Malcolm Smith's
Walks Pages

 

...  ISLE OF WIGHT   ...

 
ROUND THE ISLAND - Anti-clockwise on the Coastal Path

 
Section 2 : Yarmouth to Freshwater Bay

 
          Section 2 is sub-divided as follows :

          Yarmouth to Colwell
          Colwell to Totland Pier
          Totland Pier to Alum Bay
          Alum Bay to The Needles
          The Needles to Freshwater Bay

• Yarmouth to Colwell - Leave Yarmouth to the west from the ferry terminal then cross over the Yar bridge on Bridge Road to the end of the causeway.  Where the road bends sharp left and becomes Halletts Shute, turn right down a short gravel track to the water's edge then turn left to follow the shoreline as signed towards Fort Victoria.  Pass houses then Warner's holiday complex before reaching woodland.  Where the sea wall ends, ascend a short flight of steps towards Fort Victoria then climb up the path through the wood to reach the road and turn right.  After 100 yards, bear left at the entrance to Fort Victoria and take the lane which runs steadily uphill.  At the end of the lane ascend a flight of steps to a path which runs level with fields to the left and woodland to the right.  The woods give way to holiday bungalows on the right around which the path is enclosed on both sides by fences and has zig-zag barriers before reaching the road by the entrance to Cliff End (Linstone Chine Holiday bungalows).  Turn left down the lane before ascending to Norton.  As the lane bears right, turn right and as directed towards Brambles Chine holiday bungalows.  Pass through the entrance, passing between the chalets then turn left along a concrete track with a white painted wall on the right.  Leave between chalets numbers 35 and 240 onto a footpath which runs very gently downhill with a ditch on the right and enclosed by hedges.  Join a lane and keep to the left, following the lane upwards, passing Brambles Farm on the right before reaching Colwell Road between Yarmouth and Totland.  Turn right along Colwell Road passing Madeira Lane on the right, pass Colwell Close on the right then reaching the Colwell Bay Inn.
• Colwell to Totland Pier - Turn right into Colwell Chine Road and continue to the end.  Pass a summertime shop on the left then a car park and toilets past to the Captains Cabin cafe before reaching the sea at Colwell Bay.  Turn left to walk along the sea wall to Totland Pier.
• Totland Pier to Alum Bay - Continue along the sea front past the pier to the Waterfront restaurant the turn left to ascend a long flight of steps to Turf Walk.  Turn right along the broad grass walk lined with seats and looking out over the Solent, merging with the road on which continues uphill.  Pass the Hermitage Hotel, then climbing more steeply to reach a path on the right signposted to Alum Bay.  Take the path which is enclosed on both sides by wooden fences.  Bear left behind houses, then uphill passing through a staggered barrier into woodland thus entering The National Trust Headon Common.  A rough path meanders through the trees, then through scrub before opening out where the track divides.  Do not ascend the hill ahead but keep to the right to skirt the hill on the seaward side into Headon Warren where the path becomes very overgrown.  The path twists and turns, crossing a stream before entering woodland then coming out into bracken where it has many branches and alternative routes.  Maintain a more or less level line between the hill and cliff, diverting only to avoid obstructions.  Eventually the path starts to climb uphill into heather to a more distinct path which undulates below sandy cliffs on the left before cresting over to a grass track.  Pass the remains of a military fort on the right then follow the track that winds away downhill at the left.  Pass through a kissing gate leaving the National Trust Headon Warren with views of The Needles.  Where the track meets a road, bear left down to join the main road after 100 yards then turn right to the Alum Bay facilities.
• Alum Bay to The Needles - Beyond the car park, pass through a set of gates onto a tarmac road.  Follow the road round to the right and continue uphill to the sign Coastal Footpath T25.  Ascend the steps and cross a stile into The National Trust West High Down to ascend steeply on a chalk path to a sign Coastal Footpath T24 near Coastguard Cottages.  The coastal path actually veers sharply left here but it is worth making a short detour to the Needles viewpoint by crossing the stile and walking straight ahead along the tarmac road.
• The Needles to Freshwater Bay - Cross the stile by Coastguard Cottage, over which bear right to the top of West High Down.  By keeping the ridge in an easterly direction there are magnificent views of the sea on both sides of the island.  The walk is moderately level across the down where there are earthworks, probably the remains of a former golf course.  Aim generally for the Tennyson monument which is on the skyline ahead.  The gradient descends to a fence at the limit of The National Trust West High Down which is left over a stile adjacent to the remains of the old Nodes beacon.  Bear right past The National Trust Tennyson Down information board then climb to the Tennyson Monument at the summit.  At the start of the descent, there are ancient earthworks visible on the cliff edge on the right, however, care should be exercised as the cliffs are crumbling into the sea.  On the lower slopes, pass through ancient earthworks before passing an information board after which the descent steepens then finally becomes severe down to a stile.  Past the stile, bear left to a similar stile that leads into a lane directly ahead which is followed to meet the main road by the public toilets.  Turn right down to the Mermaid Cafe then right again to Freshwater Bay.