Putting Julia Margaret Cameron's life and work into focus

2015 is the bicentenary of the birth of pioneer photographer Julia Margaret Cameron whose former home and workplace on the Isle of Wight, Dimbola Lodge is now a mecca for anyone wanting to know more about her pioneering work and portraits of celebrities of that time.  A year of exhibitions and events is planned for Dimbola - including photographs never previously seen here before.  This will focus on the story of how she became a photographer, her time on the Isle of Wight and her connections with The Freshwater Circle (including Tennyson, Lewis Carroll and Darwin).  The anniversary will also be marked elsewhere in the UK, with a major exhibition of her work at the V&A Museum in London.  The Lewis Carroll connection, meanwhile, offers an interesting angle on the 150th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland which is being marked in 2015.

Isle of Wight hits the right note in 2015

The Isle of Wight's 2015 Acoustic Isle music festival is this year scheduled to take place between Feb 26th and March 8th.  Building on the Island's strong musical heritage and festival scene, this "unplugged" music event features hundreds of musicians coming together to perform a series of relaxed gigs in Isle of Wight pubs, bars, cafes, restaurants…and even on board selected ferries.  The Island already boasts two of the biggest events on the summer calendar in The Isle of Wight Festival which takes place from June 11th-14th in 2015, and Bestival scheduled for September 10th-13th in 2015.

400 years of Northcourt Manor

The house at Northcourt Manor in Shorwell will be celebrating its 400th birthday during 2015.  Owners, John and Christine Harrison will be offering themed talks and guided tours of their award-winning gardens on Wednesday afternoons from 13th May until 8th July.  The one-hour talk/walk will cost £7 per person (50p for under 18's) and must be pre-booked (Tel: 01983 740415, or e-mail john@northcourt.info).  The gardens will also be open every Wednesday between the above dates from 2.30 to 4.30pm (£4.50 for adults, .50p for under 18s). Bed and breakfast accommodation is available at Northcourt; as is self catering accommodation in the north and west wing at Northcourt.  On an Island best known for Osborne House, historic Quarr Abbey near Ryde, meanwhile, is also promoting itself as a visitor attraction these days - as well as one of the most unusual places to stay on the Island.

Liz Earle to create “horticultural oasis” on Isle of Wight

Skincare guru Liz Earle is set to create a tranquil, relaxing garden on her native Isle of Wight in the autumn of 2015.  Liz Earle's “horticultural oasis” is being designed in tandem with her ethnobotanist - the BBC television presenter, author, and RHS ambassador James Wong.  The Isle of Wight will also be launching details of a special “Garden Isle” campaign for 2015, in the run-up to the tercentenary celebrations of Capaibility Brown in 2016.

Best foot forward

From 2015, it will be possible to walk with elephants on the Isle of Wight.  But more of that later…  It's also to 25th anniversary of the annual Walk the Wight in 2015 - a spectacular 26.5 mile sponsored walk across the breadth of the Isle of Wight from Bembridge in the east to Alum Bay in the west.  And the annual Isle of Wight Walking Festival - with its world-famous Speed Dating Walk - will this year take place from May 2nd-17th.  An altogether younger audience is also being targeted in 2015, with the impending introduction of a new “PureWight” campaign aimed at highlighting the full range of outdoor activities, adventures and adrenalin-filled pursuits that are now up-for-grabs on the Island.

Sample the Isle of Wight's 'National Dish'

It's been sampled by the Hairy Bikers.  And it's also been named as the Isle of Wight's “National Dish”.  It's Crab On Chips - the brainchild of Haven Fried Fish, found on the Esplanade at Ventnor, as well as at many of the Island's leading events.  The recently crowned National Dish of the Isle of Wight is exactly as it sounds: just 100% freshly caught crab meat on hot chips - making for a truly delicious and memorable dish, at just £7.50.  The menu also now includes Lobster On Chips (£12.50), Prawns (in mayonnaise) On Chips (£7.50), and every combination of “Combo” all the way through to the “Triple Combo”, which has a stack of crab, lobster, prawns on chips, for £12.50.  To find out more about a new Wight Marque, and a Taste of Wight Festival in the autumn, check out this website.

Anchors Aweigh

The Isle of Wight's Festival of the Sea will once again be staged in 2015, from June 22nd to 29th.   The Festival will coincide with the Round Island Yacht Race on June 27th - an even bigger race than those held in Cowes Week which will be held from August 8th-15th.  2015 will also mark the 200th anniversary of The Royal Yacht Squadron.

Fifty Shades of Wight

The Isle of Wight has a new campaign which highlights some of the finest experiences now on offer in one of the most enduring holiday destinations in the UK.  Shades of Wight is aimed at discerning travellers, who want to discover - or perhaps rediscover - the UK's “holiday island” and to experience some of the many pleasures to be found here either in terms of accommodation, fine food and drink, striking landscapes, or unusual activities.  All contained within one high quality 20-page brochure, the campaign itself helps to highlight some of the very best the hotels, guest houses, cottages and romantic tree-houses on the Island.  Each page reveals another secret waiting to be uncovered, including Steephill Cove - arguably the quaintest place on the Island.  And once the sun has gone down, how about experiencing a little bit of stargazing under a Wight night's sky?

New accommodation in 2015

Tapnell Farm Cottages, at Tom's Eco Lodge near Yarmouth.

The Garden Suite at The Little Gloster in Gurnard.

No. 24 Ventnor in Ventnor.

Also new on the market for 2015 are two holiday cottages in “Sovereign's Gate” at Osborne House.

New attractions in 2015

A re-vamped Cowboy Village at Blackgang Chine

New tree-top walk at Robin Hill

The introduction of new monkeys and meerkats at the Owl & Monkey Haven.

Climbing wall, circus skills, bush skills as well as water activities at Isle of Wight Zoo.

A new feed the animals experience at Nettlecombe Farm.

And a new Dinosaur Safari Guide, due for launch later this year, by Visit Isle of Wight 

For further information, please contact:

Sue Emmerson

Tel: 07766 705672

E-mail: sue@visitwight.co.uk

Press images for the Isle of Wight are available here