The first set of walks have been released for the much-anticipated Autumn Isle of Wight Walking Festival. The multi-award-winning Autumn Isle of Wight Walking Festival, sponsored by Outdooractive, takes place 04-12 October, and with 60 walks already available to book, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Often topping the charts as one of the
Category: News
Isle of Wight Walking Festival
On behalf of Visit Isle of Wight and the Walking Festival we are sad to hear of Arnolds passing. Arnold had been a keen supporter of the Walking Festival for many years. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the walking community on the island. Arnold was born in Birmingham in the middle of
Today (1 April) sees the second wave of walks added to the Spring Isle of Wight Walking Festival, to be held between 10 and 18 May. The event, now proudly sponsored by Outdooractive, invites walkers of all abilities to explore the breathtaking landscapes, charming villages and stunning coastline. With 68 walks to choose from, this
The first Isle of Wight Walking Festival of 2025 gets underway in May, with a host of new walks to book on the website. The Spring Walking Festival runs between 10-18 this May and aims to attract over a thousand visitors to enjoy the Island’s stunning scenery. The event, organised by Visit Isle of Wight,
Visit Isle of Wight is thanking the local volunteer walk leaders for the success of this year’s Isle of Wight Walking Festivals which celebrated 25 years in 2024. The events in spring and autumn saw over 200 walks, taking in hundreds of miles of the Isle of Wight’s coastline and countryside. This year, the multi-award
8/10/24 Bembridge Fort Trust were pleased to welcome 23 walkers as part of the Isle of Wight Walking Festival. Possibly the longest walk that doesn’t actually get very far! – the group effectively went round the amazing fort in circles, four times, at different levels – probably a first for the festival! and covered around
Creative Ways Outdoors is a wife and husband venture led by Frankie Goldspink and Chris Slann. We have lived together now for over 40-years and always had a great passion for encouraging participation in arts activities and walking. What better way to combine these passions than our Relay the Bay Project. Come and join us
David Yates shares some of his favourite treks and viewpoints across the Island. David is the current Chairman of the IOW Ramblers and also part of the Long Distance Walkers Association. He will be hosting two 18-mile walks during the Autumn Walking Festival, the North to South on Sunday 6 October and Goatober walk on
There’s just 4 weeks to go before the Autumn Isle of Wight Walking Festival, celebrating 25 years in 2024. The popular multi-award winning event takes place between 05-13 October on the UK’s largest island, one of only 7 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in the UK. The Isle of Wight Walking Festival is organised by Visit Isle
Check out this series of ‘Relay the Bay’ walks, a 3-day hike relay, covering 26-miles, highlighting the Bay area of the Island and its hinterland. A community-created handmade silk flag forms the ‘baton’ which is carried along the way and passed from one stage to the next. The walk is supported by Isle of Wight
Martin Woodward first moved to the Isle of Wight as a young boy and it has been his home ever since. As a young teenager obsessed with boats and the sea, he joined the Bembridge RNLI lifeboat service, soon becoming a crew member and eventually Coxswain. Alongside his diving jobs, Martin spent well over 35
Natasha Edwards shares some of her favourite treks and viewpoints across the Island. Natasha and her husband Barnaby (Director of the Garlic Farm), will both be hosting walks in and around the Garlic Farm during the Autumn Walking Festival. What’s your earliest memory of the Isle of Wight? Growing up at Mersley Farm near
THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED. Are you looking for a mid-week walking getaway in October? We are giving you the chance to Say Yes to an Island getaway during the Isle of Wight Autumn Walking Festival. You could WIN a three-night getaway for two to the Isle of Wight between Monday 7th and Thursday
The first set of walks have been released for the Isle of Wight Autumn Walking Festival. Celebrating 25 years, the Isle of Wight Autumn Walking Festival takes place 5-13 October, with a range of new walks and favourites from years gone by. The Isle of Wight is regarded as one of the best walking destinations
On Monday May 13th, 21 intrepid historians and walkers joined Isle of Wight historian Tim Wander for his now famous Northwood House and estate tour- which thanks to the church volunteers also included a chance to visit inside the amazing St Mary’s church. Its very much a walk, stop and talk tour, but from war memorials to ice
We are giving you a chance to win a three-night break to the Isle of Wight during our Spring Walking Festival, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024. Let’s see what you could WIN… 3-night stay for two in Wren Cottage at Nettlecombe Farm from 17th – 20th May 2024. Car return travel with
CHECK OUT THE SPRING WALKS HERE Celebrating 25 years in 2024, the Isle of Wight Walking Festival has released the first set of walks that can be enjoyed in this year’s spring event. The multi-award winning event is back from 11-19 May, aimed at encouraging visitors to enjoy the beautiful Isle of Wight, as the
My earliest memory of the Isle of Wight was seeing it from the bridge of HMS Thames, a Royal Navy minesweeper. My father was a Lt. Commander in the RNVR and I joined the ship for a family day in around 1961 (when I would have been six years old) and we cruised around the
