Mottistone

I had a day out with my Mum today, and we drove to Mottistone hoping to visit the gardens at Mottistone Manor. They were closed, sadly, but we did peep over the wall and what we could see looked lovely.  Instead we went for a walk; we crossed the road and visited the Church, which was apparently having a flower festival but the arrangements inside looked rather faded and droopy.  The church itself was lovely, with mediaeval features, a Jacobean pulpit and altar chairs and lovely Victorian tiles in the chancel.  Outside, the churchyard was a feast for the eyes, with masses of wildflowers amid the long grass and ancient gravestones and flowering lilac trees.

We crossed the village green and made our way down a lane, vaguely thinking that the garden of a friend of a long-dead relative was down there; sadly not, but the lane itself was bordered each side with masses of cow parsley, buttercups, scarlet pimpernel, ragged robin and numerous other wildflowers.

We made our way back to the village then followed a footpath through the woods (MASSES of bluebells!) and up to the Longstone; this is actually two prehistoric longstones thought to have made the entrance to a barrow. We stopped and admired the view across the heath to the downs, had a picnic, bumped into a couple of chums, then headed round the corner and up the hill to the top of Castle Hill, an ancient earthwork, and were suitably stunned by the magnificent view along the coast from Tennyson Down in the north to Blackgang Chine in the south. One of the best views on the Island I think.

The Longstone, Mottistone

Next we headed back the way we had come, with a slight detour in the woods via some magnificent flowering gorse bushes, wandered through the National Trust car park and over the road to Mottistone Manor Farm Shop.  We were the only customers, and bought some fresh eggs, local asparagus, and 'Oil of Wight' rapeseed oil. Classy name!  We headed home via Chessell Pottery where we stopped for a magnificent cream tea.

http://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_3206548.html

Schools Walk the Wight 2013

We tagged along on this walk as we needed some fresh air (and had sponsored someone doing the whole of Walk the Wight!). We left the car in a field near Alum Bay, and waited with many other families for the free bus to Freshwater Bay, where our part of the walk started. Walk the Wight itself begins in either Bembridge or Carisbrooke and involves walking or running along the spine of the Island, 26.5 miles in total, in aid of the Earl Mountbatten Hospice). We met our friends and off we went! The walk starts at Freshwater Bay, heads up Tennyson Down to the Tennyson Monument, where everyone sits down for a drink and a nibble as it's quite a steep climb, then headed across the down towards the Needles Battery.  The downs were covered in flowering gorse bushes, and the occasional purple flower (vetch, possibly). However the wind was howling and rain was heading our way so we didn't hang about. We came off the downs at the Battery, and headed downhill to the finish at Alum Bay.  This, unfortunately, now has a horrible 'pleasure park' full of over-priced attractions, which rather spoils the end of the walk. Ah well, we weren't forced to spend any money, and got away with giving the children one ride on the carousel (£2 for a couple of minutes...). Walked back through the woods to the car, warmed up a bit then drove home. 

View towards the Needles Battery

Flowering Gorse

View towards Alum Bay

Route: http://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_3126963.html

Distance: 4.3 miles

Bonchurch

Today we went on a Bank Holiday expedition to Bonchurch, in the south of the Isle of Wight.  When we arrived I couldn't believe that I had never been there before! A beautiful village.  We parked by the pond, which was full of large carp and hundreds of tiny fish, not to mention ducks and moorhens, then wandered up a lane in search of Bonchurch Pottery; this turned out to be right at the end (beyond a car park), right next to the beach.  And what a beach! There was a revetment that carried on to Ventnor, with wave-breaker steps leading to the beach itself. This was sandy, with large rocks, rockpools and not many people. Just a few dog-walkers. Bliss! As it was so sunny we paddled in the sea for a bit, and felt the sand between our toes.  We also poked our heads into the pottery and discovered lots of reasonably priced treasures. Must go back and buy something! After a while we wandered back up the hill to the village, discovered that the cafe was closed so went in search of the Norman Church; this dates back to about 1070AD.  It is located down a lane at the end of the village (lower Bonchurch) and is a fine example of its kind.  Tiny, simple and calm. Bliss. Everything I want from a church really.  We then headed back to the car, and drove up Bonchurch Shute (very steep) and stopped at the Smuggler's Haven Tea Rooms for a cuppa and an ice cream.  Fantastic view across the calm, blue English Channel from here.  We drove back across the Island via Shanklin Old Village to Cowes, deeply delighted with our discovery and determined to visit again.  Soon.