Essex Man Does Walking

I wanted something a little smaller this year so I could fit in perhaps two of them in the summer months. Having been to the Isle of Wight many times I know that the coastal path is a good one to do. Roughly, 70 miles long, I plan to do it over 4 days.

Day 1 – 10.43 miles Cowes to Ningwood

It is going to take half a day just to get the train down to Southampton and then the ferry across to Cowes. Should get there around 2pm I reckon so a 10.5 mile walk should see me arrive at the campsite around 6pm.

Campsite: Camp Wight

The Horse & Groom nearby for some food.

Day 2 – 23.1 miles Ningwood to Grange Farm nr Brighstone

A biggie! Planning to travel light this year. There are plenty of villages and towns en route so I shouldn’t need to take much with me bar the camping equipment, couple spare clothes and maybe a small gas burner with an emergency pack of food.

Going to be an 8 hour walk so need to get up and going early. Could grab a bite to eat in Totland or the Needles early on and then Freshwater Bay.

Campsite: Grange Farm

The shop at the camp site is well stocked and it is only a short walk into Brighstone where there are more shops and a pub.

Day 3 – 18.3 miles (couple of miles to camp site after that!) Grange Farm to Shanklin.

Unless you want a B&B you will have to walk slightly out of town to find a campsite. Niton and St Lawrence should be good places for mid day food. Shanklin has a whole load of places to eat and drink. Going to take about 6.5 hours to get to Shanklin and then maybe another half hour to get to the camp site.

Campsite: Old Barn Touring Park

Supermarket and pub close by!

Day 4 – 21 miles Shanklin to Cowes

Last Day and a longish trek with a fair bit of up and down. The coastal path seems to miss the coast for the last part of the trek, a pity. Not sure whether to stay in the IoW for the night, Southampton or head back home.

Sandown is straight after Shanklin and then up a very steep hill! Bembridge looks like a good place for a morning stop. Nettlestone and then Ryde should also have good places to stop and eat. Then a last push through Fishbourne and Whippingham and back to Cowes!

Here is the route in its totality.