Another walk with friends today, again starting in Niton. We headed up Pan Lane to Niton Shute and up to the top of the downs, filling our faces with blackberries enroute. From here we headed along the ridge towards the Hoy Monument but took a path on the right hand side a few hundred yards before we reached it. This led downhill through a small wood with fallen sycamores and lots of nettles; wild and lovely.
The path led past a cottage and across the top of a field, through a gate and into another field. After a scramble past a fallen willow and up a bank we discovered a large herd of cows and calves. We were a little nervous as the cattle were stood right on the footpath and we had two dogs with us (on leads). However, we got past without incident, passed through a gate and into a shady lane with views to a manor house, and followed a path by a stream through the woods. This eventually turned uphill and to the right, leading past an ancient carp pond on the left and then down to meet another stream where we found a small, hidden waterfall. Gorgeous! We got back on the path, found the road and followed it through Bierley and Kingates to Niton and lunch at the White Horse. Excellent excursion!
Lovely to have found your blog. I hope to be living on the IOW in the very near future and are a keen walker too, so will enjoy looking through your blog.
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