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A guidebook to 33 walking routes on the beautiful Isle of Wight, including the 70 mile Coastal Path – a complete circuit of the island's spectacular coast. Ranging from 4 to 18 miles long, the walks explore clifftops, beaches, forest trails and downland, and visit picturesque villages and the towns of Yarmouth, Cowes and Ventnor. Graded easy to moderate, they are suitable for all abilities and are accessible all year round.
Walking on the Isle of Wight contains clear step-by-step route descriptions for each walk, accompanied by an extract from 1:50,000 OS mapping. There is information about refreshment and accommodation options along the route and plenty of details about the island's history and the interesting places encountered. Options for accessing the start and finish using the island excellent public transport are also given for each walk.
With an incredible 326 miles of footpaths in a compact area, there is a huge choice of where to walk, which means that walkers can experience all the diversity the island has to offer – jaw-dropping views such as those from the magnificent coastline of West Wight, St Catherine's Point and the Needles, sweeping downland, as well as 2000 or so listed buildings.
Introduction
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 guide
Coastal Path
South coast
Walk 1 Sandown to Ventnor
Walk 2 Ventnor to Chale
Walk 3 Chale to Brook
Walk 4 Brook to Alum Bay
North coast
Walk 5 Alum Bay to Yarmouth
Walk 6 Yarmouth to Shalfleet
Walk 7 Shalfleet to East Cowes
Walk 8 East Cowes to Ryde
Walk 9 Ryde to Sandown
West Wight
Walk 10 Shorwell circular
Walk 11 Shorwell to Niton
Walk 12 Brighstone circular
Walk 13 Brighstone to Yarmouth
Walk 14 Best of eastern Freshwater (circular)
Walk 15 Best of western Freshwater (circular)
Walk 16 Shalfleet and Newtown circular
Walk 17 Shalfleet to Newport
Walk 18 Gatcombe to Newport
Walk 19 Tennyson Trail
East Wight
Walk 20 Shanklin circular via Nettlecombe
Walk 21 Shanklin circular via Bonchurch
Walk 22 Shanklin circular via America Wood
Walk 23 Shanklin to Godshill
Walk 24 Niton circular (the two lighthouses walk)
Walk 25 Ashey Station circular
Walk 26 Ryde to Ventnor
Walk 27 Seaview circular
Walk 28 Wootton Bridge circular
Walk 29 Wootton Bridge to Newport
Walk 30 Bembridge Trail
Walk 31 Worsley Trail
Walk 32 Shorwell to Brading
Walk 33 Godshill to Ventnor
Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Useful contacts
Paul Curtis fell in love with the Isle of Wight on his first visit as an adult in 2008. Surprised and inspired by the sheer variety of landscapes in a relatively small area, he kept returning over the next three years and ended up walking nearly every footpath on the island before being commissioned by Cicerone to write a guidebook. He has lived on the island since 2011 but regularly finds time to walk and cycle on the mainland and internationally.
