The 16th annual Isle of Wight Walking Festival officially launches with a special event in Newport tomorrow (Saturday).
On Saturday (3rd May) in St Thomas’ Square, walkers will have the chance to meet the festival’s walk leaders as well as major GPS firm Garmin, who this year became the event’s title sponsor and will be demonstrating some of its GPS equipment.
Some walks are being held today, with the festival running until 18th May. There are over 200 walks to choose from including the famous speed dating walk which has resulted in many love matches including five weddings and a baby.
Garmin will be running an introduction to geocaching walk on Sunday 11th May which starts 14:00 at Appley Park in Ryde near to the old golf hut.
For people interested in finding out more about GPS technology, Garmin is running a special training event on Saturday 10th May at Quay Arts in Newport between 19:00 and 21:00. Garmin’s team of experts will be on hand to show walkers and outdoor enthusiasts how to make the most of integrated products such as GPS wristwatches and action cameras and explain online software can be used to track and record your favourite walks. The event is free, but places are limited, to book email [email protected].
This year’s festival includes a number of new walks, including the colourful carnival trail where walking meets art and carnival and is 100 miles in distance, held over five days.
The gruelling 24-hour non-stop endurance walk around the Island returns on Saturday 17th May which is for experienced walkers only. Walk leader Martin Neville will guide hikers around the Island’s coastal path in what is probably the toughest walk in the festival’s programme.
For people looking to enjoy the Island’s beautiful scenery at a more leisurely pace, there are scores of gentle ambles to choose from, as well as many walks designed for children such as the tiny tots and toddlers tea party in Niton, or the rock pool safari in Bembridge or duck feeding walk in Shanklin.
Full details of all the walks can be found in the Isle of Wight Walking Festival’s extensive programme or online atwww.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk
Visitors to this year’s festival can also take advantage of discounted ferry fares as event sponsors Red Funnel and Wightlink are offering discounts for walkers – visit www.redfunnel.co.uk/walking andwww.wightlink.co.uk/walking for details.
