Isle of Wight Coastal Walking

On the path to Freshwater Bay for stunning views, Back of the Wight | Call Me Fred

Walkers on the street in charming Brighstone Village, Isle of Wight | visitisleofwight.co.uk

The steps taking you down to Ventnor Bay, Isle of Wight | Natasha Ward

Watching the Needles at sunset from Headon Warren | visitisleofwight.co.uk

Spend time at Ventnor seafront during your active holiday | visitisleofwight.co.uk

Beach near Bembridge

Queen Victoria summer residence, Osborne House, Isle of Wight

Beautiful views towards St. Catherine's Point

On the path to Freshwater Bay for stunning views, Back of the Wight | Call Me Fred

Walkers on the street in charming Brighstone Village, Isle of Wight | visitisleofwight.co.uk

The steps taking you down to Ventnor Bay, Isle of Wight | Natasha Ward

Watching the Needles at sunset from Headon Warren | visitisleofwight.co.uk

Spend time at Ventnor seafront during your active holiday | visitisleofwight.co.uk

Beach near Bembridge

Queen Victoria summer residence, Osborne House, Isle of Wight

Beautiful views towards St. Catherine's Point

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Duration

8 days

Activities

self guided walk

Accommodation

7 nights in hotels and guesthouses

Meals

6 Breakfasts

Price

$1350USD

Overview

Trip Code: WOW

Trip highlights

Circumnavigating the beautiful Isle of Wight
Visiting Queen Victoria's Osborne House
Palmerston Forts
The Needles
Newtown the old 'Rotten Borough' and Old Yarmouth Town

Circumnavigating the island on The Isle of Wight Coastal Path is a fulfilling achievement for a week of walking. Almost half the island has been designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty. The Coastal Footpath is a circular long-distance footpath of 67 miles (107 km) following public footpaths and minor lanes, with some sections along roads. It should be noted that the path does not follow the coastline all the way, but also diverts inland for long sections. There are lots of attractions to break down the actual walking days, including a visit to the holiday home of Queen Victoria, Osborne House. Many other buildings from around this time still exist including Wippingham Church, the thatched church at Freshwater Bay, the famous seaside resorts such as Ventnor, Shanklin and Sandown and the great Palmerston fortresses, built at a time when French invasion was again feared. You will see several such features every day. Beyond this are much older towns such as Yarmouth and Newtown, which have their own interesting histories. However, the island is much more than that, it is a place of great natural beauty with glittering sea-views across the Solent and English Channel, the white cliffs and sea-stacks around The Needles, Tennyson Down, and miles of beaches. The Isle of Wight is a popular holiday destination, but especially out of 'High Season' you can see very few other walkers.

Trip Grading

introductory to moderate

More info about grading system

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Itinerary

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Day 1
Arrive Ryde

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. Accommodation: Ryde - The Wight House is situated close to the sandy beaches

Meals: Nil

Day 2
Ryde to Cowes 15 km / 9.3 miles / 4 hours

Today is a straight forward walking day with no big hills, but with the attractions of Quarr Abbey, Osborne House and Cowes. 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. Accommodation: Cowes -we use the Best Western Holmewood Hotel situated on the sea front. (Please ask for details if you wish to upgrade to a sea view room).

Meals: B

Day 3
Cowes to Yarmouth 24 km / 15 miles / 6.5 hours

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 (room only) is a charming 16th century inn situated in the heart of Yarmouths market square and only a stone's throw from the sea & harbour.

Meals: Nil

Day 4
Yarmouth to Freshwater Bay via the Needles 20 km / 12.4 miles / 5 hours

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). Accommodation: Freshwater Bay - Stroud House is a Grade II listed building.

Meals: B

Day 5
Freshwater Bay to Chale 18 km / 11 miles / 4.5 hours

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. Accommodation: Chale - The Wight Mouse Inn, is peacefully located.

Meals: B

Day 6
Chale to Sandown 20 km / 12.5 miles / 5.5 hours

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. Accommodation: Sandown - We use a number of different accommodation in this busy town.

Meals: B

Day 7
Sandown to Ryde 22 km / 14 miles / 6 hours

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.

Meals: B

Day 8
End of Tour

After breakfast make your way to the pier to catch your return ferry to the mainland.

Meals: B

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.
On self guided trips, actual route information provided before departure will be more detailed.

Inclusions

What's included

6 breakfasts
7 nights accommodation in B&Bs / Inns on a twin share basis with ensuite facilities where available (1 night in an Inn on a room only basis)
Information pack including notes and OS map (1 pack per room booked)
Emergency contact
6 luggage transfers (15kg is the total weight limit)

What's not included

Lunches, dinners & beverages
Travel to and from Ryde
Transfers required during the walk
Entrance Fees
Travel Insurance
Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls
A supplement will apply if you are travelling solo or book a single room
Guide - this is a self guided holiday

Accommodation

B&B's & country inns

The hotels described are our usual accommodation, however if these are not available then alternatives are used. Rooms generally do not have baths, the main reason being that they take up a lot of space. Some hotels/guesthouses may have a separate room in the house where a bath is available to guests, but in the main it is showers. Note that for the dates of your tour we may not be able to get you into the accommodation described. We will endeavour to get you into a similar standard of accommodation nearby, but please appreciate that there is limited accommodation in rural England. Also, although we aim to get you into accommodations with ensuite rooms, this is not always possible. At a couple of places on your tour you may be sharing bathrooms, particularly if you are in a single room.

Grading

introductory to moderate

This trip involve walking between 5 - 7 hours per day. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health.

Departure dates

Daily from 01 Apr to 23 Oct (except 15 - 20 Jun & 28 Jul - 05 Aug)

Notes

DN1

Blackout Periods: Isle of Wight Festival from 15- 20 Jun & Cowes Week from 30 Jul - 06 Aug

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Priceper person from

$1350USD

Options & Supplements*

Single SupplementUSD$500
Solo Traveller SupplementUSD$630

*Prices listed are per person

Frequently Asked Questions

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?Should I take the ferry or hovercraft to get to the Isle of Wight and start of the walk?

If you are a foot passenger travelling to Ryde from Portsmouth and/or if you have travelled by train to Portsmouth harbour, then this feeds directly onto the Isle of Wight ferry. Please note that once you've arrived in Ryde, you have quite a long walk with your bag off the pier. Alternatively, you can take the hovercraft via a connecting bus from Portsmouth and Southsea station. This unusual form of travel takes you directly to the beach in Ryde and where your first hotel is located.

?Does the Isle of Wight Coastal Path stick to the coast?

The Isle of Wight Coastal Path is a circular long-distance footpath of 67 miles (107 km) following public footpaths and minor lanes around the island. In reality there are sections where you walk inland and a bit from the coastline. This includes sections passing private estates such as Osbourne House. There are other sections which have been affected by coastal erosion and there are inland bypasses. Finally, there are sections of beach that you can walk along at low tide, but that you cannot walk at high tide. This is all explained in the detailed route notes that are included with this trip.

?Some say that the Isle of Wight is very old fashioned, like being in the 1970s?

The Isle of Wight is of course modern, but in many ways the infrastructure dates back and a lot of the set-up is from another era. This gives the feeling that the British isle has a slower, quieter pace of life than on the mainland UK. There is always also the island mentality!

?Will I see lots of other walkers on the Isle of Wight?

There are loads of other people that you will come across that are walking or jogging on the seafront promenades or dog walking. Quite a few sections of the Isle of Wight Coastal Path are fairly quiet thought, with the wildest section being over Tennyson Down.

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