Isle of Wight ferry operator, Wightlink, has launched a flash summer sale giving visitors the chance to escape to the Island for the day for just £45* for a vehicle with up to 7 people inside.

Families can enjoy a summer day trip like no other, making the most of theme parks, wildlife attractions, sandy beaches, dinosaur fossils and of course, plenty of ice cream. It's not just for kids, either. The Island has loads to offer grownups – whether it's a trip for two or a day out with friends.

An Isle of Wight break starts the minute visitors board a Wightlink ferry – waving goodbye to the mainland (and their troubles), it marks the start of a mini holiday packed into one day.

But hurry: bookings must be made during the flash sale between 22 and 24 July 2022 and the price is valid for day trips between Tuesday and Thursday* over the next five weeks.

wightlink.co.uk/flashsale

How can visitors make their day trip funds go further?

Here are Wightlink's recommendations of free things to do on the Isle of Wight.

• Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary – Find friendly donkeys and horses, relax in the great picnic area (it's dog-friendly, too) - iowdonkeysanctuary.org
• Walking and hiking – Blow off the cobwebs along more than 500 miles of public footpaths, bridleways and byways.
• Hop on two wheels – Enjoy around 200 miles of cycle routes or try the official Tour of Britain route before the event finale on the Island in September www.wightlink.co.uk/things-to-do-on-the-isle-of-wight/events/tour-of-britain-2022 
• The Needles Landmark Attraction – Take in the spectacular views of The Needles, walk down to the beach and visit the shops theneedles.co.uk (parking is chargeable).
• Go Fossil hunting – Hailed as 'the richest source of dinosaur remains in Europe', Compton Bay can be a fossil-finders delight, with dinosaur footprints visible at low tide.
• Visit The Garlic Farm – Wander through garlic fields, enjoy the farm shop, try the black garlic ice cream and get on a tractor ride - thegarlicfarm.co.uk
• Have a lazy beach day – Choose the wide sandy beaches of Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin or Yaverland for a traditional British seaside experience.
• Visit Quarr Abbey – Visit the monastery, enjoy woodland walks and say hello to the resident pigs - quarrabbey.org
• Find red squirrels – Go hunting for red squirrels. Try Borthwood Copse, Alverstone Mead Nature Reserve, in the woodland around Newtown, the Mottistone Estate and in Parkhurst Forest.
• Visit Bembridge Lifeboat Station – Explore the impressive offshore lifeboat station and shop - bembridgelifeboat.org.uk
• Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum – Indoor attraction with over 20 historic vehicles – iwbusmuseum.org.uk (open selected days in summer)
• Newtown Creek –Take a stroll around the creek looking out for visiting birds, waders and waterfowl, as well as summer orchids and wildflowers - www.nationaltrust.org.uk/newtown-national-nature-reserve-and-old-town-hall

For more information, visit wightlink.co.uk

*Terms and conditions apply. This is a time and space-limited vehicle offer which can only be booked online from 00:01 22 July to 23:59 24 July 2022. Valid for travel 26 July to 25 August 2022, valid on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only, between 08:00-10:30 out and 18:00-20:50 back, returning the same day from the Isle of Wight. For full terms and conditions visit wightlink.co.uk/flashsale. 

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For more information, full terms of the offer and high-resolution images, contact Louise Lea – media@wightlink.co.uk 

Notes to editors:

Wightlink is the leading cross-Solent ferry operator carrying almost 4.5 million holidaymakers and Islanders across the Solent to the Isle of Wight every year. Eight ferries on three routes complete over 45,000 sailings a year, giving Islanders an easy and frequent service to mainland Hampshire, and tourists an accessible way to enjoy a taste of Island life.

Having introduced its new environmentally-friendly ferry – named Victoria of Wight – in August 2018, Wightlink is proud to be heralding a new, greener era of travel between the Isle of Wight and the mainland. As a hybrid energy ship that runs partly on electricity, Victoria of Wight offers greener crossings between the mainland and the Isle of Wight. The Isle of Wight is also the sixth area in the UK to be awarded a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, meaning it's now recognised as one of the best places in the world to explore the sustainable way people interact with their natural environment.

wightlink.co.uk