Follow the Seagulls | Isle of Wight
Sat 17 - Sun 18 May 2025 Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK

Follow the Seagulls | Isle of Wight

A trekking challenge along the Isle of Wight Coastal Path with sea views, glades, tall ridges and wild walking in support of the brain cancer charity, brainstrust. You are in for a treat!

2 races

  • Sat 17 May 2025
  • #1 of 2
Duke of York, Cowes

One Day Challenge

07:00

Age 18 & over

Sign up £20

Fundraise £200

  • 25 miles walking
  • Sat 17 - Sun 18 May 2025
  • #2 of 2
Duke of York, Cowes

Two Day Challenge

07:00

Age 18 & over

Sign up £30

Fundraise £500

  • 50 miles walking

Event overview

Follow the Seagulls is a long-distance charity trek to help make sure no one has to face a brain tumour alone.

It’s your chance to do something truly incredible that matches your passion to help the 60,000 people in the UK who are afraid and alone because of their brain tumour diagnosis.

The Follow the Seagulls treks take place annually on the Isle of Wight, Whitby in North Yorkshire, the Fife Coastal Path in Scotland and Dartmouth in Devon.

views

What to expect

Get together with the wider group at the start of both days and at various points over the weekend, but you will step into the role of navigator on this self-supported walk.

There’ll be trails to stick to, and fellow walkers to join up with, but you’ll have to consult your maps which will be annotated to help you navigate your way around.

Whether you choose to walk alone or as part of a group, you will be ensured an amazing experience!

Highlights

  • Long distance walk surrounded by coastal views and fresh sea air
  • An invigorating weekend challenge
  • Cover 26 miles (that's marathon distance) in one day
  • Cover 50 miles over two days - put your stamina to the test
  • Self-led with team meet-ups
  • Regular checkpoints for energising refreshments
  • Complimentary team dinner for 2-day or Saturday walkers
  • Ideal for individuals, couples, teams of family, friends and colleagues
  • Help brainstrust change the world for the brain tumour community

  • Teams

Itinerary

  • Saturday

    The 50-mile challenge begins between 7am and 8am.
    One-day challengers have the option of trekking on Saturday or Sunday.

  • Sunday

    The second day of the 50-mile challengers.
    One-day challengers have the option of trekking on Saturday or Sunday.

How hard is it?

This event will really test your endurance. It will take all you've got to earn your finishers medal. You will need great map reading/orienteering skills and training is a must.

Solo walkers

Enter solo and meet people there!

Teams

Conquer the challenge as a team!

Walking as a team can be great motivation to keep you on track with your training, and with a shared fundraising target of £1,000 for team entries, you'll find it easier to smash your target and raise the vital funds that make all the difference.

Conquer the challenge as a team and share the fundraising target.

Training

26 or 50 miles, on foot, is a long way. Preparation is vital.

10 weeks to go

Begin by walking 2 or 3 miles, near home. This will take around an hour initially. Try to do this 2 or 3 times a week. After a week or two of these short walks, continue the 3 milers but add in a 6 miler once a week. This should take around 2 hours. And make sure you tackle some hills on the route if you have them. Both routes have them by the shed load.

Whilst Training, drink before you are thirsty. Eat before you are hungry. This is a mindset you'll need to get used to, the sooner the better. Make sure you take water and cereal or energy bars with you. You will burn up energy fast and need to replace it quickly.

During the training it’s normal to feel tired and weary, but if you have more persistent pains or concerns do seek medical advice. to ensure you can tackle the distance, it’s time to step it up.

6 weeks to go

Keep the lower mileage walks going. If, before you signed up to this challenge, walking wasn’t a normal part of your life, it now should be and these short walks should feel easy and almost effortless. 

Now, add in a 12 miler. This should take about 3 hours and over the next few weeks try and commit to doing a few. 

This way your body will begin to prepare for the massive challenge ahead.

4 weeks to go

By now walking should be second nature. You should be regularly walking 3-6 miles, and have tackled a few 12 milers to get accustomed to the intensity of long distances.

With 4 weeks to go, it’s time to step it up again.

Set aside time to walk 15 miles in and amongst the shorter distances. You’ll find you can do it and it will really begin to prepare you for the massive challenge ahead. 

It might not be the 25 miles a day you’ll be trekking during the challenge, but when you know you’ve already cracked a 15 miler, the extra stretch can be conquered.

walkers

Kit list

  • Walking boots
  • Walking socks
  • Rucksack 
  • Lightweight waterproof trousers
  • Hat, gloves and a thermal layer
  • Sunglasses, hat and cream.
  • Washproof plasters and pain killers
  • Snacks, energy gels, quick release energy foods, electrolyte drink
  • Water bottle or Camelbak hydration pack
  • Mobile phone plus optional battery pack
  • Walking sticks

  • Coast
  • Rural
  • Toilets

Event HQ

Duke of York
Mill Hill Road
Cowes
Isle of Wight
PO31 7BT
UK

views

  • Bring your own cup
  • Public transport links
  • Sustainability policy

This event recognises its responsibility to the environment beyond legal and regulatory requirements. It is committed to reducing its environmental impact and continually improving environmental performance as an integral part of the strategy and operating methods, with regular review points. Supporters, volunteers, beneficiaries, suppliers and other stakeholders are encouraged to do the same.

The organisers are committed to minimising the negative impact of this activity on the environment, and where possible for it to have a net positive impact on the environment.

To achieve this here are the steps taken:

  • minimise waste
  • promote recycling internally and with customers and suppliers
  • minimise the environmental impact of resources
  • ensure products and services meet or exceed all of the environmental legislation that relates to the charity organisation

Give it a go! Teamwork and camaraderie are second to none. Clive 2024

For someone considering this challenge in the future I’d say absolutely do it. Not only was it an epic physical and mental challenge, it was also one of the most humbling and rewarding adventures I’ve been on. It was an incredible achievement and opportunity to truly see the best in people; sharing stories, support and collective goals. As the aches begin to fade, my gratitude for this amazing charity, and the people it has connected me with, just grows stronger and stronger. Sammy 2019

hikers

I rang brainstrust in the middle of the night, about 3am, when I was in a state. I was amazed that someone could care. I think she said ‘but you needed me now’ and since then that is the only thing I have ever felt from this charity – love support, friendship and care. Sarah

Races at event

  • Sat 17 May 2025
  • #1 of 2
Duke of York, Cowes

One Day Challenge

07:00

Age 18 & over

Sign up £20

Fundraise £200

  • 25 miles walking
  • Sat 17 - Sun 18 May 2025
  • #2 of 2
Duke of York, Cowes

Two Day Challenge

07:00

Age 18 & over

Sign up £30

Fundraise £500

  • 50 miles walking