Winter Market at The Donkey Sanctuary
Back by popular demand is The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary’s wonderful Winter Market.
When and where?
IOW Donkey Sanctuary Wroxall, Isle of Wight PO38 3AA
Date/time: 20th November, 11am – 3pm
Tickets: Free! Donations are kindly accepted.
Last year saw thousands of us flock to Wroxall to enjoy christmassy celebrations in the sanctuary’s barns and fields, and this year promises to be an even bigger display of festive fun!
The Donkey Sanctuary team have put their thinking caps on to plan a great event with lots more to do; stall holders, live music, Santa’s Grotto, decorated barns, a Victorian/Festive Funfair and even a delicious festive menu in Grazer’s Café.
To ensure we can all make it onsite without battling for parking spaces, the sanctuary have put some travel plans in place and restrictions on parking. Please take a look at the guidance below to ensure you have planned your journey and don’t miss out on a visit to your favourite hoofed friends!
TRAVELLING TO THE IOW DONKEY SANCTUARY WINTER MARKET
The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary are pleased to announce that the Winter Market will take place on Sunday 20th November from 10:30am until 3:30pm. They are asking all visitors to travel to this event by either public transport, using the FREE park and ride car parks, or sustainable transport. There will be NO car parking spaces on site available to the general public, apart from staff, stall holders and blue disabled badge holders. They only have 90 hard standing car parking spaces and are unable to use additional grass paddocks as car parks at this time of year.
TRAVEL BY VEHICLE
Only Disabled Blue Badge Holders are permitted to park in the car park.
A FREE comprehensive park and ride service will operate from the following sites:
- The Old Smithy, Godshill
- Island Free School, Ventnor
- St Francis School, Ventnor
These services will operate from 10am – 4:30pm
In addition to this, they have negotiated a discount taxi service with Ryde Taxis, who are offering a 10% discount on all taxi fares to and from the sanctuary. The taxi must be booked a minimum of 30 minutes in advance and quote “Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary”. Contact details are 01983 811111.
A Cabs will also offer a 25% discount on the meter fare for 5 or more
passengers travelling to and from the donkey sanctuary. Booking is advised. Contact details are 01983 866772.
For Wroxall residents, the Wroxall Mini bus is available from 9am until 12pm to collect residents.
TRAVEL BY TRAIN
The Island Line train runs from Ryde to Shanklin, where you can catch the number 3 Southern Vectis bus directly to the sanctuary, or walk/cycle along the Red Squirrel Trail to the site. Trains depart from Ryde Esplanade
at 16 mins past the hour and arrive at Shanklin at 40 mins past the hour. The return from Shanklin departs at 46 mins past the hour and
arrives at 9 mins past the hour. Please note, timetables may vary and we suggest you check on the
day for updates.
TRAVEL BY BUS
The Southern Vectis buses number 2 & 3 can get you to the sanctuary, and both run from Ryde and Newport.
The number 2 buses from Newport are 15 mins and 45 mins past the hour, and take around 20 mins to arrive at Godshill Old Smithy, where the park and ride will be operating.
The number 2 from Ryde are at 5 min and 35 mins past the hour and take around 60 mins to arrive at Godshill Old Smithy, where the park and ride will be operating.
The number 3 buses from Newport are at 35 mins and 5 mins past the hour, and take around 20 mins to arrive directly outside the Donkey Sanctuary.
The number 3 from Ryde are at 20 mins and 50 mins past the hour, and take 90 mins to arrive outside of the Donkey Sanctuary.
Please note timetables may vary and we suggest you check on the
day. Live updates are available on the Southern Vectis App.
TRAVEL BY CYCLE
We are encouraging visitors to use other forms of sustainable transport and have been able to negotiate the following:
Wight Cycle Hire are offering a discounted rate at £10 per standard bike (10am – 4pm)
with collection and return from our Newport Hire Centre at Riverside Centre, The Quay, PO30 2QR. Pre booking is required online.
TRAVEL BY FOOT
Walking is available from all parts of the island on many of the footpaths and bridleways. However, there is a path from Shanklin Station to the
Donkey Sanctuary, which is part of the Red Squirrel Trail. It is about one and a half miles to the sanctuary from Shanklin Station. Further details can be found here.
Please support this event, and help the sanctuary by using the park and ride provided or sustainable transport.
We look forward to seeing you there!
For more information about the Donkey Sanctuary click here
For more information abut Grazer’s Café click here
