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Walking on the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight Coastal Path and 21 coastal and countryside walks
ISBN
9781786312563
Availability
Published
Published
20 Jun 2025
Edition
Third
Pages
216
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.30cm
Weight
260g
Delivery & Returns
Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...
Guidebook to the Coastal Path and 21 walks on the beautiful Isle of Wight, from 4 to 18 miles long. The routes are suitable for all abilities and are accessible all year round. Includes a complete circuit of the island's spectacular coast as well as walks exploring forest trails and downland, and visiting the towns of Yarmouth, Cowes and Ventnor.
Seasons
The Isle of Wight enjoys a more temperate climate than the mainland. Late spring to autumn is ideal for inland walks, while the Coastal Path is well suited to winter, offering wild and dramatic scenery. Some inland routes can be very muddy during the winter months.Centres
Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor, Godshill, Ryde, Yarmouth, NewportDifficulty
Walks are graded from ‘easy’ to ‘moderate–strenuous’. Routes marked ‘easy’ can be enjoyed by children at the discretion of parents, but the guide is best suited to adults with at least average fitness. No special equipment is required for any of the walks.Must See
The Isle of Wight boasts a magnificent and varied Coastal Path with constant outstanding views. Highlights include St Catherine’s Lighthouse, fossil-rich Compton Bay, and red squirrels in ancient woodlands. Explore honey-pot villages with cosy pubs, the historic Carisbrooke Castle, and the unique microclimate of Ventnor. Discover under-explored gems like the peaceful Newtown Harbour. Over half the island is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and was home to poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Walkers can follow the Tennyson Trail (Walk 9) to experience the landscapes that inspired his work.ISBN
9781786312563
Availability
Published
Published
20 Jun 2025
Edition
Third
Pages
216
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.30cm
Weight
260g
Delivery & Returns
Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...
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Overview
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Guidebook to 21-day walks on the Isle of Wight, suitable for all abilities, plus a long-distance Coastal Path route. Discover this beautiful, relaxed island off England’s south coast, with a variety of walking terrain: dramatic coast paths, rolling downland, marshes, woods, forests and sites of historical interest. Coastal routes can be enjoyed year-round, while inland walks are best between spring and autumn.
The graded day walks range from 8–30km (5–19 miles) and take between 2 and 8 hours to complete. The Coastal Path is a longer, more challenging route that circumnavigates the island in an anti-clockwise direction. It’s divided into eight stages, though stronger walkers may prefer to complete it over five, six or seven stages. The full route covers 125km (78 miles).
- 1:50,000 OS maps included for each walk
- Easy access from Newport, Cowes and Shanklin
- Includes refreshment and public transport options for all walks
- Local points of interest include The Needles, Osborne House and Carisbrooke Castle
- GPX files available to download
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Table of Contents
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Map key
Route summary tables
Stage facilities planner
Overview profile/staging optionsIntroduction
Geography and landscape
A potted history
Modern society
Principal locations
Wildlife
When to go
Getting to the island
Getting around
Accommodation
What to take
Safety
The countryside
Walking in groups
Walking with children
Using this guideCOASTAL PATH
Stage 1 Cowes to Shalfleet
Stage 2 Shalfleet to Yarmouth
Stage 3 Yarmouth to Alum Bay
Stage 4 Alum Bay to Brook
Stage 5 Brook to Ventnor
Stage 6 Ventnor to Sandown
Stage 7 Sandown to Ryde
Stage 8 Ryde to East CowesWEST WIGHT
Walk 1 Newport and Shorwell figure of eight
Walk 2 Shorwell to Whitwell
Walk 3 Brighstone circular
Walk 4 Brighstone to Yarmouth
Walk 5 Yarmouth circular
Walk 6 Freshwater circular
Walk 7 Shalfleet and Newtown circular
Walk 8 Shalfleet to Newport
Walk 9 Tennyson TrailEAST WIGHT
Walk 10 Shanklin circular via Nettlecombe
Walk 11 Shanklin circular via America Wood
Walk 12 Niton circular (the two lighthouses walk)
Walk 13 Ashey and Newchurch circular
Walk 14 Ryde to Ventnor
Walk 15 Brading and St Helens circular
Walk 16 Wootton Bridge circular
Walk 17 Wootton Station to Newport
Walk 18 Bembridge Trail
Walk 19 Worsley Trail
Walk 20 Arreton to Brading
Walk 21 Godshill to VentnorAppendix A Accommodation listings
Appendix B Useful contacts -
Updates
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July 2025
Coast path diversions
Stage 2 – Shalfleet
A section of the path between Lower Hamstead Farm and Hamstead is closed due to erosion. Rather than joining the Hamstead Trail, follow the diversion signposted and continue on the track to Hamstead to rejoin the Coast Path.
Stage 4 – Freshwater
A section of the path on leaving Freshwater is closed due to erosion. Follow the diversion signposted across the A3055 Military Road and through the golf course to rejoin the Coast Path after Freshwater Cliff.
Stage 7 – Bembridge
As you approach Bembridge, a section of the path at Black Rock Ledge is closed due to erosion. Follow the signposted diversion to reach a road. Turn right and follow Howgate Road until you rejoin the Coast Path at the road junction with Beachfield Road.
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Downloads
By Paul Curtis
Paul Curtis lived on the Isle of Wight for eight years, during which time he wrote the first edition of this book. He is a very keen national and international long-distance walker and cyclist, preferring to savour it all than to rush. Among many other adventures, he has cycled from Boston to San Diego, from New York City to New Orleans, from Calais to Malaga, and from Calais to Scalea, as well as hiking through the Swiss Alps, and from his Hampshire home to Sheffield.
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