Wightlink is actively promoting the eco-friendly properties featured in its Green Getaways brochure for autumn breaks to the Isle of Wight. The cross-Solent market leader says that September has become one of its most successful month and, with a crowded month of contrasting events, expects to see another year of strong demand as the autumn gets underway.

“Many people – especially child-free couples – prefer to take a break on the Isle of Wight in September or October because of its mild climate and so we will be promoting the contrasting range of accommodation available in Green Getaways, for both B&B and self catering stays,” said Wightlink Marketing Manager Kerry Jackson.   

“September will be a particularly good time to plan a short break with events taking place to suit a wide range of interests.  These include the first Folk & Blues Festival, the annual Cycling Festival and a range of activities linked to the countrywide British Food Fortnight.  Wightlink will be launching a new food trail around the Isle of Wight to coincide with British Food Fortnight, in which we profile some of the leading Island producers in the south of England,” she added.

Headlined by folk-rock legend, Fairport Convention, the first Folk & Blues Festival takes place in a number of venues around Ventnor over the weekend of 21^st-23^rd September.  Overlapping with this, the Isle of Wight Cycling Festival runs between 15^th and 23^rd September and includes serious challenges like the Hills Killer, in which cyclists can choose to tackle 3, 7 or 14 hills, or the launch event, Sink or Swim, a great spectator event in which contestants have to invent a machine to pedal their way across the River Medina.

Green Getaways features 11 individual properties – seaside hotels, rural B&Bs and guest houses, not to mention a camping park – which are actively embracing green tourism.  Each holds a Gold Award for its eco-initiatives, made annually by Green Island Tourism, the ground-breaking Isle of Wight organisation which has spearheaded the move to a more environmentally sensitive tourism industry on the Island. 

The featured properties range from stone manor houses like 17^th century Northcourt, famous nationally for its 14 acres of exotic and unusual organic gardens, created over 24 years and nurtured by owners Christine and John Harrison, to small rural guest houses.  At one of these, Hobbit House, stressed-out individuals can recharge their batteries by learning a practical skill like hedge laying, hurdle marking and charcoal burning.

The Isle of Wight’s newest hotel – The Enchanted Manor – is also included in the brochure.  Following a magical theme and featuring the fantasy paintings of Josephine Wall throughout the Victorian house, The Enchanted Manor is the brainchild of Ric and Maggie Hilton, who also own the Island’s first five star B&B, Koala Cottage.  

Green Getaways also profiles the Isle of Wight Farm and Country Holiday Group, whose 40 members offer holidaymakers the experience of staying on or close to a working farm or in historic old properties that are surrounded by farmland.  Both B&B and self-catering accommodation is available in all four corners of the Isle of Wight.

Copies of Green Getaways are available free from Wightlink by calling 0871 376 4342 and can also be downloaded from the Wightlink website – www.wightlink.co.uk.  Two night breaks cost from £60pp, including passenger ferry travel, or from £66pp, including car ferry travel (based on two sharing).

ENDS

Issued on behalf of:                                                                    By:

WIGHTLINK LTD                                                                        Christine Ball PR

9^th July 2007                                                                                Tel: 01798 874177