Each year there is growing excitement about the prospect of the annual unofficial Bembridge and St Helens Fort Walk.
For over half a century, the Fort Walk has attracted people onto the beaches of St Helens and Bembridge, who – at their own risk and considering the weather conditions – take advantage of the low tide to walk the three quarters of a mile out to St Helens Fort.
If you haven’t done it before, or if you have and have found yourself stuck in traffic on The Duver, we’ve gathered some helpful info for you.
Index of the main points:
- Watch the weather
- RNLI-issued short safety video
- Avoid driving down The Duver
- Parking in St Helens is very limited
- Take the bus
- Dress for the occasion
- Leave no trace
Watch the weather
Since OnTheWight shared news of the anticipated 2016 date with readers yesterday, the Met Office have issued a severe weather warning for the day before.
Click on images to see larger versions
The weather warning currently finishes on Saturday at 9pm and the forecast for Sunday at 7pm (the anticipated date and time) shows wind gusts of around 28mph. Of course this could change, so make sure you keep an eye on the weather and don’t take any chances.
RNLI-issued short safety video
Alan Doe from Bembridge RNLI has shared a great, short safety tips video with OnTheWight. It only runs for two and a half minutes, but is so packed with top tips, we’ve listed them out in an article dedicated to Fort Walk safety.
Avoid driving down The Duver
Nearly two thousand people are thought to have attended in 2014.
With people, often comes traffic chaos – St Helens was particularly affected by this in 2015 with, according to Ward councillor (and Leader of the Isle of Wight council), Jonathan Bacon, saying that vehicles were blocked on Duver Road for nearly two hours.
Update 18 Aug: It was announced today that there will be no parking allowed on Duver Road any time on Sunday between 6am and Midnight.
Cllr Bacon told OnTheWight,
“We had a massive problem with traffic in St Helens last year.
“Duver Road, which is the only vehicular access to St Helens Beach, was completely blocked and, aside from all the problems this created in itself, there would have been no possibility of an emergency vehicle getting to the seafront if required.
“Some people were blocked in for nearly two hours.”
Parking in St Helens is very limited
OnTheWight asked for advice on where might be more appropriate for people to park, Cllr Bacon responded:
“There is no advice that can really be given about parking. St Helens has a parking issue generally so the influx of vehicles last year caused major issues. The Green ended up being used as a car park but it is common land and parking on it is a breach of local bye laws.
“Technically IWC could prosecute anyone parking on the Green. The Green is not insured as a Car Park and no one is willing to take on the responsibility for its use as such due to the risks involved (and the cost it would require to meet those risks).
“There are of course also concerns about the risk of damage to the Green – particularly if we have wet weather in advance, which it seems may be a possibility.”
Take the bus
Alternatively, as Rio Bellgore-Gullit suggested on Facebook, you could take the bus.
They said,
“The number 8 stops at Bembridge Point, by the Tollgate Cafe. This is why I go from Bembridge instead of St Helens. If more people used the bus, it may help the parking/traffic jam issues.”
See the Southern Vectis Website for timetable details (don’t forget to select Sundays when reading the timetable).
Dress for the occasion
Make sure you dress appropriately. Wear something on your feet that you don’t mind getting wet, surfing shoes or jellies.
Be aware that when the tide turns, it can come in fairly quickly, so you may have to wade through water as high as your waist.
St Helens Fort Walk 2014 by Char Ripley
Have something to dry yourself with and change into afterwards.
Leave no trace
Many stay on the beaches after completing the walk and celebrate with a BBQ.
St Helens Fort Walk 2014 by John Sparrow
If you do hang around, please remember to take your litter with you and do not leave disposable BBQs on the beach. They are dangerous to wildlife and humans.
Article edits
Bus information added
Update 18 Aug : Added link to parking restrictions on Duver Road and Cllr Bacon’s advice on parking in St Helens.
Also added index to start of doc.
Update 19 Aug: Added text about RNLI-issued short safety video and link to it.
