Full Description
Separated
from the mainland by the sparkling waters of The Solent, the Isle of Wight is England's
largest island. Covering 147 square miles, half of this beautiful isle has
National Landscape status, with its dramatic cliffs, wide-open river estuaries,
rolling downland, picture-postcard villages and traditional seaside resorts.
Four
different sea crossings from Hampshire get you to the start of walks in this
guide: catch the ferry from Lymington for the short sailing to Yarmouth to do a
mini coast-to-coast walk to Freshwater; from Southampton, take the catamaran
service to West Cowes for an old railway-line walk by the River Medina to the
island's capital, Newport; and Ryde is a wave-skimming hop by catamaran from
Portsmouth or hovercraft from Southsea for a coastal-path saunter to Seaview.
Wight's
magnificent chalk downs form the island's spine, providing high points with
superb all-round views on the walks at Limerstone, across Tennyson Down to The
Needles in the west, and over Bembridge Down in the east. There's an exciting
estuary crossing over the causeway at St Helens;
and woodland adventures, with possible red squirrel sightings, in Brighstone
and Parkhurst forests. You can visit the island's most haunted house at
Appuldurcombe; enjoy grand views over the Undercliff from Blackgang; and marvel
at the development of radiotelegraphy at Culver.
Contents
Tennyson
Down and The Needles
Tennyson and West High downs comprise a fine
whaleback chalk ridge, with gleaming white cliffs ending in the rock pinnacles
of The Needles. This route affords some of the best coastal ridge-walking in Britain.
The poet Alfred Lord Tennyson noted 'the air is worth sixpence a pint' - a lot
in Victorian times. In spring, there's an abundance of wildflowers, and there's
so much history the whole way round. By the finish, you'll understand
Tennyson's love for this place.
Fabulous
coastal ridge-top walk to the striking Needles viewpoint
Yarmouth
to Freshwater Bay
This delightful coast-to-coast walk, which
must be the shortest and easiest in England,
takes to a former railway trackbed from Yarmouth's
old railway station, now the Off The Rails Café and bike hire centre, to the
edge of Freshwater village. The route from Solent shore to English Channel
coast is completed via causeway and country lane to Afton, where an easy-going,
grassy bridleway leads around the base of the down to enchanting Freshwater Bay, with its cliffs, stacks and pebble
beach.
A joyous
coast-to-coast trail, from Solent shore to English Channel
bay
Limerstone
Down and Brighstone
Forest
The top of Limerstone Down has a stone-built
view indicator pointing out places you can easily see, as well as those that
are rarely visible, like the French coast. And those views are extensive, with
the white cliffs of Tennyson Down and Brighstone village clearly in view, and
some of the south coast of England.
For very little effort, the airy outward route gives you all the reward of a
wonderful hill walk; the return is through lovely broadleaved woodland.
Far-reaching
views from downs high point; broadleaved woodland
Parkhurst
Forest
Lying among rolling pastures to the
north-west of the island's capital, Newport, Parkhurst Forest is a large area of mixed
woodland. The trees block out signs of 21st-century Newport, leaving you to enjoy the summer
shade, the breeze through the trees and delightful birdsong. Flinty forest
tracks lead you past wood-carved sculptures - see how many you can spot.
Wildflowers colour the forest's rides and, if you are lucky and move quietly,
you might glimpse a roe deer.
A woodland
walk, with sculptures, squirrel hide and military history
Cowes to Newport
After winding past the shops and cafés of Cowes, and through its
residential outskirts, this walk joins the trackbed of the old Cowes-Newport
railway. Named the Red Squirrel Trail, it has blue cycleway markers throughout.
There are glimpses of the River Medina and its boat-lined pontoons, and a restored
viaduct carries you over the reed beds of Dodnor Creek. Entering Newport by way of its
historic harbour, you can relax at the old warehouse, now the Quay Arts centre
and café.
The Red
Squirrel Trail from Cowes to the island's capital, Newport
Blackgang
and Niton
After the initial dozen concrete steps, this
route eases into a pleasant clifftop stroll, always with views to the
fascinating, contorted landscapes of the Undercliff and the gleaming white tower of St Catherine's Lighthouse. If it's
clear, there are stunning retrospective views westwards, and you might just
make out The Needles. After a very short section through bushes, the narrow
path borders fields and comes to the pleasant village of Niton.
A lofty grass bridleway takes you back beneath St Catherine's Hill.
Spectacular
coastal views; lighthouse history; a rare butterfly
Godshill
and Appuldurcombe
Godshill is a quintessential English village,
with thatched cottages, lovely flower-filled gardens and a beautiful church - a
fine place for morning coffee or an after-walk cream tea. A gently graded lane
takes this walk through the impressive Appuldurcombe Estate: its fine
Freemantle Gate, a rural Marble Arch; the shell of the impressive house
reflecting the true grandeur of the place. You can retrace your steps to
Godshill or, for a slightly more energetic return, follow bridleways on the
pretty, undulating country around Gat Cliff.
Much-photographed
village; most-haunted house; cream tea treat
Ryde
to Seaview
If you're after an easy stroll with bracing
sea air, this is your walk. Starting from Ryde pier, the route takes the
promenade past the marina to Appley
Park, where you can take
in the view from the folly. After rounding Puckpool Point, you can wander
around Hersey Nature Reserve, noted for its wildfowl and wading birds. Seaview
is quiet and relaxed, a fine place for lunch or afternoon tea, or to sit on a
bench and watch the waves - maybe you'll see a dolphin.
Perfect
seaside stroll; Ryde Pier, Appley
Park, Hersey Nature
Reserve
St Helens
and the Causeway
St Helens, a quiet place yet full of history
and scenic interest, looks across the narrow estuary of the Yar and Bembridge Harbour to Bembridge. Beginning on the
seafront by an ancient church tower, the walk takes to a long causeway across
the waters of the harbour, where sailors tinker with their pleasure craft.
Passing Brading Marsh, watch for a white-tailed eagle before going on to
discover the village
of St Helens, its greens
and an inn.
Ancient
tower; Solent fort view; the Duver; causeway;
smuggling
Bembridge
Down and Culver Down
There are superb views on this downland walk,
stretching to Sandown and Shanklin in one direction, and Portsmouth
and Chichester, beyond Bembridge, in the
other. It's a lovely walk among the chalk-loving wildflowers, with the fort,
battery and monument adding the spice of history too. There's one climb from
Red Cliff to the fort on the summit of Bembridge Down. And if that gives you a
thirst, there's a pub and a café eager to quench it.
Outstanding
views; radiotelegraphy; chalk grassland flowers
