This May the Isle of Wight Walking Festival will celebrate its 10th birthday and the largest event of its type in the UK will celebrate in style with 265 contrasting walks.  These range from the matchmaking ‘Love Me, Love My Dog’ walk for singletons (10th May) to a Red Squirrel Safari in Parkhurst Forest (11th May) in search of the endangered mammal, which has made its refuge in the Isle of Wight.

Suitable for all ages and abilities, thousands of visitors are expected to make the journey across to the Island to take part in one of festival walks.  Cross-Solent carrier Wightlink (0871 376 1000/ www.wightlink.co.uk), an event sponsor, is responding with a range of special offer tickets for either day trips or short stays – starting from £5.40 per person for foot passengers (based on two sharing).

Newly inaugurated as Isle of Wight High Sheriff after being sworn in at a ceremony on the Island on 7th April, Alan Titchmarsh will launch the Walking Festival, which runs for two weeks from 3rd May and features the largest ever number of walks.  TV presenter Ben Fogle has also been lined up to host an evening at the Medina Theatre on the opening day. 

Walkers travelling from the mainland can take advantage of a range of special Wightlink offers, which are valid throughout the Walking Festival.  Day return tickets are available from as little as £35, whilst a short stay ticket costs £58.50 – both covering a car, driver and three passengers. At the same time Wightlink is repeating its popular 2-for-1 foot passenger day return offer, which means that two people can travel from only £10.80. 

ENDS

Issued on behalf of:                                                                   By:
WIGHTLINK LTD                                                                        Christine Ball PR

14th April 2008                                                                          Tel: 01798 874177