Walking
The Isle of Wight has more than 500 miles of carefully maintained public rights of way, a network providing access to most of its 147 square miles of glorious coast and countryside. This offers an excellent environment for walkers and the perfect destination for a walking holiday.
Over half of the Island has been designated by the Countryside Commission as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and there are almost 30 miles of 'Heritage Coast' a designation applied to coastlines of only the highest quality in England and Wales. The diversity of this unspoilt landscape makes walking holidays a delight. Discover the panoramic views from the high downs, much of which are in the care of the National Trust, the tranquillity of ancient forests, the picturesque farms and villages nestling in fertile valleys and some 60 miles of stunning, unspoilt coastline.
In 1998 the Isle of Wight Council was the first authority in England to achieve the Countryside Commission's National Target for Rights of Way.
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Isle of Wight Walking Festival 8-23 May 2010
In 2009 over 22,000 people took part in the 16-day Isle of Wight Walking Festival. For 2010, there will again be a full programme of walks for all abilities – from toddlers to the more mature, from hikers to casual walkers. Why not join us on a mission to get fit and healthy? There couldn’t be a better place to do it than on the beautiful Isle of Wight.
With a choice of more than 300 walks, there’s something for everyone – but here’s just a snapshot of some of this year’s Festival specialities.
Walk around the coast path There are several choices this year. You could walk the entire path – 72 miles in 24hours non-stop –with leader Martin Neville, on Saturday 8 May. Or you could join our popular walk leader Jill Green, during the first week
of the Festival, and capture the entire spectacular coast path at a more leisurely pace, when she covers the route in four days. During the second week you will have the chance to join David Yates, author of Beaches, Bars and Blisters, again over a period of four days. Or you could follow The Vectis Trail over a five-day period.Log onto www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk for full details.
Speed dating
This walk is great fun, very informal and a good way to meet likeminded people.
The Isle of Wight Walking Festivalnow boasts three weddings – and we hope there’s more to come! We’re always short of men, so if you’re single, please log on to our website and download a registration form today – spaces are limited.Walk the Wight
Walk the Wight is a sponsored walk on Sunday 16 May for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice in Newport. You’ll be walking across the Island, through some of our most spectacular scenery. There’s a choice of distances:
Bembridge to Carisbrooke – 12.5 miles
Carisbrooke to Needles Park – 14 miles
Bembridge to Needles Park (via Carisbrooke) – 26.5 miles
Flat Walk the Wight: Sandown to Newport – 8.5
miles(suitable for rugged wheelchairs/buggies).Isle of Wight Walking Festival“ WIGHTLINK EXPLORER WALKS”
Once again this year Wightlink are sponsoring two of the I W Walking Festivals most Popular walks. Explorer walk no5 on Saturday 15th May, will guide people around the upper reaches of the Lymington river discovering some very lovely quite hidden Places. It will be a completely new walk for 2010 and is about 12 miles in distance.
Whilst the second of the walks Explorer walk no 10 on Sunday the 23rd May will be the ever popular walk to, and around Hurst castle following the coast and Returning via inland countryside. This is a little longer around 20 miles
Both walks are fairly level with no demanding hills. All of these walks start out at 10am outside of the Yarmouth Ferry ticket office and as part of there sponsorship all walkers get a complimentary free crossing from Wightlink.
Walkers are requested to telephone the walk leader David White on 01983 854263 in order to pre book as there will be a limit on numbers, and the places go fast. These walks give people the chance to walk in a completely different area and at the same time experience travelling on the new Yarmouth to Lymington boats, if they have not as yet had the opportunity.
Copies of the Walking Festival programme are easily obtained and mainland walkers are also welcome to join in by meeting up with the group at the Lymington terminal. So put on your boots and come and join us on the Wightlink Explorer Walks, and we are sure that you will have a wonderfully exciting time.
The Isle of Wight Walking Festival Programme 2010
The official 2010 programme are available and contain a full listing of the
fantastic walks on offer. Programmes will be sent out on request, or you can download a copy from the website in PDF format. All walks have been entered onto the website, enabling you to make a selection and to book your accommodation early. Log on to the website – www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk – to see the exciting range of walks and view the gallery of previous Isle of Wight Walking Festivals.
