Isle of Wight Walking Festival
A multi-award-winning walking festival in its 27th year, with guided routes across the Island's chalk downland, hidden coves and ancient woodland over nine autumn days, led by knowledgeable volunteers.
Newport is the busy, workaday capital of the Isle of Wight rather than a quaint village: it earns a visit for its independent food scene, a genuinely strong real ale micropub, Georgian market squares and easy access to Carisbrooke Castle, but anyone expecting rural charm will need to look to the surrounding Island instead.
Cottages, B&Bs and hotels near Newport, Isle of Wight.
Some stay links are affiliate links. More
Add the free Villagly badge to your own website. It shows visitors you are listed with us and links them straight back to this page.
Get the free badge →Event details come from organisers and can change. Please check with the organiser before you travel.
"Since 1983 the Island's biggest summer show at Fighting Cocks Crossroads near Newchurch has celebrated garlic grown on the Isle of Wight, with star chefs, live music and a Garlic Queen."
Isle of Wight Garlic Festival
"A full week of summer fun in the tiniest town on the Isle of Wight: river sports, boat racing, sandcastle competitions, treasure hunts, a dog show and a grand procession through Yarmouth's medieval streets."
Yarmouth Carnival Week
"A three-day seaside spectacle in the tiny village of Seaview complete with a greasy pole over the sea, tug of war, swimming races, diving and a fireworks display over the Solent."
Seaview Village Regatta
✦ Weird and Wonderful"One of the oldest carnivals in the UK dating to 1888, Ryde's illuminated procession closes the Island's summer carnival season with a spectacular parade of floats, marching bands and samba groups."
Ryde Carnival
"The small harbour town of Yarmouth transforms its quayside into an evening market run by Island artisans, with carols in the square as the light drops over the Solent and the ferry lights move slowly past in the dark."
Yarmouth Christmas Craft Market
"The Island's largest horticultural show at Chale Recreation Ground draws over 1,500 entries and thousands of visitors to a village on the wild south coast of the Isle of Wight, with OG Performance Horses in the main arena."
Chale Show
"Whitewool Farm at East Meon, tucked in the chalk valley below Old Winchester Hill in the South Downs, hosts the Petersfield district ploughing match each autumn where the downland light and the long views south give ploughing competition a backdrop rarely matched in southern England."
Petersfield District Ploughing Match
"A sailing regatta with roots going back to 1837, combining competitive racing on the water with a Marching Carnival, live music, and a Pink Wig Parade ashore."
Falmouth Week
"Three days of the finest Welsh dogs working sheep across a hill field near Brecon, with ice cream from Llanfaes Dairy and a real trial hush over the crowd."
Welsh National Sheepdog Trials
"Massed pipe bands lead the chieftain's parade from the Bridge Hotel to Couper Park in this small fishing village on the far northeast coast."
Helmsdale and District Highland Games
"The last free games in the Highlands, where Games Day on the seaside Links feels like New Year, opened by Lord Cawdor himself."
Nairn Highland Games
"Teams of two mountain bikers tow a charioteer in a Roman-style chariot in a flat-out dash for the world title."
World Mountain Bike Chariot Racing Championship
✦ Weird and Wonderful