Isle of Wight Walking Tour

Ideally, take the train to Portsmouth and then the ferry or hovercraft over to the island. Ryde is a busy seaside town, take your time to explore and maybe try traditional fish ‘n’ chips on the promenade!

Today is a straightforward walking day with no big hills, but with the attractions of Quarr Abbey, Osborne House and Cowes, it’s an exciting route! The Coast Path is for the most part a misnomer today, you are walking quite a way inland for much of the time as there is not a path following the coast more directly on this section, just tantalising glimpses of the sea in places and of the Spinnaker Tower at Portsmouth beyond the Solent. It is a day to get into the swing of the walking and spend time visiting some of the attractions, especially Osborne House.

Today’s walk spends some time walking close to the sea and dallies around the old estuary area near Newtown which used to be the busiest town on the island, now a nature reserve. The woodland section above Yarmouth is also very pretty with nice coastal views. There are some potentially muddy sections as you pass various sections of clay. There is a final promenade walk into Yarmouth town which has a bit of history connected with seafaring exploits and the castle.

Accommodation: Yarmouth - The Bugle Inn is a charming 16th century inn situated in the heart of Yarmouths market square and only a stone’s throw from the sea & harbour.

This is a great walk with some fantastic views eventually over much of the island from Tennyson Down, if the weather is good, but also with a whole host of attractions. Today is the day to visit the Needles Park, view the famous sea-stacks and the military batteries, also the site of Britain’s Rocket testing from the 1950s. Freshwater Bay is also quite a pretty place with its thatched church. Although the walking distance is not fundamentally great, you can spend much time visiting various sites enroute easily doubling the time spent walking.

Note: If we are unable to book you into Freshwater for a 1 night stay then we will swap your night in Yarmouth for 2 nights in Freshwater. You can easily move between Yarmouth & Freshwater by bus or alternatively we can organise taxis (own expense).

Today is what the Coastal Path is all about, a steady cliff top walk into Chale which connects you to the south east of the island. An undulating route with no big hills, just some short steep sections as you negotiate ‘Chines’ the little inlets caused by streams cutting through the clays to the sea, followed by muddy sections around the inlet. Care is needed throughout the day, cliffs are undercut and the coastline recedes every year. Today it is you and the sea and a totally different perspective. Chale Bay was at one time known as the Bay of Death; sixty ships were lost here between 1746 and 1808. Nearby are the Wealdon Beds which have yielded fossilised remains of dinosaurs. As the day draws on you approach St. Catherine’s Down with its mediaeval light house.

Another day of beautiful coastal, or near coastal walking, after a long dalliance with the downs around St.Catherine’s Point, the most southerly tip of the island. After bypassing Niton, you arrive at three of the main resorts, Ventnor, Shanklin and then Sandown for your penultimate evening. On the way, apart from the odd ice cream, enjoy the tiny seaside village of Steephill Cove and ancient Bouldnor Church.

A last flirtation with the downs as you walk over Culver Down with excellent views back to Shanklin and also onto Bembridge and Portsmouth, you then descend to Bembridge and its attractive harbour, before regaining the coast and some pretty beaches through Seaview before returning to Ryde, via a long seaside walk. There are some optional beachside sections which could be muddy. Why not celebrate your circumnavigation with a lovely meal this evening!

Arrangements end after breakfast.