The Isle of Wight Coastal Path (or Coastal Footpath) is a circular
long-distance footpath of 70 miles (113 km) around the
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight ( ) is a county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the largest and second-most populous island of England. Referred to as 'The Island' by residents, the Isle of ...
, UK. It follows
public footpaths and minor lanes, with some sections along roads.
Route
The path is waymarked in both directions and can be started at any point, but is described here
clockwise
Two-dimensional rotation can occur in two possible directions. Clockwise motion (abbreviated CW) proceeds in the same direction as a clock's hands: from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back up to the top. The opposite ...
from the pier at
Ryde
Ryde is an English seaside town and civil parish on the north-east coast of the Isle of Wight. The built-up area had a population of 23,999 according to the 2011 Census and an estimate of 24,847 in 2019. Its growth as a seaside resort came af ...
().
Ryde to Sandown
Ryde to Bembridge (7.5 miles)
From the bus station by
Ryde Pier
Ryde Pier is an early 19th century pier serving the town of Ryde, on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England. It is the world's oldest seaside pleasure pier. Ryde Pier Head railway station is at the sea end of the pier, and Ryde Espla ...
, the path follows the Esplanade close to the beach. It passes
Appley Tower and
Puckpool Point before rejoining the coast road to
Seaview Seaview or Sea View may refer to:
Places
* Clifton Beach, Karachi, also known as Sea View, a beach in Pakistan
* Sea View, Dorset, a suburb in England
* Seaview, Isle of Wight, a small village in England
* Seaview, Lower Hutt, an industrial suburb ...
. It then climbs inland on footpaths, skirting Priory Woods, before returning to sea level at
The Duver near
St Helen's St Helens or St. Helen's may refer to:
Places Australia
* St Helens, Queensland (Fraser Coast Region), a locality in the Fraser Coast Region
* St Helens, Queensland (Toowoomba Region), a locality in the Toowoomba Region
* St Helens Beach, Queenslan ...
Old Church. Then the path crosses the edge of
Bembridge Harbour on the old mill wall, using Embankment Road to pass the houseboats in the harbour. The path then continues into Bembridge and to the Lifeboat Station.
Bembridge to Sandown (5.5 miles)
The path follows the coast around the eastern tip of the Island at Foreland, then skirts the cliffs above
Whitecliff Bay
Whitecliff Bay is a sandy bay near Foreland which is the easternmost point of the Isle of Wight, England, about two miles south-west of Bembridge and just to the north of Culver Down. The bay has a shoreline of around and has a popular sandy ...
. This part is subject to regular erosion; as of 2012 a section at Foreland is closed (walkers may prefer to divert and walk through Bembridge village). From Whitecliff Bay and its caravan park the path climbs steadily to
Culver Down and the Yarborough Monument, with impressive views across
Sandown Bay and across the Solent to
Portsmouth
Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council.
Portsmouth is the most dens ...
. Dropping fairly steeply away from Culver Down, the path meets the beach again at
Yaverland, then passes the
Isle of Wight Zoo
The Wildheart Sanctuary, previously known as the Isle of Wight Zoo and Sandown Zoo, is a sanctuary inside the former Sandown Fort on the coastline of Sandown, Isle of Wight. The zoo was privately owned but became a charitable trust in 2017. Th ...
and enters
Sandown.
Sandown to Ventnor
Sandown to Shanklin
The two-mile coastal walk between Sandown and Shanklin is a popular attraction, with a choice of the moderately undulating coastal (cliff) path or the flat sea wall promenade. At Shanklin, there is a "cliff lift" (open Summer only), which may help make the decision. There are a couple of cafes on the cliff open during the summer months.
Shanklin to Ventnor
From
Shanklin the path passes the Fisherman's Cottage pub on the beach at the foot of
Shanklin Chine, before climbing Appley Steps up the side of the cliff and then through the edge of Shanklin. It continues uphill on a minor road, passing
Luccombe village, where there are magnificent views across Sandown Bay. It then follows paths and steps through the woods of the
Bonchurch Landslips
Bonchurch Landslips is a site of special scientific interest which is located north-east of Ventnor, Isle of Wight. A wooded coastal landslip zone, the site was notified in 1977 for both its biological and geological features.
Part of the Is ...
(where a side path ascends to the
Devil's Chimney) before reaching the sea again at
Horseshore Bay. It then follows the sea wall for two miles until reaching
Ventnor
Ventnor () is a seaside resort and civil parish established in the Victorian era on the southeast coast of the Isle of Wight, England, from Newport. It is situated south of St Boniface Down, and built on steep slopes leading down to the sea. ...
.
