The Isle of Wight Walking Festival will return between 4 and 12 October, sponsored by Outdooractive, and allows visitors to take in the autumnal beauty of the UK’s sunniest destination. Many of the walks are free to join, although booking is essential, and curated by volunteers who are passionate about their chosen walk.
Amy Summers, Head of Marketing and Sustainability at Visit Isle of Wight said, “Due to high demand, we’ve added 15 more walks to the programme, giving visitors even more choice. So far, we have over 850 registered walkers, with 74% joining us from the mainland and overseas. I’m hugely grateful to our volunteers, whose passion for the Island helps create these inspiring walks and highlights why the Isle of Wight is one of the UK’s top walking destinations.”
Discounted cross-Solent travel, accommodation and food & drink specials can be found on the Isle of Wight Walking Festival website, as well as over 70 walks to be booked ahead of the event.
Walk highlights include:
- The National Trust Wellbeing Walk at Newtown National Nature Reserve. This 1.5-mile stroll is all about slowing down with mindfulness, meditation and sensory moments in nature. Or step back in time on a new 4-mile history trail at Ventnor on 7 October. With sweeping coastal views and information boards charting churches, cliffs, Beacon Down, and bays, it’s easy to imagine the scene as Spanish galleons passed by in 1588.
- Discover your native trees through the Tree ID for Absolute Neophytes walk. This gentle, expert-led 1.5-mile guided stroll is free to join.
- Do good while walking with a 3-mile litter-pick walk in Sandown. Starting at the train station, the route takes in Los Altos Country Park before finishing along the award-winning Sandown Bay.
- Picking up a guide at Brading Roman Villa and taking a self-guided 2-mile circular walk around this spectacular site, occupied since CE100. Available daily throughout the festival.
The Walking Festival is organised by Visit Isle of Wight and made possible with the support of the Wight BID.
Walks are booking up quickly, so visitors are encouraged to visit isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk to secure their spot.
