Everything's bursting into leaf

This is the time of year that the Isle of Wight really wakes up and loses the last traces of winter.  Trees are releasing their buds, with a riot of mottled greens breaking out across the deciduous woodland across the Isle of Wight.

It's only a short time before the Randonee, which we're limbering up for.  More details here.

This time of year is also a fantastic time to have a wander through Ventnor Botanic Gardens to enjoy the flowers that are now starting to bloom.

Check out our listings to find somewhere to stay when you come over to enjoy the Isle of Wight in the fine spring weather we're revelling in at the moment.

And remember Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel are completely unaffected by volcanic ash so there's no question of a volcano disrupting your holiday to the Isle of Wight!

Early morning on the River Medina

It was a beautiful early morning, so we had a walk out with the camera.  Down to the River Medina, just before The Folly Inn, but on the west bank of the Medina.

A beautiful spring morning on the Isle of Wight.

The Isle of Wight rakes in tourism awards!

Wightstay offer their huge congratulations to businesses and events on the Isle of Wight, following their success at the Tourism South East ExSELlence Awards 2009!

The awards ceremony took place at the Wentworth Club in Surrey, and the Isle of Wight was without a doubt the winner, with nominations in nearly every category!!

The results are as follows...

Silver Award Winners

Tourism Event of the Year - Isle of Wight Walking Festival
Best Tourism Experience Award - Seaview Wildlife Encounter
Caravan/Holiday Park of the Year - Old Mill Holiday Park
Self Catering Holiday of the Year - Mersley Farm

Highly Commended Award Winners

Access for All - Sunny Bay Apartments
Caravan/Holiday Park of the Year - The Orchards Holiday Park
Flavour of the South East - The Garlic Farm
Sustainable Tourism Award - Bedford Lodge

Proof positive that the Isle of Wight is tops when it comes to places to visit in the UK - and for places to stay on the Isle of Wight, take a look at the rest of the Wightstay - with hotels, bed and breakfasts, camping, touring and holiday parks, great attractions, the Isle of Wight really is the best place to visit - especially this half term!

Isle of Wight Walking Festival Weekend!

It may be not be the tropical sunshine of the summer, but the Isle of Wight is still a great place to visit at this time of year - and with plenty to do (especially with the schools half-term coming up), make the Isle of Wight your place to stay this weekend and beyond.

More later this week about what to do over half term, but first this weekend!

You can join in with the special Weekend Isle of Wight Walking Festival - an extra event to the already massive 16 day festival Isle of Wight Walking Festival (the largest of its kind in Europe), it is an opportunity to take part in all sorts of walks - wild food walks, twilight walks, friendship walks (part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month), Nordic Walk, a treasure hunt - and of course, at this time of year - spooky ghost walks!

Come to the Isle of Wight this weekend and find somewhere to stay with WightStay. We have just what you're looking for, be it a hotel in Shanklin, a bed and breakfast in Freshwater, and farmhouse cottage in Newchurch, WightStay is the best place to start your search!

Bestival 2009

You can almost taste the excitement in the air here on the Isle of Wight and in the WightStay office! It's the one thing everyone is talking about right now - Bestival 2009 is nearly upon us, and with only one more sleep until it opens at Robin Hill Country Park, everyone is rushing around sorting out their fancy dress costume (amongst many things, Bestival is famous for it's crazy themes - and this years' is no exception - Space)

WightStay is pleased that Bestival curator Rob Da Bank has managed to include so many great bands this year, and as the last big music festival of the season, now is the time to really let your hair down in style - and it's a great opportunity to go star spotting (no pun intended) with Radio 1 broadcasting from the site, and lots of famous people making their way down to this incredibly popular event.

Here at WightStay, we're working out exactly which of the many bands on different stages we're going to catch! Top bands Massive Attack and Kraftwerk are making appearance, Lily Allen will be there, as well as rising star Little Boots! There is a great selection local bands playing too including Hugo Frusslinky. Me, I'm definitely going to see Seasick Steve (I missed him last time he played Bestival, no chance of that this year!)


But where to stay on the Isle of Wight? Do we camp out under the stars, or do we look for somewhere with slightly more creature comforts? Plenty of choices are on the WightStay website right now, so take a look at the site, and with great transport links to Robin Hill Country Park, you can enjoy everything Bestival has to offer! Now, I know I put my moon boots down somewhere...