I’ll never break any speed records when it comes to walking the Isle of Wight’s coastal paths. For no matter how lightly loaded I am or how briskly I start out, I soon find myself distracted by the views. Before I know it—although it might be several hours before I’m aware of it—my pace has slackened and I’m strolling instead of striding.

I’ve walked the entire coastline with my husband, a distance of about 72 miles. We did it in two hits. Cowes heading east to Chale one summer, then Chale heading west back to Cowes the following spring, staying in B&Bs along the way. When our children were small, we would often take the ferry over to the Island. We’d tackle a corner here, a long stretch there, following gentle shorelines and scrambling up steep inclines.

Our favourite has always been that lovely, south-west corner across Tennyson Down. Sometimes we’ve started at Yarmouth, stopping for coffee at Colwell Bay, watching the rabbits up on Headon Warren, buying sweets at Alum Bay Pleasure Park to give us the sugar rush we needed (well, that’s my excuse) to climb to the Needles Old Battery. Once inside this National Trust property, you twist down the spiral staircase to the tunnel that runs 65 metres underground and emerge at the old searchlight embankment. You can look across at the Needles—it’s the closest view you’ll get from dry land. From here, it’s a steady climb to Tennyson’s Monument—although not as steep as from Freshwater Bay—and there are seats at the top where you can rest and breathe deep lungfuls of the fresh air that Tennyson valued as “worth six-pence a pint”. Taking inflation into account, it must now be worth hundreds.

Another great walk is Niton to Sandown, which we tackled last autumn. We took our trusty Ordnance Survey map and a handy booklet, Coastal Paths and Inland Trails on the Isle of Wight, which we picked up in one of the Tourist Information Centres. According to the booklet, it’s a nine-mile walk, which should take roughly four hours. We set out at about 9.30am, which meant we should have reached Sandown by 1.30pm—but I soon had my doubts.

Well, we did stop at the Ventnor Botanic Gardens for a while. They have lots of rare trees and exotic plants, and it seemed a shame not to admire them. There’s a nice café too, but we rejoined the path and made our way down to glorious Steephill Cove for lunch. We ate at one of the wooden, beach-front cafés, enjoying fresh crab sandwiches and a nice pot of tea.
Then at Ventnor we stopped again, this time for some of Minghella’s famous ice cream, and watched children happily jump in and out of the waves. Once on our feet again we enjoyed a nice and easy, mile-long stretch that followed the sea wall to Bonchurch. Here we found ourselves taking another detour to look at the lovely old church and the village pond.

Back on the coastal path, things got a bit more serious as we climbed into the Landslip at Luccombe. We struggled up the steep stone steps, pausing to catch our breath and to wonder who put them there—and when—and consider how thoughtful it was of them. We came across trees felled by lightning, their limbs split by the force, and gnarly, old oak trees that looked as if they were growing out of rock.

As we finally reached the top of Luccombe Chine, we made a mental note to do the walk in reverse if we ever embarked on it again! By the time we reached Shanklin, we had worked up a thirst. It was 5pm—too late, we felt, to carry on to Sandown, so we were soon cosily ensconced in one of Shanklin’s thatched pubs. It had taken us seven hours to get this far but we had enjoyed the day and—like I said—I never expected to break any speed records.

Over half of the Island has been declared an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Crossing through and running round its spectacular beauty spots are 500 miles of well-tended, well-signposted trails. If you’d rather not walk on your own you can join one of many guided walks. Pick up a leaflet in a Tourist Information Centre or local library, or visit the Isle of Wight Tourism website: www.islandbreaks.co.uk.

There are more than 230 different walks to choose from, all led by local experts, on many different themes, for example historical, geological, wildlife and even pond life. For some there’s a small charge, others are free.

’Tis reckoned that the Isle of Wight is one of the most haunted islands. Join a ghost walk and listen to blood-curdling tales of evil-doings from years gone by. There are five walks to choose from, all of which last about an hour and a half. Book in advance at www.ghost-tours.co.uk or tel 01983 520695.

Spot wading birds and waterfowl on a nine-mile circular walk around the Medina Estuary, following the river from East Cowes into Newport and back to East Cowes via the “Floating Bridge” chain-link ferry. Another favourite is the Shepherd’s Trail, a seven-mile walk starting at Whitcombe Cross in the shadow of Carisbrooke Castle. You get glimpses of old manor houses as you follow it south across countryside farmland to Shepherd’s Chine.

This year will be extra special as the Isle of Wight Walking Festival celebrates its 10th year. The event, which takes place from 3-18 May, is the largest walking festival in the UK and attracts people from around the world. Over the past decade, numbers have risen from 4,995 walkers to 15,500. This year’s programme includes more than 200 walks that have been designed with families, serious walkers and the more senior in mind. There are also special events planned, such as an evening of magical adventure with Ben Fogle, Ordnance Survey and Rod Newman—magician and psychological illusionist; mini-walking festivals, including Exploration Walks led by one of the popular walk leaders, and the Celebratory Walking Weekend (24-27 October).

Below are some of the highlights of the 2008 Festival...

Walk the Wight
Walking undoubtedly raises your spirits, but it can also raise money, as Walk the Wight, in aid of the Earl Mountbatten Hospice, proves. Last year, more than £200,000 was raised for the care of the terminally ill on the Island. There are three routes to choose from: Bembridge to Carisbrooke (12½ miles), Carisbrooke to Alum Bay (14 miles) or combine the two in a 26½ mile walk from Bembridge to Alum Bay. The event takes place on Sunday 18 May. For a registration form and information tel 01983 528989 or visit www.walkthewight.org.uk.

Speed-Dating Walk
So successful that it has already led to two weddings, the Speed-Dating walk is a chance for the unattached to hook up with like-minded souls. Participants have five minutes to talk and walk with a fellow rambler before the whistle blows and it’s time to switch partners. The route is approximately four miles long, starting at Shanklin and ending at a nice, romantic pub. If you’re lucky, you could go from climbing stiles to walking down the aisle! The next walk is on Sunday 4 May. To register, log on to www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk or email elaine.cesar@iow.gov.uk.

Round the Island Non-Stop Walk
You need to start early for this 72-mile romp around the coast, which is completed in 24 hours—rather less than the usual four to six days. Serious stuff for seasoned walkers, with views guaranteed to take your breath away, it is led by walking legend Jill Green—contact her for details on 01983 863763.

Singing walks
New for this year… enjoy a sing-along as you stroll along—“I love to go a-wandering” and all that. The challenge is to stay in tune as well as on the trail.

Histree walks
Two walks—the Nunwell Histree Trail and the East Cowes Histree Trail—take in some of the biggest and most magnificent trees on the Island.

For further details on the Isle of Wight Walking Festival, call 01983 203888 or visit www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk.