Thousands Ready to Brave the Bembridge Fort Walk This August
Get ready! Thousands are set to swarm Bembridge and St Helens for the annual Fort Walk on Monday, 13th August. This unofficial summer tradition, known as either the Bembridge Fort Walk or St Helens Fort Walk, is believed to be the biggest unorganised gathering on the Isle of Wight.
Masses Wading to St Helens Fort at Low Tide
Crowds trek and wade across at low tide, heading to St Helens Fort and back – all without any official organiser or fixed time. Tide timetables confirm that August’s low tide will be the safest chance for the huge crowds to cross together. Social media hype, especially on Facebook and Twitter, regularly draws over 2,000 walkers every year.
Safety First: Coastguard and RNLI on Standby
Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team and Bembridge RNLI will be on hand to help, but participants must remember: you walk at your own risk. Expect to wade through waist-deep water and navigate a stony causeway. Flip flops? Forget it.
Key safety tips to follow:
- This is NOT an organised event – proceed with caution.
- Check the weather forecast before heading out.
- Don’t walk in high winds or poor visibility.
- The walk takes about 30 minutes each way, so plan for a one-hour round trip.
- Start your walk within 10 minutes before to 10 minutes after low water.
- Never leave the shore after low water.
- Keep valuables with you – don’t leave them unattended on the beach.
- Children and dogs should be watched closely; buoyancy aids for kids are recommended.
- Avoid swimming in the Bembridge Harbour Channel – deep dredging holes lurk beneath.
- If circling the Fort, keep moving and don’t stop to admire the view.
- Wear sturdy shoes – it’s slippery and rocky!
- Carry a waterproof phone or another way to call for help.
Ready for a splash? Just remember: the Bembridge Fort Walk is a wild, watery adventure that’s not for the faint-hearted.
