Wild Nights out.....July

North House, Cowes
Popped in to meet a friend whose husband was playing in a jazz trio. Pleasant evening on the terrace listening to lovely music. Lovely hotel too - worth a visit if you can.

Cowes Sailability Club
I attended a reception at Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club for this charity. Interesting, with nice canapes!

Cowes Carnival
Had to watch this annual event. Quite jolly with marching bands and a bagpipe - drum duo, and all the carnival queens (wish they would smile!) and locals who had dressed up. Short but sweet.

Blackgang to Whale Chine

Quick walk today as the weather was looking dodgy. We parked at Blackgang Chine viewpoint car park (further up the hill from the theme park, and free), and followed the coastal path onwards Chale.  The path appeared fairly well used, but had nettles growing abundantly alongside it, so longer trousers than mine are to be recommended! And boots rather than hiking sandals. However, not too many stings and they wore off quickly. The path opened onto a field, the overflow car park for Blackgang Chine, led across it and back to the road. We followed the road downhill, over the traffic island, and rejoined the footpath on the left that led to the village. The footpath followed the road again, past the ancient St Andrew's church at Chale, and then turned left at the showground and headed towards the cliffs.

We continued along the cliff edge, admiring the dramatic scenery while also wondering whether we would inadvertently end up on the beach in a cliff fall as there appeared to be rather a lot of large cracks in the ground! The path ended abruptly at a large mound and turned inland over a make shift bridge, then back along the coast past a building that might have been a gun emplacement at one time. Hard to tell! The weather was in turns very blustery and then dead calm, which was odd as there weren't major changes in the landscape or the wind. It felt as though we would take off occasionally, and we laid flat on the ground to have a good look at a small chine (we saw two, Ladder Chine and Walpen Chine), without being blown over the edge! Once we reached, and had a good look at, Whale Chine, we turned back and followed the road until we got back to Chale. This was fairly uneventful, and we saw three beautiful alpacas along the way near the small, thatched Walpen Manor house.

Once we reached the car, the weather changed to wet and windy, so we decided a cup of tea was in order and headed to Isle of Wight Pearl, had a look at the jewellery, and had a cuppa and a bowl of homemade tomato soup to warm our cockles! Lush!

Route: https://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4585224.html
Distance: 4.3 miles

Ladder Chine or Walpen Chine

Landslip with scout signs

Alpacas near Chale

St Andrew's Church, Chale

Chilton Chine to Whale Chine

Parked at Chilton Chine, walked past Isle of Wight Pearl and headed towards Grange Chine via Brighstone Holiday Centre. On the outskirts were derelict chalets, brightly painted, very close to the cliff edge and clearly not safe to use, but round the corner was the holiday centre proper, with chalets, tents and caravans and lots of families clearly enjoying themselves. The footpath led down into Grange Chine, over a bridge and up steps to the cliff top above. I paused for a few minutes to enjoy the view here - lovely.

I strolled along the cliff edge through wildflower meadows, past herds of Guernsey cattle, watching beetles, ladybirds, buzzards, bumblebees, and flies, and listening to crickets in the grass. The path rose steeply as it approached Barnes High, and I found a welcome bench at the top where I stopped to catch my breath and admire the view along the coast to Tennyson Down, and inland to the downs around Brighstone and Shorwell.

The path continued onwards along the crumbling clifftop - much evidence of recent cliff falls -  to Atherfield Bay Holiday Camp at Shepherd's Chine. The path led inland through the campsite here, around the chine, and crossed over above a pond which fed the stream further down the chine. Before I found the path leading around the chine, I blindly followed a path and steps down to the beach; I had misread a sign at the top of the steps saying there was no access to the cliff top from here, and on the face of it this appeared to be true. However, this merely meant that if you walked along the beach towards Blackgang Chine, there was no way of getting back up. I sat on the beach for a bit before figuring out my mistake, and carried on. Beyond the chine, the path continued to Atherfield Point, where there was a unusual homemade memorial to  the shipwreck of the Sirenia on Atherfield Ledge. I was going to stop here and go back, but I thought I might as well continue to Whale Chine, so I did.

I had never been to Whale Chine, and the path down it is closed, and has been for ten years, due to coastal erosion. The chine was by far the most magnificent that I had seen today, with high cliffs sculpted by wind and studded with the burrows of nesting birds. I turned inland here, thinking I would walk back along the Military Road, but on realising that the verges were narrow and sloping, and the traffic was fast, decided to go back the way I had come. This was a delightful walk, with wonderful wildlife and scenery. Gorgeous.