Ventnor to Freshwater Bay
Blackgang to Brook
Description of Niton to Brighstone IOW coastal path
Freshwater Bay to Yarmouth
Freshwater Bay to Needles New Battery
Starting 100 metres west of The Albion Hotel, the path is a steady climb ascending Tennyson Down where at its peak stands the Tennyson memorial. The path continues forward to the Needles Old Battery (National Trust) with views over Alum Bay.
Yarmouth to East Cowes
Away from the approaches to East Cowes and Yarmouth, the majority of this section follows inland roads and many unmade, muddy public footpaths. Between Thorness Bay and Hampstead Point the path takes a circuitous 7 mile route via Newtown and Shalfleet to avoid a rifle range and the Newtown River.
The total official length of this section is 17 miles.
[http://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/dbimgs/1.Cowes-Yarmouth.pdf ]
East Cowes to Ryde
Wootton to Ryde
Walking on roads until the outskirts of
Fishbourne Fishbourne may refer to:
Places
* Fishbourne, Isle of Wight, a village
* Fishbourne, West Sussex, a village
** Fishbourne (UK electoral ward)
* Fishbourne Roman Palace, an archaeological site in West Sussex
People
* William Fishbourn (1677–17 ...
, then along a track past
Quarr Abbey
Quarr Abbey ( French: ''Abbaye Notre-Dame de Quarr'') is a monastery between the villages of Binstead and Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight in southern England. The name is pronounced as "Kwor" (rhyming with "for"). It belongs to the Catho ...
and
Ryde Golf Course
Ryde is an English seaside town and civil parishes in England, civil parish on the north-east coast of the Isle of Wight. The built-up area had a population of 23,999 according to the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 Census and an estimate of ...
, then roads into
Ryde
Ryde is an English seaside town and civil parish on the north-east coast of the Isle of Wight. The built-up area had a population of 23,999 according to the 2011 Census and an estimate of 24,847 in 2019. Its growth as a seaside resort came af ...
.
Practical aspects
As the route is circular one can join at any point.
The route is easily accessible by public transport:
Ryde
Ryde is an English seaside town and civil parish on the north-east coast of the Isle of Wight. The built-up area had a population of 23,999 according to the 2011 Census and an estimate of 24,847 in 2019. Its growth as a seaside resort came af ...
and
Yarmouth
Yarmouth may refer to:
Places Canada
*Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia
**Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
**Municipality of the District of Yarmouth
**Yarmouth (provincial electoral district)
**Yarmouth (electoral district)
* Yarmouth Township, Ontario
*New ...
Bus Stations are on the route, and
Southern Vectis
Southern Vectis is a bus operator on the Isle of Wight. The company was founded in 1921 as "Dodson and Campbell" and became the "Vectis Bus Company" in 1923. The company was purchased by the Southern Railway (Great Britain), Southern Railway b ...
bus routes stop near the route. Ferry services from the mainland arrive at
Yarmouth
Yarmouth may refer to:
Places Canada
*Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia
**Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
**Municipality of the District of Yarmouth
**Yarmouth (provincial electoral district)
**Yarmouth (electoral district)
* Yarmouth Township, Ontario
*New ...
,
Cowes
Cowes () is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina, facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east bank. The two towns are linked by the Cowes Floa ...
,
East Cowes,
Fishbourne Fishbourne may refer to:
Places
* Fishbourne, Isle of Wight, a village
* Fishbourne, West Sussex, a village
** Fishbourne (UK electoral ward)
* Fishbourne Roman Palace, an archaeological site in West Sussex
People
* William Fishbourn (1677–17 ...
and
Ryde
Ryde is an English seaside town and civil parish on the north-east coast of the Isle of Wight. The built-up area had a population of 23,999 according to the 2011 Census and an estimate of 24,847 in 2019. Its growth as a seaside resort came af ...
, all of which are on the route. Additionally,
Ryde Esplanade and
Lake
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...
railway stations are on the path, and
Shanklin and
Sandown stations are less than 750m away.
There are some sections, notably between Blackgang and Brook, where public transport is limited. Small public car parks are located along the
Military Road, most of which are free. In other locations, car parking on the route is within an urban or semi-urban area and a fee is charged.
The
Ordnance Survey
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maps covering the route are:
* Landranger 1:50,000 sheet 196
* Explorer 1:25,000 sheet OL29 ''Isle of Wight''
Both publications cover the entire route, although the ''Explorer'' has the greater detail.
The route is mostly waymarked with signs, showing a seagull symbol and the words "Coastal Footpath" Some signs include the next destination(s) on the route, with the distance in miles.
The route can be completed in as little as two long days but that is not advisable.
References
External links
Isle of Wight Council websitewith some information on the route
* https://www.redfunnel.co.uk/en/isle-of-wight-guide/
{{DEFAULTSORT:Isle Of Wight Coastal Path
Long-distance footpaths in England
Geography of the Isle of Wight
Coastal paths in England
Transport on the Isle of Wight