The popular Isle of Wight Walking Festival returns from April 28 to May 13, with local and visiting walkers of all ages and abilities invited to set-off across the Island on a wide choice of themed walks.
The very first Walking Festival on the Island took place in 1999. It offered 39 walks and attracted more than 5,000 walkers. Having grown over the years, the 2018 edition will have more than 90 walks on offer.
Over half of the Island is recognised as an AONB. And with its 60-miles of dramatic Heritage Coastline and more than 500-miles of well-maintained and signposted footpaths the Island has long been recognised as a walker’s paradise.
Walkers participating in 2018 Festival will have the chance to get up close and personal with the best of the Island’s stunning scenery thanks to a selection of spring nature walks. The Isle of Wight is often referred to as ‘England in Miniature’, and in just one day of walking it’s possible to see the finest English countryside from sand dunes and pebbly coves to thatched villages and bustling sailing towns.
Walks featured in the packed programme for this year include both guided walks and self-guided trails. Most of the walks are free, although some walk leaders request a donation for their chosen charity.
Included amongst the various walks, of all distances and challenges, the longest and toughest of all is probably the world-famous Walk the Wight, which is this year scheduled for Sunday, May 13. Now in its 28th year, Earl Mountbatten Hospice’s walk annually attracts thousands of people to walk across the Isle of Wight countryside to raise money in support of patient and family care provided by Earl Mountbatten Hospice.
The largest sponsored walk of its kind in Europe, the Earl Mountbatten Hospice’s Walk the Wight features a collection of 4 walks and distances, including the Full Walk of 26.5 miles from Bembridge to Alum Bay.
2018 also marks the 50th Isle of Wight Festival. A nice tie-in for this is ‘The Jimi Hendrix Afton Experience‘ walk on May 4 ; and the ‘Bob Dylan and Wootton’s Musical Landmarks‘ on May 5.
For all other tourist information about the Isle of Wight, visit www.visitisleofwight.co.uk.
