Isle of Wight Walking Festival returning for 25th year

The multi-award winning event returns in May.

Started by Isle of Wight Council in 1999 and taken on by Visit Isle of Wight in 2017, this year the festival boast over 70 walks, with a variety of themes.

To mark 25 years of the event, there will be a new 25km long distance ramble starting and finishing at The Three Bishops Pub in Brighstone and led by chairman of the Isle of Wight Ramblers, David Yates.

As 2024 is also the 175th anniversary of Charles Dickens spending three months on the Island writing chapters of David Copperfield, walkers are invited to join the Dickens Walk around Bonchurch.

Starting and finishing at Ventnor’s Wellington Hotel, A Walk Through the Heavens, with Stokey Woodall, gives an insight into the solar system.

A number of favourites are also returning, including the seven mile Three Peaks of West Wight on May 18, and the Tapnell Trail Wildlife Walk, with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, on May 11.

The Isle of Wight Walking Festival also continues to support the Mountbatten Walk The Wight, which takes place on Sunday, May 12.

Amy Summers, from Visit Isle of Wight, said: "It’s so good to be celebrating the Isle of Wight Walking Festival’s return this May, particularly as it is the 25th anniversary of this fantastic event!

"This spring we’ll be launching with more walks than we’ve ever had before, which means there are even more reasons to visit the Isle of Wight, and that’s thanks to the volunteer walk leaders who make the Walking Festival happen.

"It’s those walk leaders that we’re hoping people will vote for in the VisitEngland Tourism Superstar awards and I urge everyone to vote for them!’

This year could see a double celebration as the Isle of Wight Walking Festival volunteer walk leaders are shortlisted in the VisitEngland Tourism Superstar Awards.

You can vote at www.visitenglandawards.secure-platform.com/tourismsuperstar.

A full list of walks can be found at www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk.