Independent Trails: Fact File

Independent Trails: Fact File.IOW4

Isle of Wight Coast Path

Trail Facts

Total distance: 65 miles (104km)
Duration: 8 nights, 7 days walking
Minimum/maximum daily distances: 8 miles (13km)/11 ½ miles (18km)
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: IOW4

Itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Ryde, where your first nights accommodation has been booked.

Day 2: Ryde to Cowes. 8 miles (13km).

Day 3: Cowes to Shalfleet. 8 miles (13km).

Day 4: Shalfleet to Totland. 10 miles (16km).

Day 5: Totland to Brighstone. 10 miles (16km).

Day 6: Brighstone to Niton. 8 miles (13km).

Day 7: Niton to Sandown. 9 ½ miles (15km).

Day 8: Sandown to Ryde. 11 ½ miles (18km).

Day 9: Depart from Ryde after breakfast.

Extra nights/Rest days

For centuries Cowes has been associated with sailing craft and boat building and along its busy High Street you'll find shops reflecting the towns heritage, with boatyards, chandlers and Beckens's famous yachting gallery. 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 of the castles interior. If you fancy somewhere quieter, consider Brighstone, it is a beautiful little village set amid flower-strewn fields between forest and sea. If you would like to enjoy one of the finest beaches in the south of England consider Shanklin for an extra night.

What's included

8 nights accommodation in en-suite rooms with private bathrooms (where available) in selected hotels, inns or guesthouses.
Full English breakfast.
Door to door luggage transfer along the trail.
Maps and a guidebook describing the trail.
An information pack containing an itinerary, detailed instructions on how to find your accommodation each night, town plans, information about facilities and places of interest along the trail and a kit list.
Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.
Emergency assistance

Travel Information

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).

Back to self guided walking index page