As Sustainable September draws to a close, Isle of Wight businesses are offering incredible opportunities to discover the UK’s sunniest place this month.
World Car Free day falls on 22 September, encouraging us to enjoy other forms of transport than cars and experience a day clear from traffic.
With so many things to be enjoyed on the Isle of Wight without a car, it’s the ideal destination for a car free day trip or longer holiday.
Start your journey by train to reach the cross-Solent terminals of Lymington, Southampton, Portsmouth and Southsea for smooth, car-free transfers to the crossing point of your choice.
Isle of Wight ferry companies are reminding visitors that they can cross the water and explore the popular destination by foot.
Red Funnel is offering a £12.50 adults day return and £6.20 child day return on 22 September, leaving Southampton for the fast passenger crossing to West Cowes, or the longer crossing to East Cowes.
Wightlink was the first company in England to offer a crossing on a hybrid ferry. Board the ‘Victoria of Wight’ in Portsmouth and take the 45 minute journey to Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight for a truly sustainable journey across the water, or use their faster crossing between Portsmouth and Ryde Pier.
Hovertravel, which offers the world’s only commercially scheduled hovercraft service is highlighting their combined Hovercraft and bus ticket offer, with a day return on the hovercraft that takes around 8 minutes and unlimited travel on the Southern Vectis bus service, at just £38 per adult or £18 per child.
Southern Vectis, the Isle of Wight’s bus company, is giving visitors the opportunity to take in the sights of this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on one of their double decker buses by purchasing a 24 hour ticket at 50% of the normal price through their app, using the code CARFREE24, at just £5.25.
When here, the Isle of Wight has so much to offer, with hundreds of miles of cycle tracks and walking routes that criss-cross the UK’s largest island – walking is particularly celebrated during the Spring and Autumn Walking Festivals – enjoy the Autumn Isle of Wight Walking Festival this 05-13 October.
Explore the Isle of Wight using the Slow Wight Travel Guide, a useful resource that highlights many hidden gems that are only really able to be enjoyed when you leave the car at home.
There are plenty of attractions that remain open in September, easily accessible without the car – explore the tree canopy with Goodleaf Tree Climbing, go for a walk with alpacas and llamas at West Wight Alpacas.
Enjoy the local produce of the Isle of Wight, where food miles can sometimes be measured in footsteps – pop in for a drink at the Isle of Wight Distillery home of the eco-award winning Mermaid Gin then enjoy the food at The Garlic Farm Restaurant.
The Isle of Wight’s Green Tourism Award recognises businesses that strive toward a more sustainable offer. Stay at Seaview Hotel, an informal, independent hotel in the popular seaside village that holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for the last six years in their Aquitania Restaurant for or find your wild side with off-grid weekend at Camp Wight.
For further inspiration for a sustainable stay, take a look at the Visit Isle of Wight website https://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/explore/eco-friendly-and-sustainable and choose to stay longer than World Car Free Day, and celebrate World Tourism Day on 27 September!