The Isle of Wight Walking Festival has thanked its volunteer walk leaders for making its 25th anniversary year a success.

The spring and autumn events featured more than 200 walks, covering hundreds of miles of the Island's coastline and countryside.

It celebrated 25 years of showcasing the island's natural beauty, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, through themed walks.

These walks provided insights into the Island's history, geography, flora, and fauna, and offered opportunities for like-minded individuals to connect.

Visit Isle of Wight's walking festival co-ordinator, Amy Summers, said: "We are privileged to be in a position to shout about the Isle of Wight and encourage visitors to these shores, and the passion that volunteer walk leaders show when leading visitors around their favourite part of the Isle of Wight is equally clear for all to see."

(Image: Visit Isle of Wight) The festival saw more than 2,600 walkers participate, an increase of more than 500 from 2023.

71 per cent of these walkers came from the mainland and overseas, with 60 per cent staying for five or more nights.

This influx of visitors generated an estimated economic impact of £1 million for the island's economy and raised nearly £1,000 for the walk leaders' charities.

Amy added: "The Isle of Wight Walking Festival continues to grow, offering more for visitors to do in the traditionally quieter ‘shoulder season’ months – something that Visit Isle of Wight has been working to develop.

"The work of the volunteer walk leaders and the team here at Visit Isle of Wight has led to this success, but of course the real star of the show is the Isle of Wight."

(Image: Visit Isle of Wight) It featured special anniversary walks, including a walk from the Isle of Wight Ramblers to unveil a special accessibility gate, and a recreation of the 1888 trek from Bembridge to Atherfield Ledge by the RNLI.

The festival, which won Gold in the Tourism South East Beautiful South Awards in 2023, is once again shortlisted in the regional competition, with results to be announced in December.

Next year's Isle of Wight Walking Festivals will take place May 10-18 and October 4-12.