My first and earliest memory of the isle of wight was diving out of Osborne Bay for seagrass restoration work early in my conservation career. At this point most of my diving had been in seagrass beds around Plymouth. I was apprehensive at first for diving in the Solent, being one of the busiest shipping
We’re being urged to take part in a national online vote to see a group of local enthusiasts named winners in the VisitEngland Tourism Superstar competition. Voting has gone live today (Monday 19 Feb) which sees the Isle of Wight Ramblers representing all volunteer walk leaders of the Isle of Wight Walking Festival in the
VisitEngland has today (18 January) revealed the 10 superstars to make the shortlist of its annual search to find the unsung heroes of England’s tourism industry – and the Isle of Wight is among them! Visit Isle of Wight nominated Isle of Wight Ramblers Association members David Howarth, David Yates and Linda Jones on behalf
Isle of Wight businesses have been recognised for their excellence at an awards ceremony in Brighton last night (Tuesday 21 December 2023). The Tourism South East Beautiful South Awards recognises businesses across the region and once again, the Island is at the forefront. Judged by an independent panel, the awards are seen as a great
Fab day! Yes, I’ve done this walk many times before but each time I do it I see and experience something different! That’s the magic of walking! My recce the week before, whilst giving me reassurance that the route was still there (always a good thing!) also provided me with a wonderful close-up visual of
Well a yellow weather warning, 43 mph winds and torrential rain at 9:30 didn’t bode well for a stroll around Northwood House estates with historian Tim Wander. However, the show must go on – and it did and 19 walkers turned up – There is no such thing as inappropriate weather, only inappropriate clothing –
We’re being urged to book a place now for the Isle of Wight Autumn Walking Festival (07-15 October) as many routes are already at capacity, with 80% of all places fully booked. With over 70 walks now available, there is just a month to go before the Isle of Wight Autumn Walking Festival gets underway,
The Isle of Wight Walking Festival is returning with some old favourites and new additions for those who enjoy getting out and about. The festival, between October 7-15, is a popular event with visitors and locals alike, making the most of the opportunity to enjoy the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that encompasses the entire island. The
Are you looking for a mid-week walking getaway in October? We are giving you the chance to Say Yes to an Island getaway during the Isle of Wight Autumn Walking Festival. You could WIN a three-night getaway for two to the Isle of Wight between Monday 9th and Friday 13th October 2023, with the chance
The Isle of Wight Walking Festival returns this October with some old favourites and new additions to offer those who enjoy getting out and about. The Isle of Wight Autumn Walking Festival, between 07-15 October, is a popular event with visitors and locals alike, making the most of the opportunity to enjoy the UNESCO Biosphere
The 2023 Spring Isle of Wight Walking Festival got underway last weekend with a real spring in its step after winning its first award. The Walking Festival was awarded the ‘Made on the Isle of Wight’ title, sponsored by Red Funnel at the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce awards The popular festival was saved
Superb afternoon stroll all along (and back again) an almost deserted Yaverland beach with near perfect weather – probably our largest walk group of 44 walkers plus a large number of four legged friends accompanied walk leader and historian Tim Wander (limping for Britain with a broken toe) as he showed the group something of
IW Walking Festival veterans and Shanklin Theatre Guides, Jacqui Robertson and Heather Whitchurch, will be 70 this year and to celebrate, they are wandering around the Seven Wonders of the Isle of Wight in seven days and covering 70 miles. By doing so they aim to raise £700 for the Friends of Shanklin Theatre. Jacqui shares
We’ve added a host of new challenging, leisurely, historical and wildlife walks to the Spring Festival calendar. Taking place between May 13-21, the Isle of Wight Spring Walking Festival will now see 69 walks on the programme, all led by local volunteers and businesses with a passion for showing you their favourite parts of the Isle
The ever-growing popularity of the Isle of Wight Walking Festival has seen 15 new walks added! Between May 13-21, the Isle of Wight Spring Walking Festival will now see 69 walks lead by local volunteers with a passion for the Isle of Wight offering over 220 miles of walking opportunities over the nine day event.
It’s time for some Rambles with a Purpose…Discovering the Island’s History with Tim Wander, author, historian….and sometime rambler. Well at the very outset let me say I am not a dedicated long-distance walker. I am actually in slight awe of those dedicated souls who seem to be able to smash out epic amounts of miles
New routes and perennial favourites are in the programme for the Spring Isle of Wight Walking Festival. The popular event, which runs between May 13-21, will see over 50 walks lead by local volunteers with a passion for the Isle of Wight. There are many new additions to the Spring Isle of Wight Walking Festival
The flagship event of the Spring IWWF is the coast-to-coast Mountbatten Walk the Wight, from Bembridge in the east to Alum Bay in the west. To make it accessible for everyone, there are five options: four, eight, 12.5 or 14 miles, or the full 26.5-mile cross-island route. Sign up HERE.
