We are the Eastleigh Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
Julie W.
Back by popular request, we’re off to the Isle of Wight again. Due to an unsatisfactory recce, the east coast walk has been abandoned and we’re instead doing a repeat of last year’s walk but in reverse (so hopefully it will feel like a new walk!).
Following the route clockwise, we’ll leave Yarmouth and head south across the island to Freshwater along the river Yar and through Afton Marsh Nature Reserve. Following the coast path up to Tennyson Down and past The Needles and Alum Bay, we’ll then head up to National Trust’s Headon Warren which will eventually take us back down to the coast and the beautiful promenade at Totland and Colwell Bay. Once we’ve circumnavigated the monstrous Brambles Chine holiday city, the coast path takes us through some pretty woodlands around Fort Victoria Country Park and back to Yarmouth.
This is a little longer than our usual weekend jaunt but very much worth the extra effort and there are a nice easy-going couple of miles at the start and end! It’s wonderfully varied, offers fabulous views, on good paths, with a couple of road crossings, no stiles and plenty of public toilets. There are a couple of steady climbs and descents, so walking poles are advisable if you find them useful. Afton Marsh may be muddy if it’s rained prior to the walk.
Please bring provisions for a couple of refreshment/refuelling stops, a picnic lunch, extra snacks to get you through those extra couple of miles and plenty to drink if it’s a hot day.
This walk has been graded as moderate and should therefore be suitable for anyone who regularly attends our weekend walks and/or has a good level of fitness. We’ll need steady progress in view of catching the ferry back but this will be at our normal leisurely to moderate pace, with plenty of refreshment stops.
**Please inform the walk leader if you will be joining the walk, via the contact details provided**
Ferry Journey
Please book/purchase foot passenger tickets for the following sailings. If you intend to purchase tickets at the port, please allow extra time.
https://www.wightlink.co.uk/travel-advice/travelling-on-foot
Outward
Boarding Time 09:45
Sailing Time 10:00
Journey Time 40 minutes
Ferry Journey Return
Boarding Time 16:50
Sailing Time 17:05
Journey Time 40 minutes
Parking
There is plenty of parking on site (plus an overflow carpark). At time of writing, parking is £11.50 for up to 16 hours https://www.wightlink.co.uk/facilities/parking#parking-locations
Public transport
A regular train service operates from Brockenhurst direct to Lymington Pier station, adjacent to the port. Brockenhurst is on the South Western Railway London main line.
Additional Info
If you need any further details about the walk please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Wightlink Lymington Ferry Port, Undershore Road, Lymington, SO41 5SB. Meet at the ferry terminal building, where we will be catching the 10:00am ferry. As foot passengers, we'll need to be checked in at least 15 minutes before our scheduled sailing. The crossing takes 40 minutes
