New Isle of Wight Walking Festival events set for 2022

With more than 100 walks available, this year’s iteration ­— organised by Visit Isle of Wight ­— saw more than 1,600 people take part.

It resulted in a combined distance covered of 413 miles, as walkers criss-crossed all over the Isle of Wight.

Feedback from walkers was overwhelmingly positive.

A survey revealed at least 39 per cent of those taking part were visitors to the Island.

The festival also proved popular with residents, bringing together tourists and locals in a friendly celebration of the great outdoors and our unique Island landscape.

Created with the aim of extending the traditionally quieter ‘shoulder’ season, the Isle of Wight Walking Festival has proved a popular event.

It was rescued from certain doom in 2017 by Visit Isle of Wight, along with valuable support from local tourism businesses.

Organisers of the Isle of Wight Walking Festival said: "We are very grateful to our walk leaders and volunteers who made this year’s festival such a successful event, with amazing support from the local businesses.

"It was fantastic to see so many visitors and locals discovering the best of the Island on foot.

It is now time to ‘save the date’, as Visit Isle of Wight will be introducing two walking festivals next year ­— one under the warming sun in May, and a second under fiery canopies of October.

They will take place between May 7 and 15, and October 8 and 16.

The spring festival will include popular fundraising event, Walk The Wight, on May 8.

Nigel Hartley, Mountbatten chief executive, said: "We are delighted to be working alongside Visit Isle of Wight to bring the Walking Festival and Walk the Wight together again.

"After an incredibly difficult 18 months, we are really determined to get Walk the Wight back to its very best and this will certainly help us do that."