Unfortunately due to current virus-related safety concerns we have cancelled our events listed on this page. It is hoped that later this year we may be able to re-establish them. Walks can be downloaded from this website.
Join us for the launch of the revamped Yar River Trail and two absolutely new walks – Wroxall Stream Trail and Scotchells Brook Trail!
To celebrate the publication of our three new leaflets and trails, we will be leading a series of guided walks during the Isle of Wight Walking Festival in 2020. These will encompass the whole of the Yar River Trail (both as circular walks and in a big one way / one day bash) as well as Wroxall Stream (one way) and Scotchells Brook (circular). For the intrepid people who complete the whole of the Yar River Trail on the four day extravaganza we will be awarding free limited edition t-shirts and certificates. Booking will be essential and details of the walks and our launch event are below.
Yar River Trail 4 day extravaganza
Yar River Trail Day 1: Wednesday 6th May 2020. 11.5 miles starting at Godshill. GR 5300 8170. Meet Godshill village car park at 9.30 am to walk to Niton and return on the Trail. Walk to Niton via a downland and coastal route and then return to Godshill along “The Young River” section through Whitwell and Roud. The route passes along easy tracks and through some interesting marshland whilst offering a section beside the infant stream. Please bring picnic lunch. Pace – moderate, grade – moderate, rest stops – Yes, Dogs on leads – Yes, Steps and stiles, Coastal and woodland. Bus routes numbers 2 and 3. Leader: Harry Oldham, Phone 01983 873393, Email – harry@bembridge.myzen.co.uk
Yar River Trail Day 2: Thursday 7th May 2020. 11 miles starting at Godshill. GR 5300 8170. Meet Godshill village car park at 9.30 am to walk along the Trail to Newchurch and return on a different route. Walk to Newchurch along “The Developing River” section through Budbridge, Haseley and Langbridge. The route crosses farmland where the river tributaries collect water from marsh and bogs. Manor houses are numerous along the Trail. The walk returns through Borthwood and America Wood with views across the open fertile Arreton Valley. Please bring picnic lunch. Pace – moderate, grade – moderate, rest stops – Yes, Dogs on leads – Yes, Steps and stiles, Woodland. Bus routes numbers 2 and 3. Leader: Harry Oldham, Phone 01983 873393, Email – harry@bembridge.myzen.co.uk
Yar River Trail Day 3: Friday 8th May 2020 10 miles starting at Brading. GR 6065 8740. Meet at Brading town car park at 9.30am (chargeable) to walk to Newchurch and return on the Trail. Walk to Newchurch through Nunwell and over Brading Down with extensive views. Return to Brading along the “Central Floodplain” section of the Trail which uses the former railway track where the river weaves its way along the valley. Approaching Sandown the Trail cuts across the river valley and makes its way past the Roman Villa.. Please bring picnic lunch. Pace – moderate, grade – moderate, rest stops – Yes, Dogs on leads – Yes, Steps and stiles, Woodland. Bus routes numbers 2 and 3 and Island Line railway. Leader: Harry Oldham, Phone 01983 873393, Email – harry@bembridge.myzen.co.uk
Yar River Trail Day 4: Saturday 9th May 2020. 10.5 miles starting at Brading. GR 6065 8740. Meet at Brading town car park at 9.30am (chargeable) to walk to St Helens on the Trail (for a small celebration of completion) and return on a different route. Walk to St Helens and the sea along the “River Mouth” section of the Trail. The route skirts the marshes which form the old river estuary and passes through Centurions Copse (ancient woodland).After reaching Bembridge Windmill the Trail passes the edge of Bembridge village. Crossing the estuary on Embankment Road with its intriuging houseboats the route enters the Duver sand dunes to finish at the old church on the shore. The return route uses the shore (tide dependent) or the coast path and cuts across the northern part of the estuary with attractive waterfowl lagoons Please bring picnic lunch. Pace – moderate, grade – moderate, rest stops – Yes, Dogs on leads – Yes, Steps and stiles, Coastal and woodland. Bus routes numbers 2 and 3 and Island Line railway. Leader: Harry Oldham, Phone 01983 873393, Email – harry@bembridge.myzen.co.uk
Yar River Trail 1 day big bash
Yar River Trail – one way walk: Saturday 2nd May 19 miles starting at Niton High Street at 9.45 am. Bus Route 6. Walk finishes Bembridge. Bus Route 8. This walk starts at the source in Niton and follows the Eastern Yar to Bembridge – not only passing through varying countryside, but also seeing art work produced for the Millennium along the way. The walk will end around sunset, so please bring a torch with you just in case! Please bring picnic lunch. Pace – moderate, grade – moderate but walkers need to be agile, rest stops – Yes, Dogs on leads – Yes. Leader: Ian Griffiths Mob: 07803 296810
Wroxall Stream Link
Wroxall Stream Link – a linear walk: Tuesday 12th May 2020 8.5 miles starting at Ventnor High Street. GR 56540 7765. Meet at High Street car park (chargeable) at 10.15am. Bus route: 3. Walk finish Godshill, routes 2 and 3. The link route climbs over the Downs to Wroxall with extensive views across the Island and then passes through the Donkey Sanctuary. It follows the stream along the Arreton valley fertile area and skirts the marshland draining into the Stream. The link meets the Yar River Trail near Budbridge Manor. This walk then follows the Trail in reverse to Godshill. Please bring picnic lunch. Pace – moderate, grade – moderate, rest stops – Yes, Dogs on leads – Yes, Stiles and uphill paths. Woodland. Leader: Jim Catchpole Phone 01983 863763 Mob: 07944606251
Scotchells Brook Circular Walk
Scotchells Brook Link circular walk: Thursday 14th May 2020. 8.0 miles starting at Shanklin Railway Station. GR 5810 8190. Meet at Station at 10.15am (car park chargeable). Bus routes: 2 at Shanklin bus station, 3 and Island Line. The link route follows the line of Scotchells Brook to join the Yar River Trail near Alverstone. The walk continues as a circular returning through interesting wooded areas and the golf course. Please bring picnic lunch. Pace – moderate, grade – moderate, rest stops – Yes, Dogs on leads – Yes, Steps and stiles, Woodland. Leader: Jill Green. Phone 01983 863763 Mob: 07876291385
All Along the Riverbank
We will be launching our new trail leaflets at All Along the Riverbank, an outdoor arts and countryside festival especially for May Day. It will take place on 2 May 2020 from 11am to 4pm. The event site boasts an unusual footprint, being 2 miles long and just a few metres wide, as it follows the Island’s River Yar on the eastern leg of its journey from source to sea.
The riverbank is especially accessible as it runs alongside the NR 23 cycle way (The Squirrel Trail) between Newchurch (Langbridge) and Sandown Waterworks, once part of the Island’s Rail network. It is home to an abundance of diverse plants and wildlife, social history, rich archaeological finds, woodland and marsh nature reserve, and is being celebrated with a range of partners, including environmental organisations, local communities, businesses and schools.
The event itself will be the culmination of a three month long programme of creative arts workshops, and expert led site visits, prior to the event. Children and community members have created temporary installations, performance, Interpretation boards and participatory fun activities along the way. On Saturday May 2nd everyone is welcome to join us along the trail which you can walk, cycle or ride – at your own pace. You can join at the Sandown end, Newchurch or halfway along at Alverstone. There are refreshments and toilets at each stop.
All Along the Riverbank is organised by the New Carnival Company with a range of partners within the East Wight Landscape project called Down to the Coast. Down to the Coast is funded by the Lottery Heritage Fund and has enabled us to produce these walks and leaflets.