VIDEO: Thousands of people are expected to take part in the Bembridge Fort Walk on Sunday (21st August), although conditions are not looking their best for the annual trek.
Up to 2,000 people are expected to take part in the Summer tradition that is believed to be one of the biggest unorganised gatherings on the Island. Each year crowds of people walk from both Bembridge and St Helens at low tide to St Helen’s Fort, around it and back again, despite there being no organiser and no set time or date for the event.
The Isle of Wight Long Distance Walkers Association have this year published a suggested date of Sunday 21st August at 19:00, although the tide will be low enough for the walk to be completed on other days throughout the week.
With the date of 21st August circulated on social media, it now looks likely that the majority of walkers will turn out on Sunday evening to undertake the challenge. The popularity of the walk has grown in recent years thanks to the likes of Facebook and Twitter, with 2015 thought to be one of the busiest years to date.
The weather on Sunday isn’t looking as pleasant as in recent years, with plenty of cloud cover and winds of around 21mph. A weather warning has been issued by the Met Office for Saturday.
It is thought walkers will start gathering from 18:00 on wards, chasing the tide out to maximise their time at the fort.
Those taking part are warned that they do so at their own risk; that it is likely they will need to wade through water and they should not set off any later than around 19:45 due to the falling light.
Featured photo: Wightdrone.co.uk