Route: https://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4582754.html
Distance: 10.5 miles



Derelict chalets



Grange Chine



Grange Chine to Tennyson Down



View to Barnes High



Bridge near Grange Chine



Shepherd's Chine



Sirenia information



Whale Chine entrance

Seaclose to Medham

Day three of Travels with Teenagers, so we took pity on them and had a virtually flats walk today. We started at Medina College and walked through the arboretum and across Seaclose Park and down to the Quay Arts Centre in Newport. We followed the road round past the Bergman's Rest pub, along the industrial estate and joined up with the Cowes to Newport cycle track, which we ambled along until we got to a disused and crumbling quayside near the turning to Medham Lane. We stopped here and had an early lunch in the sunshine, then pottered back the way we had come.

This seemed like a short walk, but was actually the longest we had done all week. Hills make a massive difference!

Route: https://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4579877.html
Distance: 8.3 miles

Ventnor to Shanklin

Day 2 of Rambles with Teenagers. There were only nine students today. We were dropped off at Ventnor Botanic Gardens, where teenage wails of "There's no signal" were accompanied by staff guffaws of "Mwahahaha!". However, the portable music speaker was working so we set off accompanied by a better selection of tunes than yesterday. In fact, on the bus Queen was played, and many voices joined in to Bohemian Rhapsody. Jolly.

We left the carpark and right, heading along the main road past the cricket pitch, and down Love Lane. At the bottom we picked up the footpath and headed steeply downhill to Steephill Cove, a lovely little beach full of cafes and tiny shingle and lobster pots. The path led out steeply at the end, and we continued towards Ventnor proper, heading along the cliff to Flowers Brook, up more steps, and then descended to Ventnor esplanade. We pottered along here, walked past the fishery, stopped at the loo, then continued along the revetment to Bonchurch. Interesting fact from the language teacher with me  - 'revetment' in this case doesn't refer to the coastal defences but rather to the Victorian practice of changing for bathing (from the French). I never knew that!

We stopped near the pottery on the seafront for a breather, then set off up some steps into The Landslip. This is a wild woodland area and really rather delightful. It is full of pathways and steps, as well as many trees, ferns, brambles and other wild plants. I had the feeling it hadn't changed much for a hundred years or so. We bypassed the 'Devil's Chimney', and continued through the woods towards Luccombe. There was a thunderstorm last night, so it was very humid in the woods, and we were delighted to plunge out into open air for a while by Luccombe Chine, before heading into more on the final stretch to Shanklin.

The footpath met Luccombe Road so we followed it down to Rhylstone Gardens (another toilet break), and then down steep steps to Shanklin beach, near the chine and the Fisherman's Cottage pub. We continued for a little while longer, and stopped at the Lazy Wave café for lunch. Most of us picnicked, but some bought chips and the staff bought much needed tea and coffee! The last leg of the journey took us along Shanklin Esplanade and Hope Beach, and then up the final steep path to the clifftop and the car park by Winchester House YMCA where we waited for the bus back to school. Another lovely, if rather damp and drizzly, walk.

Route: https://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4579407.html
Distance: 6 miles (with lots of steep bits!)

The Landslip

Cliffs near Shanklin Chine

Culver Down from Shanklin Chine

Beach Huts

Nettlestone to Yaverland

Today I helped take twelve teenagers on a stroll across the east of the Island. We got a coach to Nettlestone and walked towards the Priory Hotel, then followed the footpath round and ended up at The Duver, St Helen's. This is a lovely patch of National Trust land, sprinkled with wildflowers among the short turf. After a quick rest break we headed across the causeway and into the outskirts of Bembridge. The road led along another causeway, past the yacht club and numerous houseboats, and to the Tollgate café opposite the Pilot Boat Inn. We stopped at the café for lunch (some picnicked, and some bought food), then carried on.

This was the point where my dodgy map reading skills came into play, and we pootled up a lane going in the wrong direction. Oops. I soon realised my mistake however, and we turned round and joined up with the path we were meant to be on. We followed the High Street  to Bembridge Windmill and then followed the lane into the woods, across a road, past a holiday camp and onto the cliff path to Culver Down. Some of the kids groaned when they realised we had to climb the down, but they all managed it faster than I did! We stopped at the Yarborough Monument at the top and admired the view, and I admired the wild flowers, had a drink and a snack (I got an ice cream) before walking down the other side of Culver Down to Dinosaur Isle where we met the coach again.

This was a boiling hot day, with teenagers who were generally not used to walking so far, and it went really well. Another route tomorrow.

route: https://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4579015.html

Distance: 7.3 miles

View from Yarborough Monument

Rhythmtree Festival 2017

This weekend was mostly spent at Rhythmtree  Festival on the glorious Isle of Wight. I was offered a ticket in exchange for helping teach children how to make popcorn on a campfire. Seemed reasonable! The way to do it is to make a tinfoil packet, slop in a little oil and add some popcorn kernels, scrunch the top up and put the packet in the embers of the fire and wait for them to pop. Simple. Mostly. We won't mention the burned ones. We also offered tomahawk throwing (not one of my skills or talents I found out), and one chap showed how to make rope out of bramble fibres. Oh yes, we also had quoits, and giant connect four.

