WightStay is the best place to start your search!
More later this week about what to do over half term, but first this weekend!
You can join in with the special Weekend Isle of Wight Walking Festival - an extra event to the already massive 16 day festival Isle of Wight Walking Festival (the largest of its kind in Europe), it is an opportunity to take part in all sorts of walks - wild food walks, twilight walks, friendship walks (part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month), Nordic Walk, a treasure hunt - and of course, at this time of year - spooky ghost walks!
Come to the Isle of Wight this weekend and find somewhere to stay with WightStay. We have just what you're looking for, be it a hotel in Shanklin, a bed and breakfast in Freshwater, and farmhouse cottage in Newchurch, WightStay is the best place to start your search!
Thursday, 15 October 2009
The Isle of Wight on the BBC Inside Out South!
Just a quick one - if you don't live in the southern region, then you may have missed the brilliant Inside Out South programme from the BBC. This weeks' feature included an report from Ben Southall, the man who landed what was billed the best job in the world, by looking after a tropical island off the coast of Australia. He visited the Isle of Wight with a camera crew to get a taste of what his job could cover - and left amazed by the amount that this small island off the south coast of Britain can offer - especially weather wise!
You can see what Ben thinks of the Isle of Wight by clicking here - Ben's piece on the Island starts approximately 20 minutes in and is available on the BBC iplayer until at least 19th Ocotber... He may think he has the best job in the world - but compared to living here, that's nothing!
Ben was particularly taken by Vintage Vacations - take a look at what they have to offer, maybe you fancy being part of the frontier spirit!
If that isn't your cup of tea (or plate of beans!) then have a look at some of the camping and touring parks on the Isle of Wight, our lovely hotels in Newport, Sandown and Freshwater, our self catering farmhouse cottages and chalets - all here on WightStay - the guide to the Isle of Wight!
You can see what Ben thinks of the Isle of Wight by clicking here - Ben's piece on the Island starts approximately 20 minutes in and is available on the BBC iplayer until at least 19th Ocotber... He may think he has the best job in the world - but compared to living here, that's nothing!
Ben was particularly taken by Vintage Vacations - take a look at what they have to offer, maybe you fancy being part of the frontier spirit!
If that isn't your cup of tea (or plate of beans!) then have a look at some of the camping and touring parks on the Isle of Wight, our lovely hotels in Newport, Sandown and Freshwater, our self catering farmhouse cottages and chalets - all here on WightStay - the guide to the Isle of Wight!
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Come and see the Isle of Wight in all its Autumn Glory
It is definitely Autumn now on the Island - the pretty kind though - the sun is still shining, the air is brisk - step outside and take deep lungfuls of fresh air - sea air, if you are right by the coast!
It is a photographers paradise here - country lanes where the leaves are turning golden, clear pathways across rolling hills with views to the mainland, or away across the English Channel, beaches where the waves roll in against the cliffs, shooting spray high and wide...
Now is an ideal time to visit the Isle of Wight, and at WightStay, we have all kinds of accommodation to tempt you to stay on the Isle of Wight. Have a look at our new list of camping and touring sites on the Isle of Wight, our hotels in Sandown and Freshwater, and our self catering cottages and chalets - farm and country holidays to suit you! One great example is Gurnard Pines, set within 55 acres of woodland and just a short stroll from the beach, it is a beautiful place to stay - and you'll see exactly what I mean about Autumn colours there.
Many of our hotels, B&B's and self catering locations also carry special offers - give them a call, or check out the website to see who has the best deals!
This Sunday on the Isle of Wight sees the Vintage Bus Museum in Newport open their (big) garage doors for their Annual Autumn Running Day. Vintage buses of all description will be running to a special timetable, as well as a Grand Vintage Display at the museum itself - ideal for touring the Isle of Wight and seeing this beautiful Island - just don't forget to bring a camera!
It is a photographers paradise here - country lanes where the leaves are turning golden, clear pathways across rolling hills with views to the mainland, or away across the English Channel, beaches where the waves roll in against the cliffs, shooting spray high and wide...
Now is an ideal time to visit the Isle of Wight, and at WightStay, we have all kinds of accommodation to tempt you to stay on the Isle of Wight. Have a look at our new list of camping and touring sites on the Isle of Wight, our hotels in Sandown and Freshwater, and our self catering cottages and chalets - farm and country holidays to suit you! One great example is Gurnard Pines, set within 55 acres of woodland and just a short stroll from the beach, it is a beautiful place to stay - and you'll see exactly what I mean about Autumn colours there.
Many of our hotels, B&B's and self catering locations also carry special offers - give them a call, or check out the website to see who has the best deals!
photo courtesy of the Isle of Wight Bus Museum
This Sunday on the Isle of Wight sees the Vintage Bus Museum in Newport open their (big) garage doors for their Annual Autumn Running Day. Vintage buses of all description will be running to a special timetable, as well as a Grand Vintage Display at the museum itself - ideal for touring the Isle of Wight and seeing this beautiful Island - just don't forget to bring a camera!
Two Bristol K Buses will celebrate their 70th anniversary by running on the Island. Photo courtesy of Grahame Bowler.
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