Frequently asked questions

What is the date of this year’s event?

The main walk will take place on Sunday, 12 May 2024

What are the routes?

Route	Direction	Distance/time	Start opening
Main Walk	Bembridge to Alum Bay	26.5 miles (8-12 hours)	Start 6am-8am (Bembridge) Finish by 6pm (Alum Bay)
1^st Half	Bembridge to Carisbrooke	12.5 miles (4-6 hours)	Start 6am-8am (Bembridge) Finish by 1pm (Carisbrooke)
2^nd Half	Carisbrooke to Alum Bay	14 miles (5-8 hours)	Start 8am-12pm (Carisbrooke) Finish by 6pm (Alum Bay)
Flat walk (accessible)	Sandown to Shide	8 miles (depends on mobility)	Start 8.30am-10.30am Finish by 4pm (Shide)

Walk the Wight Your Way – take on the distance your own way and in your own time, finishing by Sunday, 12 May.

Schools Walk the Wight (launching in March) - take on the final four miles of the main walk on Sunday, 12 May.

Can I use the event to fundraise for other charities?

The event is organised by Mountbatten, and all costs are borne by the charity. Therefore, we ask that you do not use our events to support any other charities.

Why can’t I sign up other people?

To sign up and take part in any Mountbatten event, the participant must consent to our terms and conditions. GDPR states that an individual cannot consent on behalf of another; this means all participants must now sign up and give their consent individually. The exception to this is children under 13, who can only be signed up by their parent/legal guardian.

Why can’t I register my grandson/niece/godson, etc? [Under 13 years old]

Under GDPR, only a parent/legal guardian can provide a child’s personal data and consent to our terms and conditions. Therefore, you can only register a child that you are legally responsible for. Children aged 13 years and over are permitted to provide their personal information and consent themselves and can register individually.

All children under 16 must be accompanied at the event/on the walk by their parent/legal guardian or by another registered participant who has the permission of the parent/legal guardian to accompany that child.

I’m doing the walk with my grandson/niece/godson (etc.), but their parent can’t walk with us; what do I do? [Under 13 years old]

The parent of the child will have to register themselves and the child, but you can still walk with them on the day if you have their parent’s permission (see above).

Why can’t I register for Walk the Wight in a Mountbatten shop?

We take the security of your personal data seriously. When the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) were introduced, we reviewed all of our data processing processes, including WTW registrations in our shops. Registering in a Mountbatten shop required the participant to complete a paper registration form. The regulations that govern the security of data contained on a paper form are rigorous. With the volume of paper forms that WTW generates, we do not have the resources across our ten shops or within our fundraising team to process these records in accordance with GDPR. It is with regret that we had to remove registrations from our shops. However, we offer registration over the phone to those who do not have an email address or access to the internet - we hope this will enable anyone who wishes to Walk the Wight in support of Islanders to do so.

We are a small team in the fundraising office, so if you can register online, that would be a big help.

I have tried to register online, but it isn’t working. What can I do?

Please call our fundraising team on 01983 217300, Mon-Fri, 09:00-16:30.

I forgot to order a T-shirt. What can I do?

We have a very small stock of T-shirts available at our Newport office. Please call our fundraising team to ask for assistance on 01983 217300, Mon-Fri, 09:00-16:30.

Why do I have to pay to take part?

Due to the increasing cost of organising Walk the Wight, to simplify the registration process and ensure the event remains accessible for all, we have set a single entry fee for all walkers.

Entry is £10 (until Thursday, 18 April at 9am, please see below for more details) and includes:

* Entry to your chosen route

* An event pack, walker number, sponsor form and progress card delivered to your home

* A medal at the finish line.

Your entry fee will help cover the cost of putting on the event, meaning more of the money you raise will be spent directly on the people who need your help.

It is your fundraising efforts that make a real difference to the Islanders we support, and we urge you to raise as much as you can in sponsorship. We have set a target of £200 as something to aim for.

With every step you take and every pound you raise, more Islanders will face death, dying, and bereavement with Mountbatten by their side.

