THE Isle of Man Walking Festival got underway this morning with a record number of walkers taking part in the 7th staging of the event.
All the walkers attended a busy registration session at the Villa Marina in Douglas last night when festival organser Mick Salmon spoke to the record 225 participants, welcoming many to the Isle of Man for the first time.
The Isle of Man’s unpredictable weather made life difficult for the first morning of the festival today (Monday) with the possibility of some mountain routes being amended to avoid the low cloud and rain covering the Island’s high ground.
However, the weather forecast is for the conditions to improve throughout the day and the remainder of the week looks to be more settled with the best days probably being Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
A record number of volunteer walk leaders are involved in this year’s record breaking festival, taking groups of up to 20 walkers on scenic and coastal paths all over the Island.
In addition, a group of 22 experienced walkers is tackling the 95 mile Coastal Footpath challenge, led by well known local walker Mike Quayle who has extensive experience of climbing and walking in the Himalayas.
Two more new walks are also included in this year’s programme which has again been put together by festival organiser Mike Salmon. The Millennium Way is completed over two days and The Herring Way (Bayr ny Skeddan) takes place on Thursday, but is for experienced walkers only.
Social activities have also been provided by the Department off Tourism each evening in the Villa Marina, including Manx dancing, a jazz night, and the final night with an oompah band and presentation of certificates to all wakers.
isleofman.com will provide daily updates and photographs of the Walking Festival throughout this week.
Source:
isleofman.com - 16th May 2011
Festival is growing in popularity
A record number of walkers are taking part in the six-day Isle of Man Walking Festival, which starts today (Monday).
Well over 200 people have registered and made the trip to the Island, with participants from Belgium, the Czech Republic and even the United States.
As usual, there are walks of varying degrees of difficulty and length, with good numbers signing up for the longer ones this year.
Festival organiser Mick Salmon says more people than ever will be tackling the coastal footpath.
The total number of participants in the 2011 Isle of Man Walking Festival is 235.
Source:
Manx Radio - 16th May 2011
Record turnout expected for next weeks Walking Festival
Big turn out very good for Island's visitor economy
This weekend will see the annual Walking Festival on the Island get underway, with record numbers significantly boosting the Island's visitor economy. 
This year will see a record number of walkers with 230 taking part aswell as a record number of volunteer walk leaders.
The Festival has been steadily growing in popularity and is becoming the hottest ticket of the year among Britain's walking enthusiasts.
The Island has established this reputation due to it's scenic routes and 95 mile coastal path.
With the increasing numbers the Island's economy is benefiting greatly, throughout the week more than 1,300 hotel room bed nights have been booked in.
Economic Development member and MHK Geoff Corkish has branded the Walking Festival a major tourism success story.
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