UPDATED: Over 2,000 people are expected to descend on Bembridge and St Helens for the annual fort walk, which this year looks set to take place on Wednesday 23rd August.
The Bembridge Fort Walk – or as some may argue the St Helens Fort Walk – is a Summer tradition that is believed to be one of the biggest unorganised gatherings on the Island. Each year crowds of people walk and wade at low tide to St Helen’s Fort and back again, despite there being no organiser and no set time or date for the event.
Tide timetables show that the best opportunity to complete the walk safely will be on either Tuesday 22nd August or Wednesday 23rd August – a date that has already been circulated on social media. The popularity of the walk has grown thanks to the likes of Facebook and Twitter, although the weather hasn’t be fantastic for the past couple of years which is thought to have put many people off.
For 2017 low tide is listed as around 18:30 on Wednesday 23rd meaning walkers are expected to start gathering from 17:30 on wards as they chase the tide out to maximise their time at the fort.
*Please note the correct low tide time of 18:30 BST (17:30 GMT)*
Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team and Bembridge RNLI are expected to be in attendance in the interests of safety, but 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 18:15 on Wednesday 23rd.
Safety advice you should follow:
• You are walking at your own risk – this is not an organised event. Locally it is described as a ‘happening’
• Predicted Low water (Foreland – Lifeboat Slip) is at 17:28 GMT (+1 BST) on Wednesday 23rd August (0.75m)
• Check the weather forecast before you go. Do not attempt the walk in high winds or poor visibility
• It takes approximately 30 minutes to walk from the shore at Bembridge Point or St Helens Old Church to St Helens Fort and 30 minutes to get back to the beach (i.e 1hr round trip)
• Do not leave the shore after Low Water. Do not leave valuables unattended on the beach
• Aim to reach the Fort between 10 minutes before low water and 10 minutes after low water
• The walk is more strenuous than you think
• Keep a close eye on your children (and dogs) – it is a good idea for children to wear buoyancy aids
• Do not swim in the Bembridge Harbour Channel (marked by the red & green buoys) – there may be deep holes due to dredging
• If you are circling the Fort, don’t stop to admire the view, keeping walking
• Be prepared to get wet, you can be walking in water up to your waist
• Wear shoes as the causeway is stony; Flip Flops are not suitable
• Be careful of slipping on the rocks around the Fort
• Carry a means of calling for help (ideally a mobile in a water proof case)
• If you need help call 999 and ask for the Coastguard
Island Echo is not an organiser of this event and holds no responsibility for those taking part. Those walking out to the fort do so at their own risk and should do so based on their own knowledge and research.