The Isle of Wight Autumn Walking Festival has drawn to a close and organisers are hailing the event a success, releasing the dates for the Spring and Autumn Walking Festivals in 2023. The nine-day October event saw more than a thousand people take part in 75 separate walks, discovering over 290 miles of the Isle
With just a couple of weeks before the start of the Isle of Wight Autumn Walking Festival, we’re being urged to book a walk to avoid disappointment! The popular event, which sees thousands make their way across the Solent to the Isle of Wight, gets underway on October 8 and runs until October 16, ready
With the Isle of Wight’s 60 miles of dramatic coastline, 500 miles of well maintained, signposted footpaths, and over half of the Island designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and one of few places in the UK to gain UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, it’s easy to understand why the Walking Festival is now
A walker’s promise for the 2022 IW Walking Festival.
With over 500 miles of footpaths cutting through beautiful countryside and along a breath-taking coastline, the Isle of Wight is the perfect place to start your rambling adventure. The one month countdown to the start of the spring Walking Festival has begun, an outdoor celebration of walking and nature set against the unique Island landscape
The first of two Isle of Wight Walking Festivals for 2022, running from May 7-15, has released the first 50 walks to be enjoyed by all this spring. Take part with family, enjoy a stroll with friends, connect with new people in the great outdoors, while taking in numerous opportunities to learn something new about
Put a Spring in your step this May and sign up to take part in the Isle of Wight Walking Festival, taking place between 7th and 15th May 2022. Boasting miles of winding footpaths through beautiful coast and countryside, the Island is a haven for hikers, walkers, and wanderers alike. Walk it with family, take
My earliest memory of the Isle of Wight is of my uncle Ken talking about a holiday he had in Ventnor. He worked for the railways and a perk was having cheaper journeys from York. He came down to the Island with his family, my Aunt’s Mother, and a French pen friend of my Cousin
My earliest memory of the Isle of Wight was when my parents retired to the west of the Island in the late 1980s and on my first visit, I was amazed at how different the Island was to my hometown. I thought that the tiny shops on Avenue Road in Freshwater and the ancient town
The New Carnival Company was delighted with its first Crossing the Bar three-day event last weekend. Walking, art Installations, performance and community participation all came together under blue skies in a joyous celebration of the Island’s rich and diverse coastal landscapes. The event was the first of a 3-year programme leading to 2023, designated ‘Year
Walking on the Wight: David Randini, one of the UK’s top magical entertainers and highly regarded magician based on the Isle of Wight. My earliest memory of the Isle of Wight is when I lived at Bullen cross in Ryde. I vividly remember my Mum pushing me in the push chair down Oak Hill Road,
Our first memory of the Isle of Wight is back when we were working full time at Luton Borough Council, organising Luton’s International Carnival. The Isle of Wight was about to embark on a government funded regeneration programme and were looking for ways to get people interested in Carnival on the Island. The IOW Council
Having always loved nature, I was aware of the Isle of Wight from a young age as I knew it was the only place in the UK you could see Glanville Fritillary butterflies. Nearly 60 years on and I finally visited this wonderful Island in 2018 for the first time and 6 months later I
I first came to the Island in June 1989, for a job in Sandown. Having come from the north I was enchanted by its welcoming warmth. In the parks the grass was not green as it had been in Durham, but golden from lack of rain. So, I could tell the warmth I was enjoying
The Isle of Wight Walking Festival is ready to welcome ramblers of all ages and abilities to this year’s great outdoors event between October 9-22. Working closely with the Isle of Wight Ramblers Association, the National Trust and a number of volunteer ‘Walk Leaders’, the walks are graded by pace; from gentle, to moderate through
Home on the Island for me is East Cowes and I’ve lived there now for eight years. I moved to the Isle of Wight in 2013 and I came here for a job. I moved down from Yorkshire; I used to live at the bottom of Nidderdale, in Harrogate. We used to go walking in
I live over in Totland Bay [West Wight] and I’m very fortunate as I’m close to Headon Warren, which is a fabulous place with all that heather plus a beautiful view overlooking the Needles. Then a few minutes away there’s Totland Bay and Colwell Bay, where you get fabulous sunsets, so that’s very special too.