As we did this, we listened to the music from the Jill's Wood stage (mostly good. I liked Brighstone Barnacles, Red Sqwrl, and the marvellous Cat Skellington particularly). Behind us was the yoga section, so we heard lots of meditation music, and the jolly fun of laughing yoga. Friday night's headliners on the main stage were the Stereo MCs who were good, and on Saturday were the Lightening Seeds, also good. Sunday night was my favourite, with the Blockheads (awesome) followed by Tankus the Henge (fabulous). Lots of boogying was done (apologies if you were behind us) and fun was had.

There was a fair amount of food to choose from, and I would recommend the ever lovely Tansy's Pantry veggie bus café (I had a delicious falafel wrap), the tea and cake stall with their lovely homemade cakes, comfy hay bales, and squishy sofa, as well as the local burger stall whose name I have forgotten but may have been part of Three Gates Farm who hosted the festival.

This was a lovely little festival, full of locals and those from further afield, and extremely family friendly. Highly recommended!

Main Stage






Brighstone Barnacles

Thorness Bay and Rew Street

Another sunny day, another walk in the blisteringly hot (for the UK anyway) sunshine. I parked at the end of Rew Street, in Gurnard, just past the River Luck, and followed the narrow footpath along the clifftop. As I walked, I disturbed countless brown butterflies and was serenaded by the chirping of grasshoppers in the neighbouring fields. The verges were bursting with wildflowers. The path wound alog, dipping in and out of the shade of trees, and suddenly turned a corner to reveal the glittering blue sea of Thorness Bay below. The path got even narrower as the cliff had fallen away. I paused here and admired the view of the sea, studded with boats, swimmers, and the wake from jet skis and motor boats, and listened to the shrieking of children playing below. In a tree across the landslip I noticed a pair of raptors - probably buzzards but I am not completely sure. Impressive anyway.

I continued along, following the path down past the old 'huts', evoking memories of childhood weekends spent here with friends, making and eating pizza and relaxing. Good times. The path continued towards, and then parallel to, the beach and led across a field to a farm track. I turned left here and followed it to Whippance Farm and then to the main road. Turning left I took my life in my hands and followed the pavementless road, full of blind corners and speeding cars, until I got to Rew Street.

Rew Street still lacked pavements, but was a little less windy and had less cars so I pottered along in a more relaxed manner. Along the way I paused to buy some Broad Beans from a roadside stall, and then bumped into an old friend at her farm, so stopped for a natter. Lovely.  Shortly afterwards I returned to the car, cool in the shade, and drove home for a well earned cold drink!

Route: https://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4573057.html

Distance: 4.4miles

Thorness Bay

Firestone Copse

Well, it was high time I got off my behind and went for a proper stomp again. With that in mind, teenager and I headed off to Firestone Copse near Wootton (on one of the hottest days of the year so far) and went for a shady stroll through the trees. It was lovely! Neither of us had ever really explored the copse so we went wherever a whim took us, turning right here, left there, and eventually ending up on the banks of Wootton Creek. Here the path was riddled with exposed roots and strewn with fir cones, with patches of golden sunlight streaming through. We were enchanted. I had only really seen the creek from the road or the ferry before, so this stretch was new to me. The path continued on and gently up, and we pottered along deserted woodland paths by the banks of dried up streams before eventually turning a corner and finding the carpark. Here we found lots of people returning from dog walking, or starting a family barbecue in the shade of the trees.

Our next stop was Quarr Abbey, where we stopped for a nice cup of tea and some people watching, before admiring the piglets (some very new born and exceedingly cute!) and heading home via the seaside where we stopped for a quick paddle. It's great to live on this Island.

Creekside Path

Quarr Piglets

Log piles

Wild Nights Out ....... June

Rhythmtree Festival Warm Up

We joined friends out at The Cow Co at Tapnell Farm near Freshwater for a warm up gig. Three bands played; we sat outside for the first two, who sounded good (and slightly bonkers for one of them!), and went indoors for the final band, The Ohmz. My friends husband was playing keyboards and we had fun listening to their excellent reggae tunes. Very good band, and worth seeing again. We ate burgers - yummy - and I drank soda water and elderflower cordial from the bar. Also nice. We might even go to Rhythmtree this year!

Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar's Revenge
Teenager enjoyed this more than I did; I think the series is getting a little jaded now. However, the special effects were good and enough of it was funny to overcome the stilted acting. Not entirely sure why Paul McCartney was in it, albeit briefly - perhaps because  a Rolling Stone was in an earlier one? I preferred the Rolling Stone!