Firestone Copse, Quarr and Newnham Farm

Week two of the teenager's D of E challenge, so she decided a four and a half mile walk was in order. We headed for Firestone Copse near Wootton Bridge, and then stomped off along a main path before heading up a steep, muddy path on our right. This came out on another main path so we turned left and followed for a while before picking up a path on our right which led through the trees to the road. From here we walked back towards Wootton and came out on the main road to Ryde, which we crossed further up and picked up the bridleway that led eventually to Fishbourne Lane. Further along the lane, opposite the Fishbourne Inn, was another bridleway that led to Quarr Abbey. We paused here to admire the pigs (of course) and use the facilities, then walked through the woods to the main path to Ryde, followed this briefly, then turned right and followed the lane to the main Ryde road. We took our lives in our hands here - busy road - and dashed across when there was a gap, only to find an extremely muddy gateway to cross!

We navigated the mud, crossed the field, paddled through another gateway and entered woodland where we slithered up the muddy path. This led past a very large pond which was beautiful in the winter sunshine. There were a few ducks, coots, moorhens and cormorants on the pond. The path continued to be very muddy and ended in a gateway that was essentially in a pond. I decided, in my infinite wisdom, to try and get across with dryish feet by climbing round the fences that surrounded the gate. My first move was to stand on the lower rung of the gate itself, and this turned out to be somewhat unwise as I nearly fell off and into the water. The teenager found this hilarious... Anyway, I changed my mind and climbed through the barbed wire fence next to the gate, where the ground was drier, and got caught up in the process. The teenager took pity on me and freed my clothing and I climbed through, followed by her. 

The path led uphill past several majestic oak trees, and then onto a lane. We turned right here and followed the lane to Newnham Farm, through the back of the farmyard and a couple of fields, then squelched up a hill to the war memorial chapel at the top. The views here were magnificent and we could see as far as Portsmouth. The path led back downhill to the road, and we stopped at the Wight Milk shack to buy a pint of milk and some eggs, then followed Firestone Copse Road back to the copse, and followed some more muddy paths to the car park. Here things got civilised and I was able to buy a delicious coffee from 'Drew's Brews' coffee cart. Yum!

The weather was absolutely perfect today, and we both really enjoyed the walk. I was glad that I had put on my boots as the route was extremely wet and muddy for the most part.

Route: https://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4502120.html
Distance: 4.5 miles

Firestone Copse

Pond

Oak Tree

Memorial Chapel