I moved back to the Isle of Wight seven years ago and I live in Alverstone Garden Village, which is South of the Island. I’m living next door to the house I spent my teenage years living in! I think they tie a bungy rope to us Islanders. Prior to moving back full time, I
The long-awaited Isle of Wight Walking Festival, which runs from October 9-22, has released its first 50 walks, to be enjoyed by all this autumn. Boasting miles of winding footpaths through beautiful coast and countryside, the Isle of Wight is a haven for hikers, walkers and wanderers alike. Walk the Festival with family, take a
After an 18 month hiatus, the Isle of Wight Walking Festival returns in October 2021. The popular event, which sees thousands travel from across the UK and Europe to take part, will host up to 100 walks, led by enthusiastic guides, keen to share their love of the Isle of Wight and its beautiful scenery,
It is with regret that due to continuing Corona Virus Covid-19 outbreak that we must cancel the 2020 Isle of Wight Walking Festival, in line with recent Government and Public Health England advice. Our top priority is protecting the health and safety of our walk leaders, volunteers, staff and of course our visitors. We also
Join the National Trust for some unique guided tours – Wednesday 6, 13 and 20 May, 2 to 3pm “Standing on the edge of the quiet hamlet, the Old Town Hall is the only remaining evidence of how important Newtown once was. To celebrate the 125th anniversary of the National Trust, we’ll be running guided
The re-introduction of Sea Eagles to the Isle of Wight During the summer of 2019 the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Forestry England released six juvenile white-tailed eagles on the Isle of Wight. The first year in a five year reintroduction programme, that aims to return this once widespread and iconic species to southern England
A series of walks during the 2020 Isle of Wight Walking Festival will celebrate the wonderful rivers and wetlands of the Eastern Wight. Thanks to Heritage Lottery funding, the Festival sees the publication of three new leaflets and trails and these can be experienced as a series of guided walks. The guided walks will encompass
2020 WALKS NOW LIVE! Christmas is looming and once again, we’re thrilled to end the year on a high as we launch an amazing array of walks for the 2020 Isle of Wight Walking Festival. With 20 new Walk Leaders and 45 new walks, next year’s festival is set to be another exciting year for
Save money, stay hydrated and help prevent plastic pollution while you are on your walk Add a refillable water bottle to your list of things to remember when you are planning your visit to the Isle of Wight Walking Festival – and download the Refill app. Refill is a simple scheme that makes it easy
If you’re looking to escape the world of phones and play stations this May then look no further! We believe we have what it takes to keep all the family engaged, with a whole range of exciting family walks available throughout the Walking Festival this year. Here’s just a handful of some of our favourites:
If you’re looking to build your holiday around the Isle of Wight Walking Festival this year, it’s a good idea to keep your eyes on our ‘offers’ page on Visit Isle of Wight. We can help show you where to find the best deals from accommodation to ferry bookings to places to eat. This page
Walking is a fantastic way to not only see new places but also learn new things. The Isle of Wight Walking Festival this year is excited to bring you plenty of walks which offer the chance of learning a whole new skill. Having recently moved to the Isle of Wight, Sue Whitmarsh is joining us
Every couple of weeks we will aim to highlight the variety of walks available to you during this years Isle of Wight Walking Festival – today we are kick starting with a handful of Victorian themed walks. The Isle of Wight is often referred to as ‘Victoria’s Island’ as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, along
Thanks to Isle of Wight Walking Festival sponsors, Warner Leisure Hotels, Visit Isle of Wight are looking forward to welcoming approximately 60 walk leaders to Bembridge Coast Hotel on 4th April as they gear up to the 21st Anniversary of the Isle of Wight Walking Festival, running from 4th to 19th May 2019. The Isle
What a fantastic end to the year, announcing the walks for the 2019 Isle of Wight Walking Festival and with over half being new walks! As one of the UK’s oldest running walking festivals, it is very important to us to keep the tradition of the event alive whilst also appealing to all ages and
Keep your eyes peeled on the website on Monday 17th December as we will have approx. 100 walks coming your way! In order to assist our brilliant volunteer Walk Leaders in 2019, we are asking all attendees of the Walking Festival to pre-register for their walks this year. You will have right up until just
The Isle of Wight Ramblers are looking for your help to save our paths! Well over 500 miles of public paths criss-cross the Island. This network has evolved over centuries with many paths dating back to medieval times – or earlier! These paths link villages, hamlets, roads and towns – they describe how generations before
Now into its eighth year, Red Funnel’s myIsleofWight Awards returns to showcase the very best tourism businesses on the Island and give visitors the opportunity to vote for their favourites. We are delighted to see the Isle of Wight Walking Festival has been shortlisted for the ‘Best Way to Explore the Outdoors’ category and we
We are have been overwhelmed with the number of new Walk Leaders who have stepped forward this year to lead a plethora of new walks around our beautiful island. There really is something for everyone. Keep your eyes peeled on the website this month as walks will be going live very soon!
Are you a walker with a passion for sharing your favourite spots with others? If so, we need you! The Isle of Wight Walking Festival is built upon the shoulders of volunteers who love to share their favourite walks with visitors and locals alike. If you’d like to know more about what being a volunteer