On Sunday 10th May, we spent the day at the Isle of Wight’s biggest charity event of the year – Walk the Wight 2026… And we couldn’t have been there supporting this wonderful charity without the help of our Sponsors, Naturo and Petgevity.
Organised by Mountbatten, Walk the Wight is an annual fundraising event that brings together thousands of people from across the island and beyond to raise money for hospice and end of life care on the Isle of Wight.
Every year, around 10,000 walkers and 1,000 dogs take part, making it one of the UK’s most iconic charity walks for dog owners and families alike.
What is Walk the Wight?
Walk the Wight is a 26-mile charity walk across the Isle of Wight, starting in Bembridge on the east side of the island and finishing at Alum Bay in the west.
The route literally takes walkers from one side of the Isle of Wight to the other, passing through some of the island’s most beautiful countryside, coastal paths and villages along the way.
Many people complete the full 26-mile challenge, whilst others choose shorter routes or half walks instead… especially those walking with a dog. We usually recommend the first half, as the early start means you can avoid the warmest part of the day.
Waking up early to give dogs free treats
We started our day at 6am in Bembridge, where walkers were gathering before sunrise to begin their journey across the island. We handed out pre-made dog treat bags to owners at the start line. The response was honestly amazing. After an early start, there were lots of tired walkers and very excited dogs pulling their owners over for treats. The treats were kindly gifted by Naturo.
There was such a positive atmosphere from the very beginning and it was lovely seeing so many dogs ready to take on the challenge with their owners. It was actually well worth the 4:30am alarm!
Images kindly shared by @skeet.shots and showcasing some of the lovely doggies that took part in Walk The Wight.
Our Doggy pic’n’mix
After spending a few hours at the start line, we moved across the island to Freshwater Bay (by car). This is where we set up our gazebo and physical doggy pic’n’mix station.
This part of the route was particularly busy because it was not only a key stopping point for walkers completing longer routes, but also where the schools’ walk started from.
The schools complete a four-mile walk from Freshwater Bay to Alum Bay, helping younger generations get involved in raising money for Mountbatten too.
Our original plan was to create a fun stop-off point for dogs and their owners, with plenty of treats, donations for Mountbatten and a good atmosphere. Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas…
The weather took a turn
As the afternoon went on, the weather became cold, windy and drizzly, which completely changed the atmosphere at Freshwater Bay. Normally, this area becomes a social hub where walkers stop for lunch, take a break and enjoy the event atmosphere before completing the final stretch to Alum Bay.
Instead, most people were simply trying to keep moving and get to the finish line as quickly as possible.
So rather than waiting behind the stand, we decided to make up more dog treat bags and head back out on foot to meet walkers as they passed through. Again, the response was incredible. You could genuinely tell that something as simple as free dog treats lifted people’s spirits after hours of walking in difficult conditions.
Why Walk The Wight Matters
One of the most special parts of the day is seeing the Isle of Wight community come together for such an important cause.
Mountbatten provides vital hospice and end of life care for local families across the island and Walk the Wight plays a huge role in helping raise the funds needed to continue that support. Whether people were walking the full 26 miles, completing the half walk, taking part in the schools’ route or simply supporting from the sidelines, there was a real sense of community throughout the entire day.
And of course, seeing so many dogs taking part made it even better 🐾
Thank you for supporting our fundraising
At the time of writing this, we’re still in the process of getting all of our donations added to our fundraising account, but we’ll update everyone with a final fundraising total as soon as everything has come through.
A huge thank you to everybody who donated, stopped by for treats, chatted to us or supported what we were doing throughout the day.
And most importantly, thank you to Mountbatten for organising such an incredible Isle of Wight charity event year after year 💛
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