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Walking Festival: May 3-18 2008

Celebrating 10 Years of walking festivities!

The first Isle of Wight Walking festival started in 1999 when it was suggested that with over half the Island being recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and with over 500 miles of well-maintained footpaths, we should host a Walking Festival.

With the help of the late Collin Kefford (a keen long distance walker), and the Isle of Wight Council and Tourism, a Walking Festival was born. Four thousand nine hundred people took part in the first festival with a choice of 39 walks - walkers coming from all England.

We have seen a steady increase in the attendance at the Festival and it reputed as the largest Walking Festival in the UK if not Europe. In excess of 50% of people come from the mainland, and many walkers return to the Island on an annual basis to enjoy the great variety of walks the festival has to offer them. Due top popular demand and to add to the 10 year celebrations, we are organising a Celebratory Walking weekend in October, so walkers can return to the Island and encounter some beautiful autumnal walks.

The 2008 programme now boasts over 300 walks in total. Approximately 15,500 walkers took part in the festival in 2007 and we anticipate more walkers this year for the 10th year celebrations.

Launch Day

There are so many activities taking place to celebrate the launch of the Walking Festival this year, we've had to create a seperate page for all the information! Please click on the Launch Information tab in the left hand navigation bar to the side of this page.

Longest Walk in the programme

Round the Island Non Stop 72 Miles 24 Hours

Jill Green will once again be taking a party of 25 people on a non stop challenge walking non-stop around the Island in 24 hours. It is a gruelling walk and not for the feint hearted. Jill has accompanied many people on this walk on numerous occasions and is a great inspiration to all her walkers.

Shortest Walk in the programme

The shortest walk in the programme, a walk around the Solar System - this walk is only 300 yards, a guided tour of a solar system scale model and a visit to the IW Observatory.

Walk the Wight in aid of the Island's Hospice

Sunday 18th May 2008

Walk the Wight is a long-distance sponsored walk to raise money for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice. To date a record number of entries have been received, in excess of 6,000 walkers have registered and this figure is rising daily. The new flat walk (8 miles mainly across cycle tracks from Sandown High School to Thompsons Shide Trees outside Newport) has already registered over 1000 walkers.

Both walks are well-marshalled with checkpoints, water and toilets and a great community atmosphere. The main walk 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 29th or make a suggested minimum donation of £10 on the day. To obtain free bus travel you must have a walker number. For a registration form and information ring 01983 528989 or visit www.walkthewight.org.uk

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'!

Our exciting 'Speed Dating Walk' along Sandown Bay will give you the chance to meet the perfect person or just to have a lot of fun with like-minded people.

Meet at the Longshoreman for a drink and briefing. Walk finishes at the Fisherman's Cottage. 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: Registration for ladies has now closed, however we still require men to register!

Dogshill (Love me, love my dog)

Looking for a soul mate in 2008?

Then get a pooch! That's the advice being given by organisers of the 2008 Isle of Wight Walking Festival. Our romantic walk for single dog owners returns for the 2008 programme with an hours stroll through Godshill and Freemantle on Saturday 10th 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).

Latest News: More single male dog walkers required!

Geocaching

Geocaching is a technological twist on an old-fashioned treasure hunt - and it's a fun way to get out and about in the countryside, especially on the Isle of Wight where the Isle of Wight Council's unique Isle of Wight Geocaching Project has been busy hiding treasure in caches across the Island for keen geocachers to find. And it's not just for technical wizards - anyone who can read a compass will be able to play this game. If you have a hand-held GPS receiver and a computer you can join in. If you haven't, you can try our free taster session and see how it works!

Geocaching Competition:

There are ten caches hidden throughout the Island with a theme connecting them. Can you find them all? Enter our geocaching competition running throughout the Walking Festival - full details on our website iwgeocaching.org

Geocaching Taster Session:

Come along and try your hand at geocaching - we'll lend you all you need so you don't have to bring a GPS unit. Learn how to use a GPS, get some advice on starting geocaching yourself, and find some of our easy practice caches of your own. Suitable for all ages. Booking is essential.

Leader Matthew Chatfield Tel 823893
Meet at Brading Down car park

Walk Leaders

Last year was the first year that the festival presented awards to leaders for their outstanding contribution. Amongst those to receive the awards in 2007 were, Malcolm Peplow, and John and Elizabeth Gurney Champion.

This year, awards will be presented by Ben Fogle, to Jill Green, Adrian Searle, Debs Goodenough and David White.

The Isle of Wight Walking Festival would like to thank all Walk Leaders for their continued support with the event for the past ten years and look forward to many more successful years working together.