How do I become a Top Fundraiser?

We are rewarding our top fundraisers!

Walkers who raise more than £500 by 12 April will receive a special keepsake and be invited to a VIP Walk the Wight reception ahead of the event.

All you have to do is email us a picture of your sponsor form or a link to your fundraising page by 1pm on 12 April to show how much you've raised.

When will I receive my pack?

After you register, you will receive an email with a link to your online fundraising page, as well as a paper sponsorship form to print at home. Your printed fundraising pack, walker number, and progress card, as well as any T-shirts, water bottle vouchers and dog bandanas (if you have ordered them), should be delivered to your home within three weeks.

If you still haven't received your pack three weeks after registering, call us on 01983 217300 Mon-Fri, 09:00-16:30.

How do I get a Walk the Wight water bottle?

If you ordered a Walk the Wight water bottle, you will receive your voucher in your walker pack. This voucher can then be redeemed at any of the Mountbatten Isle of Wight shops before 30 April 2024 or at your chosen start line on the day.

When does online registration close?

You can register online for a postal fundraising pack until 18 April at 9:00am.

After this date, you can still register online, but we will not be able to send your walker number in the post; this may be collected from your chosen start line on the day.

From this date, online registration will become £15 per person and will close at 9am on Thursday, 9 May.

I need to cancel my registration/ I can’t take part anymore; can I get a refund?

You may request to cancel your registration for a full refund, less the cancellation fee, up to 14 calendar days before the date and time of the event. Cancellations less than 14 days before the event will not be refunded.

All refunds are subject to a cancellation fee that will be calculated based on the value of the items ordered when you registered. All processing, postage, and packing fees are non-refundable, regardless of whether you have received your pack. You are responsible for the cost of returning any items to us, and these costs are non-refundable.

If you have received your pack, you will need to return your walker number, sponsorship form and any merchandise back to us, along with proof of your registration. Refunds will only be processed once we have received these items. Once received, we will initiate a refund, less the cancellation fee, to your original method of payment. If your fundraising pack included a t-shirt or other merchandise, this must be returned to us in its original packaging along with your walker number, sponsorship form and proof of purchase to be eligible for a refund. Upon receipt, we will inspect the item(s). If your return is approved, we will initiate a refund, less the cancellation fee, to your original method of payment.

I’ve registered to do the full walk/half walk/flat walk (etc.) but I want to do a different walk. What should I do?

You can take part in any walk, provided you are wearing your walker number. The information pack you will/have received contains all the information you need to take part in any walk.

Why are we using plastic bottles?

Once again, we are using 100% recycled content plastic bottles and caps that are supplied, sourced, and filled by Wight Crystal. These are fully recyclable. Thalia’s mixed waste bins will be positioned along the route and sorted for recycling after the event.

Following last year's successful trial, we will have water pump refilling stations at the following checkpoints: Brading, Arreton, Carisbrooke, Mottistone and Freshwater on the main route and one positioned at Merstone on the flat walk.

Please bring your own refillable bottles to use at these pumps or order your special Walk the Wight bottle (£12) when you register. Wight Crystal bottles will also be available at every water point, as in previous years.

Can I buy a WTW Sunflower before the walk?

WTW sunflowers are only available to buy from the start and finish lines on the day.

Will there be travel discounts this year?

Southern Vectis will once again be providing a comprehensive bus service this year, free to anyone with a walker number or medal.

Hovertravel is providing an early sailing for those coming over from Southsea.

Red Funnel and Wightlink will be providing a discount code for use on the day also.

For all Walk the Wight travel information please click here

What roads will be closed for Walk the Wight?

Please find a complete list of the Walk the Wight road closures here

Are there toilets along the route?

Yes! You can click here to view the Google Map of the route and see where all the toilet points are.

Are there refreshments along the route?

Yes! You can click here to view the Google Map of the route and see where all the FREE water points are.

There will also be traders along the route selling hot and cold food and beverages.

If you have any questions or concerns

Please contact our fundraising team on 01983 217300 or email us. Our office hours are Monday – Friday 09:00 – 16:30