Reverse Island Part 5 - round the island: Compton Bay to Chale. 10.15am start

We are walking the Coastal Path round the island in sections  - anticlockwise this time.

This is the fifth of our coastal path stages. It is a linear walk.

It has taken me a while to get my head round the logistics of these West Wight sections, given the limited bus times (particularly on Sundays). I have been aiming to divide the round the island route into sections of roughly ten miles, however that doesn’t always fit neatly with transport logistics. I have done the best I can, but some sections will of necessity be a bit longer and harder than others. It is obviously up to you if you choose to “exit” the section earlier and arrange your transport accordingly. Just please let me know before you disappear!

This particular section, with current path diversions due to coastal erosion, is slightly longer than some but is relatively flat and the paths are relatively good. Path diversions apart, this section is virtually all on the cliff edge so a dramatic walk for sure, but walkers do need to please take real care for their own safety  In the event of high winds or heavy rain this walk may be postponed for safety reasons, so please keep an eye on the website nearer the time for any updates, and I will also Whatsapp any changes on the Whatsapp group.

We will start from Compton Bay 10.15am.  For those wishing to travel by bus (for more on which, see under travel below), this tallies with timing of the first No 12 bus of the (Sun)day, which leaves Newport bus station at 9.30am, arriving Compton Bay stop at 10.03.

We take the coast path (and its diversions) from Compton, along the clifftop southwards. At Isle of Wight Pearl (stop/loos) the pathway heads substantially inland via Chilton Farm towards Brighstone (NB. Anyone, after a short walk, could exit at that point and make their own way up to Brighstone village, which is on the No 7 bus route back to  Newport, or west). We then return to the clifftops to continue our walk to Brook. There is unfortunately  another diversion at Grange Farm – the bridge across Grange Chine is no longer (and, apparently, is not to be replaced). The coast path now diverts along the main Military Road. It is only a short section but please take extreme care for your safety, especially at the bridge (“Brighstone Viaduct”) where it narrows with just walls either side and no verge or pavement on either side and traffic can go quickly on this road. Wear your brightest clothing and please keep a very careful eye at all times. We do need to cross the Military Road a couple of times, but that is the main significantly hazardous section of actual road-walking.

After that we turn back across the fields and the path hugs the clifftop for most of the way down to Chale, apart from a short road diversion at Atherfield former holiday camp and small inland dents around a couple of chines. I am pleased to say that at and the beyond  the site of the recent major landslip at Atherfield, a diverted path has been mown and well marked. Going round Whale Chine, we end up at Chale from where those of us travelling by bus can get the No 6 from Chale Church back to Newport. Given the very limited Sunday bus service, this will be the 17.47 bus (arr. Newport bus station 18.12), but assuming we should get there early for that, it gives us every excuse to sit in the adjacent Wight Mouse pub or its large garden and have a cold drink so the wait shouldn’t be too arduous!

Please note that for anyone who wants a shorter walk, if you are OK to find your own way up to the village (I can give directions on the day if needed) there is an easy “escape” point at five miles at Brighstone, where there are cafes, pub, toilets in the village , and access to the No 7 bus route. (Or make your own car arrangements).

Allowing for a relaxed pace and scenic stops, please treat this as a full day’s walking, with a lunch stop, and bring a packed lunch and plenty of drink.

There are toilets at Compton Bay and Isle of Wight Pearl, but then none until the end of the walk at the Wight Mouse pub assuming we go there for a drink.

TRAVEL
There are limited travel logistic options for this section of the walk, and as far as I can see no easy “exit” points beyond Brighstone to public transport (the Coaster bus runs along the Military Road but the timings heading north at least are too early to be useful. However if heading south would help your personal requirements then do check their timetable, but be aware I don’t believe the Coaster accepts bus passes, and, of course, you could leave a car shuffle at any part way location to suit.

As far as I can work it out, these are the main options:

    (a) 2 cars:
I try and promote using the bus, but the timetable is limited so if relying on buses one does have to be flexible and there may be some waiting around. If you want more certainty prompt getaway at the end of the walk, or if you are looking to exit partway for a shorter walk, then you may wish to consider a carshare/shuffle (any offers or requests can be posted on the Whatsapp group).

If you wish to do this, then park the first car at Chale (free car park or on-street parking ) and drive the second one back to at Compton Bay (National Trust pay carpark – or free to NT members) in time to start our walk there at 10.15am.

     (b ) By bus – from Newport:
Get the first No 12 bus of the day from Newport bus station at 9.30am, which arrives at Compton Bay at 10.03am. There are loos there and start our walk at 10.15am.

At the end of the walk get the No 6 bus at 5.47pm from Chale Church back to Newport. I realise this is quite late timing (it arrives back at Newport 6.12pm) but the buses on a Sunday are few and far between, and, on the plus side, the bus stop is virtually adjacent to the Wight Mouse which is a nice spot for an end-of-walk drink

The Island Bus summer timetable for the date of this walk  has not yet been published (I am told they only release the post-25 May timetable ON the 25 May to stop people prematurely using the wrong timetable), so the timings above are based on the winter timetable. However these will be checked nearer the time and updated here if they have changed for summer, so please do check back before the walk.

Car share
In the interests of the air, parking, and non-drivers, if anyone is able to offer, or needs, a car share in respect of all or part of the travel for this walk, then please post on WhatsApp group (to join group please message Serena 07564-811690)

DATES FOR THE FUTURE SECTIONS OF THE REVERSE ISLAND WALK 

         ~ Sun 17 Aug

         ~ Sun 7 Sept

       *** ~ Sun 28 Sept

***Unsure atm whether or not we will need this date or not to complete the circumnavigation. If not, then I will aim to use this date for another walk or extravaganza.

If today's walk has to be postponed for any reason, weather or otherwise, it will simply take place on the date listed for the next section, and so forth. So basically all the sections will just fall back a date, no "fresh" dates creeping in for any postponements, any change will just default to the next date.  Hopefully this may make it easier for the diaries of walkers - and leader!