Kids go free on Wightlink – and ten reasons to visit the Isle of Wight this summer

Looking for inspiration for great ways to spend summer days and make great family memories? Here’s our top ten reasons to make a trip to the Isle of Wight on your doorstep – it’s only a fun ferry ride away!
Ad Feature by Wightlink
Published 14th Jul 2023, 08:43 BST
Make the most of Wightlink kids go free this summer – book now. Submitted pictureMake the most of Wightlink kids go free this summer – book now. Submitted picture
Make the most of Wightlink kids go free this summer – book now. Submitted picture

Have a day out in Ryde

There are miles of golden sands in Ryde, with shallow waters perfect for little ones and big children alike. You can enjoy an ice cream or cocktail on the beach and take a wander around this pretty town to visit the shops. You’ll also find arcades and amusements alongside funfairs and beach playgrounds. It’s a real family favourite!

Go fossil hunting

Explore Steephill Cove, which is an unspoilt beauty. Submitted pictureExplore Steephill Cove, which is an unspoilt beauty. Submitted picture
Explore Steephill Cove, which is an unspoilt beauty. Submitted picture

The soaring coastline at Compton Bay can be a fossil-finder’s delight, with dinosaur footprints visible at low tide. Hailed as ‘the richest source of dinosaur remains in Europe’ means you automatically up your chances of getting lucky with a find. And, if your young fossil hunters don’t strike lucky, whisk them along west to Hanover Point where they can discover huge, fossilised foot casts preserved in the rocks on the beach.

Visit Shanklin Chine

If you’re looking for a truly unique and historic island experience – it’s been going more than 200 years – follow in the footsteps of Jane Austen and Queen Victoria and take a tour of Shanklin Chine. This tree-lined gorge winds its way from Shanklin Old Village to the beach below via a stunning waterfall and, at night, magical illuminations.

Take a family bike ride

Isle of Wight is the perfect place for a family bike ride. Submitted pictureIsle of Wight is the perfect place for a family bike ride. Submitted picture
Isle of Wight is the perfect place for a family bike ride. Submitted picture

Whether you’re a family that cycles together at home or your kids are just starting out, the Isle of Wight is the perfect place for a family bike ride. From riverside pedals with stops for takeaway coffee and cake (the Medina Greenway Breeze) to a flat seafront route with plenty of opportunities for ice cream (Sandown to Shanklin), you can enjoy time as a family in the great outdoors.

Visit Wildheart Animal Sanctuary

This beautiful sanctuary is a little oasis by the sea, built within the ruins of a Victorian Fort at Sandown. The sanctuary has a variety of animals, but the experts from the Wildheart Trust specialise in two particular areas - tigers and lemurs. You’ll also find meerkats, wallabies, birds, lions, monkeys and reptiles here.

Stop at a ‘hidden’ bay

Steephill Cove is one of the most picturesque beaches on the Island, with a handful of cottages, colourful deck chairs, rockpools, beach huts and a crab shed. If you like your beaches unspoilt, this fishing cove is the place to go – there’s no road access and it’s a 10-minute walk from any traffic.

Visit Robin Hill

Robin Hill Country Park boasts 88 acres of parkland with stunning woodland, open countryside, and water gardens. For adventurous families, there are also tree-top canopy walkways, adventure nets, a quarter-mile downhill toboggan plus loads of rides and slides to enjoy.

Connect with nature

Go looking for red squirrels (although shh! They can be shy and easily disturbed by noise). Try Alverstone Mead Nature Reserve near Sandown, the woodland around Newtown, Mottistone Estate or Parkhurst Forest. Or take a stroll around Newtown Creek, the Island’s own National Trust Reserve, looking out for visiting birds, waders and waterfowl, as well as summer orchids and wildflowers.

Visit the UK’s oldest theme park

At Blackgang Chine you can walk the dinosaur trail, search for your favourite characters in Nurseryland, enjoy a cowboy adventure, explore the Crooked House and reflect on life in the Hall of Mirrors. Blackgang has plenty of great rides and slides, including Waterforce and the new ride for 2023, Extinction.

Say hello to rescued donkeys

The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary looks after more than 100 donkeys and ponies, all of whom are either rescued or abandoned. They are given a ‘forever home’ in 55 acres of countryside in the Wroxall Valley. Admission is free but because the centre relies on donations, they hope you’ll enjoy a bite in their café, buy from their shop or adopt a donkey – as well as meet their beautiful residents.

Book now

The Isle of Wight offers you a chance to really get away from it all – even if it’s for a spontaneous day trip. Just book online, load up the car and hop across the Solent – Wightlink’s Portsmouth to Fishbourne ferries take just 45 minutes. Prices start from just £71 for a day return with a vehicle.

Or travel on foot on Wightlink’s FastCat and you’ll find that Kids Go Free* all through the school summer holidays. Everyone can bring a bicycle for free, so the whole family can get active and cycle through some of the most scenic countryside in the UK together.

Book today at wightlink.co.uk/KGF

*offer terms and conditions apply, visit wightlink.co.uk/kgf

Related topics:Isle of Wight