Wight to roam

It's not just for rock gods you know

The festival fanatics have dispersed, the tents have been bundled, the wellies have been muddied; the rock and rolling has been done for another year. But it's not the end of the 2009 Isle of Wight festival season; September and October herald the Isle of Wight Cycling Festival and the Walking Festival’s Autumn Walking Weekend. These events offer something for all ages and abilities while celebrating the outdoors on the Isle of Wight.

The ‘Sink or Swim’ will be one of the Cycling Festival’s highlights. Competitors construct pedal powered water crafts then attempt to use them to navigate across the River Medina. Prizes are awarded but the real winners are any who avoid their boat-bikes being engulfed by the water. There are several other fun events during the festival; the Cycle Safari or the Unicycle Ride around Parkhurst Forest. For riders wanting more of a challenge, the festival offers ‘Cycle the Wight’; a strenuous 70 or 50 mile ride, or the ‘Hills Killer’; a three, seven or fourteen hill orienteering adventure. Several Cycle Maintenance sessions are run throughout the festival; these free events give advice on basic bike care. Many of the events are fund raising for charities including the NSPCC, the British Heart Foundation, the National Trust and the Parkinson’s disease Society. 

The Autumn Walking Weekend was founded in 2008 to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Isle of Wight Walking Festival. The weekend offers 50 walks over 500 miles of footpath and 30 miles of heritage coastline. Amblers and ramblers come from afar to participate in events such as the Dinosaur Walk or Walking Speed Dating. The Speed Dating has a successful track record; 3 meetings during previous events have resulted in weddings. Autumn promises to be eventful on the Isle of Wight.

The Isle of Wight Cycling Festival (19 – 27 September) and the Isle of Wight Walking Festival’s Autumn Walking Weekend (23-26 October). For further information visit:

www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk

www.sunseaandcycling.com/festival-rides.aspx