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Walking Festival - May 5th-20th 2007

The Island welcomes new and regular walkers to the ninth annual Isle of Wight Walking Festival 2007, promising 16 full days with over 180 walks to choose from. The Island celebrates its reputation as one of the best destinations in the UK for walking pursuits. Be it your first or ninth year of participation, we promise you won't be disappointed!

LOVE Walking .. LOVE your Health .. LOVE the ISLAND

Freedom to roam the Island - An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Do you love the Island and have you a passion for walking? Where can you find a better place than the beautiful Isle of Wight, when over half of the Island is recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With its dramatic and breathtaking 60 miles of Heritage Coastline, unspoilt countryside and over 500 miles of well maintained and signposted footpaths, the destination has long been a source of inspiration to visitors.

For a taste of this, follow in the footsteps of the Poet Laureate, Alfred Lord Tennyson along the 12 mile Tennyson Trail in the West Wight, or take a stroll in the stunning gardens of Osborne House, Queen Victoria's much-loved and enchanting residence at East Cowes.

ISLE OF WIGHT WALKING FESTIVAL LAUNCH WEEKEND

A Chinese walking carnival!

Over 200 children and adults from schools and community groups around the Island will be joining forces to ensure the 2007 IOW Walking Festival really starts with a BANG! They will be displaying beautiful handmade costumes, banners, kites, lanterns and flags in a specially created walking parade that officially opens the Festival. The Parade which has a 'China' theme, heralds the countdown to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and encourages participants young and old alike to take up walking for a healthier lifestyle.

The parade starts at Wellington Road in Carisbrooke at 10.30am on Saturday May 5th and promenades through the streets to St Thomas's Square in Newport Town Centre for yet more entertainment an official opening and celebrations with Isle of Wight Radio. Everyone is welcome to walk with us and enjoy the party atmosphere.

Romantic walking weekend to launch the Isle of Wight Walking Festival

Launch day - Walk alone? No longer! You will LOVE our SPEED DATING WALK

Speed dating is extremely popular right across the country with busy professionals using it as a fun way to meet 'Mr' or 'Mrs Right or even 'Mr Right now'!

After the amazing success of the first Isle of Wight Walking Festival's speed dating walk in 2006, we will be organising two speed dating walks to launch the Walking Festival, giving you the chance to meet the perfect person or just to have a lot of fun with like-minded people.

Both sets of walkers will meet early in the evening for a social and a chance to meet new friends. The walks promise to be a lot of fun so sign up now and possibly change your life. For further information on the walks and registration forms, visit: www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk

Latest News: More Men Required for Speed Dating Please!

Love me, love my dog

Looking for a soul mate in 2007?

Then get a pooch! That's the advice being given by organisers of the 2007 Isle of Wight Walking Festival - the biggest event of its kind in the UK - who are adding a 'Love me, love my dog' walk to the two-week event (5 to 20 May 2007).

The walk forms part of a romantic walking weekend with a speed-dating walk launching the Isle of Wight Walking Festival on Saturday 5 May and the 'Love me, love my dog' singles walk the next day, Sunday 6 May. To take part in the walk, which is completely free, all you have to do is complete the form on the website (www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk) and turn up with your pooch on the day.

Scientific research shows that walking your dog increases your chances of meeting other people by 1000% regardless of how the owner looks, according to June McNicholas, a Health Psychologist at Warwick University. Indeed, Celebrity Big Brother presenter, Davina McCall, met her husband Matthew Robertson while out walking her dog and there is even a best-selling book, The Dog Owner's Guide to Dating by Deborah Wood, that reveals the secrets of dog-based dating - and helps single dog owners find the perfect match.

'Doggy Paddle' is not necessary when crossing the Solent since ferry operator Wightlink will carry your dog for free on both its car and passenger routes (0870 582 7744, www.wightlink.co.uk). Red Funnel charges just £5 on their Red Jet passenger service and nothing on the car ferry (0870 8898, www.redfunnel.co.uk). Isle of Wight Tourism's website (www.islandbreaks.co.uk) offers a choice of 100 'dog friendly' accommodation providers, including The Dog House, an ETC 4-diamond rated B&B in East Cowes, (Tel.01983 293677).

Tiger Island series filming at Isle of Wight Zoo

Take the opportunity to meet the stars of this brand new TV series, and join in the "Tiger Trail" walk on Sunday 20th.

The Isle of Wight Zoo and it's Tiger Sanctuary is home to 18 tigers (including one white). This makes it one of the largest collections in Europe. It also houses lions, jaguars, primates and reptiles. This privately owned zoo was set up in the 1970's and is now run with one clear mission: to promote the survival of endangered species through first class educational and recreational experiences, exemplary animal management conservation and research.

Filming is underway for 'Tiger Island', a new ITV seven part series starting in May 2007. The series is being produced by Athena Films who are responsible for the highly acclaimed on-going Monkey Business series featuring Monkey World in Dorset. The TV crew are following day-to-day activities and animal-related events at the zoo, particularly concentrating on the inhabitants of the Tiger Sanctuary.

Although the majority of the film work will be in-situ, the team will also be travelling abroad with zoo personnel to capture footage ranging from the zoo's involvement in conservation work in India to a tiger rescue in Florida. This media opportunity is testament to the Isle of Wight Zoo's contribution to the global effort to protect and preserve some of the world's most vulnerable species.

From the humorous to the shocking, dramas great and small; this series will follow the devoted team who tirelessly dedicate their lives to helping some of the most beautiful creatures on the planet.

Please visit www.isleofwightzoo.com and www.athenafilms.com for further information about the Tiger Island series.

Non-stop walk around the Island!

Do you fancy walking 72 miles around the Island's breathtaking coastline? Then take the opportunity of participating in our non-stop walk around the Island on 5 to 6 May 2007. There is a choice of two walks; complete the challenge in 22 or 24 hours. Not for the faint-hearted!! Contact Jill Green for details. Tel: (01983) 863763.

Some quirky new walks for 2007

• Meditation walk
• Walking trek with llamas
• Walk with Jonathan Manning, the Editor of Country Walking magazine
• Speed dating walk
• Love me, love my dog
• The Tiger Trail - walk with the stars at Sandown Zoo
• Fire and glass walk.... and many more..

Walk the Wight in aid of the Island's Hospice

Sunday 13 May 2007

Walk the Wight is a long-distance sponsored walk to raise money for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice. Last year over 5,000 people walked and raised over £200,000 for the care of terminally-ill patients on the Island. The walk is well-marshalled with checkpoints, water and toilets and a great community atmosphere. It takes you across some of the most beautiful parts of the Island. Then join the fun at Alum Bay. Walkers have a choice of three distances:

• Bembridge to Carisbrooke - 12.5 miles
• Carisbrooke to Alum Bay - 14 miles
• Bembridge to Alum Bay - 26.5 miles

Register free up to April 21st or make a suggested minimum donation of £10 on the day. For a registration form and information ring 01983 528989 or visit www.iwhospice.org

WALK LEADERS REQUIRED

Would you like to be part of the 2008 Walking Festival? If you would like to lead a walk, or be involved with the festival, please email Elaine.Cesar@iow.gov.uk or call (01983) 203888.