Isle of Wight Walking Festival returns with 90 autumn routes

The Autumn Isle of Wight Walking Festival returns from October 3 to 11, 2026, offering 90 different routes across the island. Now in its 27th year, the event is one of the longest-running walking festivals in the United Kingdom.

The programme includes a variety of activities, such as coastal adventures, countryside hikes, wildlife trails, and history-themed walks. Highlights include a circular walk led by Bob Seely, the great-great-nephew of General Jack Seely, which explores the history of the General and his famous war horse, Warrior. Other themed routes cover maritime heritage in Cowes and East Cowes, the history of Ryde, and archaeological sites at Culver Down.

Organized by Visit Isle of Wight and funded through the Wight BID, the festival aims to boost tourism outside the traditional summer season. The island features approximately 500 miles of public footpaths, with more than half of its area designated as National Landscape and the region recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.