How to make your Isle of Wight holiday more sustainable

With average temperatures rising, ice caps melting and scientists declaring a state of climate emergency, many of us are now looking at our lifestyles to see what swaps and switches we can make to reduce our impact and be kinder to the planet.

This includes holidays too – as low-carbon transport, eco accommodation and ethical eating can all help to reduce those emissions. So, just in case you needed a nudge in the right direction, we’ve collected together our top tips and handiest ideas to make your Isle of Wight stay a sustainable one (as well as an unforgettable one).

Before even setting sail across the Solent, your eco options begin. Depart from Portsmouth in Wightlink’s shiniest new vessel – Victoria of Wight – and you’ll have chosen the most sustainable way to cross. The first hybrid energy ferry in England, it’s been transporting up to 1,170 passengers to the Island per sailing since 2018 (and with 20% lower emissions!)

Taking another Wightlink route or vessel? Fear not – as our climate action doesn’t end there – carbon emissions have already been cut across the company by a third, single-use plastic cutlery is banned and 99% of waste is recycled or turned into energy. If that’s enough to make you thirsty for a cross-Solent coffee (complete with delicious Isle of Wight milk), head to our onboard Wight Taste outlets – which use local suppliers located an average of just six miles from port!

Looking for a low-impact lodge to bed down in? Try Tiny Homes Holidays – a boutique off-grid retreat, set in a natural grassy meadow on the edge of Parkhurst Forest. Their bespoke wooden cabins include eco toilets, refillable soaps and a hefty amount of sustainable insulation – some even come with their own solar panels! Ideal for those looking to take their eco-conscious activities to the next level, guests are encouraged to leave electricals at home and embrace plastic-free living.

For a West Wight option, try Tom’s Eco Lodge at Tapnell Farm – or as an alternative, bring your own accommodation with you and spend the night under canvas. The Island’s scattering of scenic spots to camp include Grange Farm (on grassy cliff tops overlooking Brighstone Bay) and Camp Wight (nestled in woodlands close to Yarmouth) – where the marks from your tent pegs will be the only thing you leave behind.

Vegans, vegetarians and planet-conscious flexitarians can breathe a sigh of relief – as dining plant-based on the Island has become easier than ever. Take Peach Vegan Kitchen in Newport, for instance, where you can start the day with a dairy-free chai flavoured milkshake, alongside pancakes with scrambled tofu, coconut bacon and a drizzle of maple syrup. Further south, the thatched village of Godshill is home to Tansy’s Pantry (something of a local legend) famed for their Vish and Chips (made with deep-fried banana blossom) and Ryde Esplanade is the setting for Craft Vegan – an eatery offering plant-based hand-stretched sourdough pizzas, as well as a range of eco and ethical beers.

If you fancy cooking for yourself instead then put those chef skills to the test (and keep those food miles to a minimum) with our award-winning local produce. From hand-picked tomatoes in Arreton to freshly plucked garlic in Newchurch, locally caught Grey Mullet from Bembridge to newly-churned cheese from Briddlesford – you’re certainly spoilt for choice. Head to a farm shop to get the biggest selection. And, for those other store-cupboard essentials, set coordinates for Her Whey in Ryde – an independent zero-waste shop offering plastic-free refills of everything from chilli flakes to chives!

Next onto emission-free outings – and what better way to get to know the Island than to hike through its rolling countryside and explore its stunning biodiversity – starting (of course) with red squirrels. Whilst in decline nationally, 3,500 of them still call the Isle of Wight home with hazel-rich woodlands often the best place to see them. Trek over to Bouldnor Forest in West Wight, or take the newly refurbished electric train (formerly whizzing its way along the London Underground’s District Line) to Shanklin Chine or Borthwood Copse (near Sandown), all squirrel strongholds with a good chance of sightings.

Routes along the Eastern Yar are soon to become more interesting too, with the release of Eurasian beavers (pencilled in for early 2023). Extinct in Britain since the 16th century, their re-engineering of the habitat could slow soil erosion, reduce flash floods and benefit other riverside species such as water voles and great crested newts.

If botany is more your bag, take a late summer stroll over St. Boniface Down to take in the sea of purple heather, or pay a visit to some quiet pockets of woodland to try and spot the rare wood calamint, found growing wild in no other part of the entire UK!

If you’re about to head home (and there’s still room in the luggage), why not take back something special from one of our planet-conscious crafters or makers. Based in Cowes, Slab Artisan Fudge offers delicious handmade fudge packed in completely biodegradable and compostable packaging. Also available in vegan and dairy-free ranges, flavours include Death by Chocolate, Gingerbread Man and Lemon Cheesecake.

If you prefer souvenirs of the wearable type, take a look at Rapanui (pictured) – an Island-based carbon-neutral clothing company whose organic cotton t-shirts are made in a state-of-the-art wind-powered factory.  My Funky Bags sells bags and towels made from recycled water bottles.

Visit our dedicated environment pages to find out more about Wightlink’s Green Solent Project.

• A version of this article by James Rayner first appeared in Summer 2022 Wightlife magazine.