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Sheer magic at Freshwater Bay

Volunteer Johnny Sitch has been leading walks for HF Holidays for 17 years. He’s also spent 15 years as a Field Advisor, creating walks from our base on the Isle of Wight, at Freshwater Bay, which lies at the foot of the famous white cliffs.

Johnny Sitch We asked him to tell us his favourite walk and he said it had to be a local walk from our Freshwater Bay House. Johnny says he likes nothing better than introducing guests to walking on the Isle of Wight with this harder walk, which he has led many times. Highlights include the outskirts of Yarmouth harbour, the coastal path, Fort Victoria Country Park, the golden sands of Colwell Bay, the small beach at Totland Bay and Headon Warren, site of a Bronze Age camp. The walk continues to Alum Bay with its multi-coloured sandstone cliffs and famous sands, and up to the Needles New battery to view the famous landmark Needles Rocks. The return is over the downs and along the chalk ridge to the Tennyson Monument, with breathtaking views of the sea and the island and Freshwater Bay itself.

Alum Bay Freshwater Bay Johnny rates crisp sunny New Year’s Day in 2011 as one of the highlights of his leading career - he recalls leading this walk over Tennyson Down with 9 hardy guests just before sunset, with the light fading behind and views to the mainland on the left and channel to the right being almost surreal with the fading wintertime light. He describes the walk as “sheer magic”!