Guided Trail on the Isle of Wight Coast Path

68 miles. 8-13 miles and up to 1,000 feet of ascent in a day

Day 1: Arrival day

Day 2: Freshwater to Gore Down - We start by walking down the drive to meet the Coast Path for a stroll around the bay before ascending the cliffs to enjoy the Isle of Wight’s Jurassic coast, an area where dinosaurs once roamed. We pass Hanover Point with its fossil forest and gunnery range finder for the Fort Redoubt trainees. Along these cliffs you can see evidence of the forlorn battle of the Isle of Wight Council against the sea − a holiday village with chalets teetering on the brink, and the disused car park at Shippards Chine are two examples. We pass onward through Brighstone and Chale Bay past the Pearl Factory and Chilton Marsh, Cowleaze, Shepherds, and Whale Chines to Blackgang Bluff from where we ascend to the Gore Down viewpoint and meet our coach for the ride back to Freshwater Bay House. Distance: 12½ miles with 1,000 feet of ascent

Day 3: Gore Down to Sandown - Starting from Gore Down Car Park we walk past St Catherine’s Point to Niton where after crossing the undercliff road we ascend a large escarpment to walk high above the undercliff to the village of St Lawrence, then descend via the Botanic Gardens at Ventnor to the town itself − an epitome of Victorian England. Passing on to Bonchurch with its ancient St Boniface church we then walk via the Landslip, so named as it suffered in the great landslip of 1810, to Luccombe and Shanklin. The town still retains its Victorian elegance and was once the home of the poet John Keats, commemorated within the town by Keats Inn and Keats Green. We end our day by walking along the promenade to Sandown for refreshments before taking the coach back to Freshwater Bay. Distance: 12 miles with 850 feet of ascent

Day 4: Sandown to Ryde - Starting at Sandown we ascend Culver Down with magnificent views over this part of the island. A brief look at Yarborough’s Monument will be followed by a descent to Whitecliff Bay. An undulating path takes us behind the former Bembridge School, most notable for its links with John Ruskin, and on to the town, from where we walk around the harbour past the Tidemill to the causeway on which we cross to St Helens Duver. After the promenade of the Duver we cut inland to Seagrove Bay, from where the Solent Forts, built in the early 19th-century to guard the approaches to Portsmouth against French invasions, can be clearly seen. The end of the day’s walk is full of interest, with views across the Solent, a look at the Puckpool Mortar Battery and a promenade memorial commemorating the loss of the Royal George in 1782 which has William Cowper’s poem ‘Toll for the Brave’ inscribed upon it. The walk ends at Ryde Pier, from where after refreshments we take our coach back to Freshwater Bay House. Distance: 11½ miles with 600 feet of ascent.

Day 5: Ryde to Gurnard Bay - Our transport takes us to Ryde pier, where we resume our coastal path walk. We ascend, up and over the golf course we go, past the ruins of Quarr Abbey, a once-flourishing Cistercian Monastery, and on to Fishbourne with its ferry boats to Portsmouth. Continuing to Kite Hill we cross Wootton Creek and take the path northwest through the village, passing Palmers Farm and Woodhouse Copse on the way to Whippingham. Avoiding nearly two miles of road walking we will take the No 5 service bus from Whippingham to East Cowes and cross the ferry to West Cowes. Our walk now resumes with a stroll through West Cowes and on past the Royal Yacht Squadron Club House, with its 19 bronze cannons, to Egypt Point and Gurnard Bay, where there will be time for a well-earned drink at the Watersedge beach café before meeting our coach back to Freshwater Bay House. Distance: 8½ miles with 500 feet of ascent.

Day 6: Gurnard Bay to Cranmore - Starting today from the Watersedge beach café, we ascend the cliffs above Gurnard Bay, with magnificent views across the Solent and Southampton Water, walking to Thorness Bay before the costal path cuts inland to Thorness Bay Holiday Park and eventually on to the village of Porchfield. We continue with the best part of two miles of lane walking around MOD land before crossing four fields to arrive at the ancient town of Newtown. This was the island’s capital in the middle ages and once a thriving port and commercial centre. The old town hall and little museum in the car park are worth a visit, and the area will make an excellent lunch stop. The coastal path now continues south over the causeway and along the lane to Shalfleet, from where we walk along the road to turn north through Nunnery Wood and Pigeon Coo Farm out to Hamstead Point. We complete today’s section by walking along the coast to Cranmore, from where our coach will take us back to Freshwater Bay House. Distance: 11½ miles with 475 feet of ascent

Day 7: Cranmore to Freshwater Bay - We are dropped off today in Cranmore for the final leg through the Bouldner Forest (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) to the picturesque port of Yarmouth, over the swing bridge spanning the River Yar, and on to Fort Victoria. After a drink stop we continue around the West Wight, with fine views over the Solent to Hurst Castle, passing Colwell and Totland Bay, to ascend Headen Hill with its Bronze Age camp. After lunch we walk down to Alum Bay. We then ascend West High Down to walk out to the Needles with the Old and New Batteries and the Black Knight missile test site. After taking in the outstanding view we continue our ascent of West High Down before passing on to the pleasant turf land of Tennyson Down with its wonderful views out over the Channel on our right, and of the mainland on our left. After visiting Tennyson’s memorial cross we descend for the last time to Freshwater Bay House. Distance: 12 miles with 875 feet of ascent

Day 8: Departure day