Photo by Visit Isle of Wight
Walking
The Isle of Wight has over 500 miles of paths, providing access to most of its 147 square miles of glorious coast and countryside – making the Island a real paradise for walkers all year round!
Over half the Island has been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and there are almost 30 miles of ‘Heritage Coast’, a designation applied to coastlines of only the highest quality in England and Wales.
The diversity of this unspoilt landscape makes walking a delight. Discover the panoramic views from the high downs, the tranquillity of ancient forests, the picturesque farms and villages nestling in fertile valleys and some 60 miles of stunning, unspoilt coastline.
Western Yar Estuary Walk
From Yarmouth Harbour, explore the beautiful and peaceful Western Yar Estuary which is within the Isle of Wight’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and has a wealth of wildlife and heritage to discover.
Robert Hooke Trail
A scenic, circular walk around locations in West Wight that are associated with the life of the great 17th century, Freshwater scientist, Robert Hooke, and encompassing other sites of historical interest.
Newtown Nature Reserve
Newtown National Nature Reserve is the perfect spot for a relaxing walk, taking in the beautiful harbour, peaceful woodland and meadows leading down to the estuary, which is a wonderful network of secluded creeks and waterways.
Fossil Walks
The Isle of Wight is one of the most famous places in Europe for dinosaur and other fossil discoveries, earning us the title of ‘Dinosaur Island’, and some of the best beaches for viewing fossils are in West Wight.
More West Wight Walks
Close to Yarmouth in the West Wight area, there are a multitude of other excellent walking locations to explore.
Bouldnor Forest Nature Reserve is a fascinating nature reserve with a prehistoric past.
Ningwood to Yarmouth is a short walk taking in parts of the Coastal Path, starting inland from Ningwood, the walk joins the Coastal Path all the way to the harbour town of Yarmouth.
The Warrior Trail is a 6 mile circular trail created in celebration of one of the Isle of Wight’s most prominent First World War stories, that of General Jack Seely and his horse Warrior, a real-life war horse.
Towering Tennyson is a walk around the wild western tip of the Isle of Wight taking in Alum Bay, The Needles, West High Down and the magnificent Tennyson Down, with views across Headon Warren to the Solent and the mainland beyond.
Coastal Path
The Isle of Wight’s Coastal Path takes walkers around the whole circumference of the Island and can be done in six sections.
There are two long walks that take in Yarmouth.
Yarmouth to Brighstone
Yarmouth to Brighstone is 14 miles (23km) and takes 5 hours with several steep sections along the south coast where the walk traverses the downs. This is a long walk passing the famous pinnacles of chalk that mark the western end of the Island, The Needles. Also passing over downland affording spectacular views of this part of the Island and beyond.
Cowes to Yarmouth
Cowes to Yarmouth is 16 miles (26km) and takes 7 hours with a gently undulating path with only slight inclines along its length. This is a coastal walk in name, but on this long walk you also go inland around the Newtown River estuary, passing along cliff tops through villages and woodlands, with fine views of the Solent and mainland beyond.