The Isle of Wight Coastal Footpath
Created | Updated Mar 10, 2007
Introduction
The Isle of Wight Coastal Footpath, or more simply 'Coast Path', is a 56-mile walking route that broadly speaking follows the coastline of the Isle of Wight, a moderately large island in the south of the British Isles. It is maintained by the Isle of Wight Council's Rights of Way department1 and runs along land owned by bodies as diverse as the Council, the National Trust and local farmers.
It is generally a footpath only, meaning that it is mostly unsuitable for cyclists, horses and motor traffic, although some short sections are along road or Bridleway. In common with the rest of the Island's public paths, it is generally well signed, with almost all signs displaying the route's seagull logo, and many also give the next destination and distance to it. Some older signs also include the path number2, which whilst not displayed on maps, is referenced on the Council's website if any section has to be closed.
The Route Described
There is no real reason to start the description in any particular place, or in either direction. As a broadly circular route, it is possible to pick the route up virtually anywhere, and as no part of the Island is more than 5 miles from the sea, it is also fairly difficult to miss. However, the convention with descriptions of this route is to start at Ryde and go Clockwise, so the description follows it in this way.
Ryde to Puckpool, Seaview, Bemberidge and Sandown
Path Numbers: R90, R64, R89, R86, R108, BB33, BB6, BB7, BB10, BB42, BB39, BB43, BB10, BB30, SS43
Many of the hardy souls who set out to 'do the Coast Path' - as in, the whole route in a short period - start from Ryde, as it is the easiest town on the route to reach from the Mainland (two commercial ferry routes to Portsmouth in Hampshire), and is also fairly easy to reach from the rest of the Island.
On arrival at Ryde from the Mainland via the Pier Head FastCat service, you can take the regular connecting train down the pier to Esplanade station. Leave the station through the main exit, turning left into the Bus Station and then over the railway footbridge. From the footbridge, Portsmouth is normally clearly visible, and immediately ahead is the Hovercraft terminal.
From the Hovercraft terminal, simply turn left along the sea wall and you pass Ryde Harbour, and Puckpool Park before entering St Helen's. Keep to the left along the Sea Wall and past the attractive restaurants through to Seagrove Bay. At this point the path descends to the beach, so take evasive action if it is High Tide! Shortly afterwards, the route climbs onto the cliff top for the first time as you walk through woodland on the approach to St Helen's Duver.
At this point, the official route turns inland to avoid more problems at High Tide, but if possible, it is more pleasant to go along the (usually deserted) beach as far as St Helen's Duver. The Duver is a small area of Sand Dunes near the village of St Helen's, itself close to Bembridge, which is often claimed to be the largest village in the UK. The path follows the western, then southern sides of Bembridge Harbour before entering the village, passing the RNLI Lifeboat station and heading back onto roads for a short time. When the path resumes, it once more on cliffs, and pases the rear of what most Island residents still call 'Bembridge School' - a private school was housed in these buildings until the late 20th Century. It now serves as boarding accommodation for Ryde School and an activities centre. The path then continues to Whitecliff Bay - the only point where the beach can be accessed between Bembridge and Sandown.
On leaving Whitecliff Bay, the path rises up Culver Down to near the Yarborough Monument. At this point, the path rises to 104m above sea level before descending to Yaverland and the start of the sea wall along Sandown Bay. After passing the Isle of Wight Zoo and the Dinosaur Isle Museum, the path joins the road along the esplanade into the large resort of Sandown.
Sandown to Lake, Shanklin, Bonchurch and Ventnor
Path Numbers: SS59, SS72, SS93, SS74, SS2, V65*, V69, V70
The next section's exact route is debatable, as many people who walk the Coast Path probably follow the sea wall all the way to Shanklin. However, the official route is along the cliff-tops through the village of Lake, passing a Napolionic-era fort, back gardens, open spaces and a cafe or three before arriving in Shanklin, a slightly smaller resort than Sandown. The route continues past hotels and a rather ugly lift to the seafront before descending past Tower Cottage Gardens to the seafront, also passing Shanklin Chine, then back up to the cliff-top Rylstone Gardens before joining the road to the hamlet of Luccombe.
The path leaves the road near Luccombe, and beyond the southern part of Luccombe, Dunnose, enters The Landslip. This is an unstable area of chalk and clay that is quite frequently subject to land movement, hence the name. The path beyond Dunnose had to be closed for several years at the end of the 20th century as much of it no longer exists and had to be rebuilt!
After passing through this jungle, you reach Bonchurch, and a short stroll along the sea wall brings you to the town of Ventnor.
* - The original path V65 no longer exists, the new path has a suffix letter (V65c or similar).
Ventnor to St Lawrence, Niton and Blackgang
Path Numbers: V83, V87, V90, V93, V94, V97, V81, V79, NT28, NT29, NT29, NT31, NT32, NT34, NT35, C11a, C35, C12
This section passes Ventnor Botanic Gardens, follows deserted cliff-top paths around secluded coves, and at the village of St Lawrence ascends to the top of the Niton Undercliff. It skits fields before briefly entering the village of Niton, then continuing along high cliffs to Blackgang Bluff and the outskirts of the village of Chale at Blackgang Chine.
Blackgang to Chale, Whale Chine, Atherfield Bay, Brook and Freshwater Bay
Path Numbers: C15, C17, C16, C18, SW30, BS1, BS3, BS16, BS18, BS58, BS59, BS89, BS78, BS79, BS103, BS98, F35, F62
