The Isle of Wight Autumn Walking Festival is well underway – and Sunday (8th October) saw 1 group of walkers welcome a celebrity, who seems to be a big fan of the Walking Festival.
BBC’s Children In Need mascot Pudsey the Bear joined volunteer walk leader Linda Jones and her fellow walkers as they prepared to take on a route over Headon Warren in Freshwater, across to The Needles and up Tennyson Down.
Volunteer walk leaders for the Isle of Wight Walking Festival, which started on Saturday and runs until Sunday 15th October, often raise money by asking participants to make a donation to their chosen charity.
Linda is a member of the Isle of Wight Ramblers and explains why Children In Need was chosen as their charity:
“The Ramblers were encouraged to promote fundraising for Children in Need and I have previously organised fundraising with Wight Satin Barbershop Chorus some years ago and we were invited to the BBC studios in Basingstoke on that occasion which was wonderful. Children in Need is such a worthy cause to support.”
Linda, who has been leading walks for the Ramblers and the Isle of Wight Walking Festival for a number of years, aims to continue, and shares why she thinks walking on the Isle of Wight is so special:
“It’s not easy to describe the sheer magnificence and beauty of the views from the Island and I am always amazed at how outstanding and beautiful our lovely Island is.”
It is estimated that around £75 was raised by walkers for BBC’s Children In Need.
There are some walks with a few spaces available, including a fascinating walk to learn about the history of Fort Victoria, at 0.5 miles, 1 of the shortest on the Isle of Wight Walking Festival calendar on Thursday 12th October.
Friday 12th October will see a 4.5 mile anecdotal walk to visit the Afton site of the legendary 1970 Isle of Wight Festival, returning to Dimbola Museum to view the permanent Festival exhibition – donations can be made to Dimbola Museum at the end of the walk.
Due to popular demand, more places have been opened up to join historian and writer Tim Wander on Friday 12th October as he offers a unique opportunity to discover the history of Northwood House and the estate, followed by an access-all-areas tour of the House with tea and coffee included – monies raised will go to the Northwood House Charitable Trust.
In 2024, the Isle of Wight Walking Festival celebrates it’s 25th anniversary.
Sorry to be the one to shatter your illusions but it is a man in a bear suit and not a real bear.
Who was the celebrity??
Actually – it’s not! It’s a lady in a bear suit…………
Real talk, not even a celebrity
The dates are wrong? Friday is the 13th October.