Isle Of Wight Walking Festival Celebrates 25 Years With New Fully Accessible Route

The Isle of Wight Walking Festival is celebrating 25 years of encouraging visitors to the Island with a gate unveiled on a path in Brighstone, as part of the Isle of Wight Ramblers Donate-A-Gate scheme, aimed at providing a fully accessible route for walkers.

Officially opened today (Friday) by the Island’s High Sheriff Graham Biss, it will provide gated access from the village of Brighstone to the England Coast Path.

The placement means that it is now possible to enjoy that route without the need for clambering over stiles, making the walk possible for those who might otherwise find it difficult or impossible to traverse a stile.

The oak gate, custom-built by local craftsman Peter Faithful, was made possible thanks to a legacy fund within the Ramblers Association, together with donations from walkers who have attended previous Walking Festivals.

The multi-award winning Isle of Wight Walking Festival ends its Autumn edition on Sunday (13 October) when it’s estimated that more mainland visitors will have enjoyed one of the 100+ routes on offer since Visit Isle of Wight took over the event, which was previously supported by Isle of Wight Council.

The Isle of Wight Walking Festival is only made possible by Visit Isle of Wight, supported by Wight BID levy payers and local volunteers who offer their time to showcase their favourite parts of the Island to others, with varying themes including flora and fauna, literature, history, music, fundraising for Mountbatten Hospice and many more – or some just admiring the beauty of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that is the Isle of Wight.

David Howarth from the Isle of Wight Ramblers said:

"We now have some 278 gates on the Island which have been funded by individuals providing commemorative gates.

"The Isle of Wight Ramblers are providing gates to ensure that more people of all abilities can access our fantastic landscape and improve their health and well-being.

"We have provided three gates, over the years, to commemorate the excellent Walking Festival.  We enjoy working with Visit Isle of Wight in providing this important event.  It is a special occasion in reaching 25 years of festival walks."

A total of 25 years of walking festivals have benefitted both residents and tourists.

Some seven years ago Visit Isle of Wight took over the baton from Isle of Wight Council, have received a number of awards since.

Will Myles, MD at Visit Isle of Wight said:

"Visit Isle of Wight is delighted that the Isle of Wight Ramblers have chosen to dedicate one of their gates to the 25th anniversary of the Isle of Wight Walking Festival.

"The Donate-A-Gate scheme has made an incredible difference, literally ‘opening’ up the Isle of Wight’s beautiful countryside to those who would otherwise be unable to enjoy it.

"Accessibility is one of the key themes of Visit Isle of Wight, supported by Wight BID levy payers, and thanks to the work of organisations such as the Isle of Wight Ramblers, we continue to strive towards that goal.

"Thank you to the Isle of Wight Ramblers for celebrating the Isle of Wight Walking Festival in this way."

The Isle of Wight Walking Festival is set to return in May 2025.