Godshill, Gat Cliff and Appuldurcombe

Teenager and I decided to revisit a walk from three years ago today. We parked in The Old Smithy car park at Godshill (free), then crossed the main road and followed the footpath to the right of The Griffin pub and through a meadow. This was full of red Campion, buttercups, blooming May trees, unfurling ferns, cow parsley and the songs of many birds. I even spotted what I think was a coal tit. At the top of the meadow we passed through a kissing gate and into a woodland full of bluebell and beech trees. The path split after a while so we took the right fork and scrambled over some muddy areas coming out eventually on a path with a coniferous hedge on the right and deer fencing on the left. At the end, by a farmhouse, we took a sharp left turn and followed the deer fencing up hill passing fields of woolly sheep, then into an empty field leading to more woods. The view from the field was spectacular; clear view of the Needles headland to the west, Whitecliff Bay to the east, and the undulating download in between. Glorious!

We followed the path through the woods before coming to a crossroads where the path split in   three directions. We initially took the wrong path GL49, then doubled back to GL48 and climbed up Gate Cliff. Fools! The path was steep, with rustic steps cut into the soil, some faced with wood, some not, the majority at a dodgy angle and the handrail generally not to be trusted. You wouldn't want it to be wet underfoot. On the plus side, extremely good for your thigh muscles.... After 139 steps we reached the top to be rewarded with even more spectacular views of the Island. We had planned to walk up to the Worsley Memorial for lunch, but the farmer had replaced the fencing and we had to walk round. Via more steps uphill. Ouch. The footpath skirted hills that had clear ridges and furrows on them. Not sure when they date from but interesting. When we found the connecting footpath, it went through a field of skittery bullocks so we decided to give the memorial a miss and kept going, sitting on the verge and eating our picnic a bit later on.

Once past the radio masts, there was a signpost to the right to GL50 to Stenbury Manor; we ignored that and took the footpath opposite, indicated by a yellow arrow, and headed downhill through a field, through another gate and along another path until we came out on a steep roadway and followed it downhill to the lane. Followed the lane for 100 yards or so, then picked up the footpath at a gravelly track by a pretty lodge, past a cowshed and into another meadow. The path led on to Appuldurcombe House; we had never been inside as there had always been a charge, but today entry was free so we went into the grounds, mooched round the ruined grandeur, sticking our heads up ancient chimneys, then bought an ice cream and carried on.

The next path took us through the Fremantle gate, past some woodland and old horse chestnut trees, then past a farm with Shetland ponies, ginger pigs, flocks of geese and alpacas. And more sheep with little tiny baa lambs. Cute. We continued on this path until we got to the main Godshill road, turned left and followed the road back to the car park. We drove home the long way, due to a diversion at Arreton, and ended up at the Garlic Farm, where we had a jolly nice cup of tea and some garlic bread.

Distance: 5 miles.
Route:  http://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4093052.html
Footpaths: GL58, GL 51, GL47, GL44, GL48



Red campion



Woodland wildflowers



Hawthorn blossom



Gat Cliff steps

Appuldurcombe House

Freemantle Gate