Isle of Wight Coastal Path

The two historic towns of Ryde and Cowes are linked by a meandering path with easy walking on gentle slopes. You’ll pass abbey ruins, a former royal residence and a modern day vineyard.

Today takes you inland around the Newtown River estuary, passing along cliff tops through villages and woodland, with fine views of the Solent and mainland beyond.

Heading south, past Warden point you arrive mid way Alum Bay, so called from the alum mining which used to take place here dating back to 1562. Now well known for the natural wonder of its colored, variegated cliffs. The Needles are the jagged edge of a ridge of chald that runs across form the Iland of Culver Down at the most westerly part of the island. Continuing up and east and then descending steeply into Freshwater Bay, around Watcombe Bay.

Shortly out of Freshwater Bay, the cliffs change from chalk to crumbling clay and sandstone. Continuing, passing Hanover Point and panoramic views, you amble over cliff tops. The chines are a special coastal feature of this area,

The coastal path follows a well defined track along the cliff top and above the undercliff above St Catherines Point and Rocken End, a large offshore rock and the home of a colony of comorants. Passing through Ventnor and areas of the National Trust land before walking along Victorian promenades next to the sandy beaches of Shanklin and Sandown.

Your final day takes you over the chalk cliffs of Culver Down and passing around the more tranquil Bembridge Harbour before returning to promenades once again.

Depart from Ryde after breakfast.

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.

The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to walk more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard.

Transfers allow your holiday to go ahead when accommodation directly on the route is unavailable. Local taxi operators (or your hosts for the night) will pick you up from a suitable location near the trail and take you to your night’s stay; then, the following morning they’ll drop you back off right where you were picked up so you can continue your walk.

Since we foot the extra bill for transfers, you can rest assured that we’ll get you on the trail whenever we can.