The coastal path – Shalfleet to Cowes ***NOTE the changed date and earlier start time

OVERVIEW

This is the final stage of the coastal path sections this year. It is a linear walk. Meeting (to tally with bus transport) outside the New Inn, Shalfleet at 10.15am

We will be walking the Coastal Path from Shalfleet via Newtown (boasts a nice visitor centre), Porchfield, Thorness Bay, and Gurnard, into central Cowes.

Please note that whilst I looked at shorter permutations, there were no easy break points accessible by public transport until the latter stages of the walk. So this is a significantly longer than our usual Sunday rambles, though not as long as last week’s. It is roughly 9.25 miles back to central Cowes (if we want to be purist, we can continue down to the floating bridge - optional). So it is basically a full day’s walking, with a lunch stop. I suggest you take extra water.  Though longer than previous sections, don’t be deterred: it is mostly flat and nothing too tricky (though there are a few stiles), we won’t be going fast, and we can have plenty of drinks stops. There is some road walking - which is unavoidable, this is the current coastal path route, but it is a lovely and varied walk.

If you feel limited by the distance but don’t want to miss out this final section, I am happy to walk it in shorter sections  with you another time by arrangement (and the same applies to the previous Colwell-Shalfleet walk).

Also to add, for anyone after a shorter walk, if you have a carshare, you could consider meeting us at Thorness Bay beach and walking from there for the second half into Cowes.

Free toilets at  Newtown visitor centre, and in Cowes. Also (20p) at Gurnard. There is also potential access to toilets at the Sportsman’s Rest pub in Porchfield if we stop there for drinks, and ditto at Thorness Bay. Drinks etc. also available in those locations.

If anyone wishes, we could end with a drink or bite to eat at one of the pubs in Cowes to mark the end of our coastal circumnavigation ?  

Wise to look at the website on the day just in case of any changes or additional info. And in the event of extreme weather please check back for cancellation (postponement)  notices.   You can also check with Serena on 07564-811690 (and if you would like to join the embryonic informal WhatsApp group then please message that number).

Depending on the weather, consider suitable, clothing, footwear, walking stick, sun cream, drinks (*plenty of water), and food. Watch out for ticks and remove ASAP. If you are unsure about your ability to undertake this walk, please contact the walks leader. If you need to leave the walking group, please ensure you inform the leader or back marker.

Please note there is a significant section of road-walking in the middle of the walk – please walk in single file and take good care.

TRAVEL

Length of section and start time . Some options:

By car:

If you are carshare/shuffling, park one car at Cowes (free onstreet parking, various, or pay carparks), and the second at Shalfleet (there is onstreet parking near the New Inn, or some on the other side around Warlands Lane area) for a 10.15am start from the New Inn, Shalfleet.

By bus (from Newport)

(Frustratingly the October 2023 timetable appears to not yet be online at the time of writing. The following timings are therefore based on the previous Sunday’s timetable and I will check again nearer the time, so please keep an eye on the website just in case of any changes when the October timetable is published)

The walk time has been  brought forward slightly earlier to fit in with bus times from Newport. It is the 9.45am No 7 bus from Newport bus station, arrives at Shalfleet 10.04

There are No 1 buses back from Cowes M&S to Newport bus station every 15 mins