Total distance:
65 miles (104km)
Duration: 5 nights, 4 days walking
Minimum/maximum daily distances: 15 miles (24km)/17 ½ miles (28km)
Waymarking: The trail is very clearly waymarked and is very easy to follow.
Season: All year
Starting point of holiday: Ryde
End of holiday: Ryde
Code: IOW1
Day 1: Travel to Ryde, where your first nights accommodation has been booked.
Day 2: Ryde to Shalfleet. 16 miles (25.5km).
Day 3: Shalfleet to Freshwater Bay. 15 miles (24km).
Day 4: Freshwater Bay to Ventnor. 17 ½ miles (28km).
Day 5: Ventnor to Ryde. 16 ½ miles (26.5km).
Day 6: Depart from Ryde after breakfast.
Shalfleet is a charming little village and is a good base for exploring the delightful countryside of the interior of the island or visiting Newport, the capital of the Isle of Wight. On the outskirts of the town stands the magnificent medieval hilltop fortress of Carisbrooke Castle, where Charles I was imprisoned prior to his execution in London. As well as a fascinating museum, the castle boasts a 16th century well-house, where donkeys still trudge inside a huge treadmill to raise a barrel 160ft up the well shaft. A walk around the battlements provides stunning views over the island and lofty perspectives on the castles interior. If you would like to take advantage of some of the finest beaches in the south of England, spend time fossil-hunting or explore the Botanical Gardens where 22 landscaped acres of subtropical plants flourish, consider the attractive seaside town of Ventnor for a rest day.
Detailed instructions on how to get to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you on booking. A summary is given below.
Most convenient major city and International airports: London.
Outward journey from London to Ryde: Train from London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour (1 ½ hours), then Wightlink ferry to Ryde (crossing time 15 minutes).
Return journey to London at the end of the holiday: Ferry from Ryde to Portsmouth Harbour, then train to London Waterloo.
Travelling by car: There is a choice of three crossings to the island: Wightlink ferry from Lymington to Yarmouth (crossing time 30 minutes), Wightlink ferry from Portsmouth to Fishbourne (crossing time 35 minutes) or Red Funnel ferry from Southampton to Cowes (crossing time 55 minutes).