Carisbrooke - how many ways?

During this past year I have had many walks centering on Carisbrooke Castle, and have found several new footpaths and variations to my regular walk. The castle is such a focal point locally; not incredibly imposing until you're close by, but there in the background much of the time.

My regular walk goes along the footpath from the road entrance to Victoria Recreation Ground (Recreation Ground Road/ Wilver Road), to Wellington Road. From here I pick up another footpath leading past St Thomas' Primary and Christ the King College and on towards the ancient church. You can either go through the churchyard or straight on past the duck pond to Gunville Road (or right to the estate if you feel so inclined). Either way leads to the mini-roundabout. From here I cross to Clatterford Road, and continue along to Clatterford Shute which leads down to a ford through Lukely Brook, and on to Well Lane. From here I walk up the steep path to the castle carpark, round the moat path to a sunken path leading downhill back to Castle Hill, and from there to Spring Lane (another ford) and back to the Village.

I don't always have the energy to walk up the hill to the castle so wander along Miller's Lane instead, which is pretty. From Castle Hill, there are two footpaths leading downhill to either Miller's Lane or Castle Lane. 

I discovered another footpath recently;  having decided not to walk to the castle, I walked along Whitepit Lane as far as JJ's Chip Shop and found a footpath heading to the Castle. Well. I had to see where it went! The path led uphill for three quarters of a muddy mile and I eventually slithered out at the top of Mountjoy, between the deer park and the cemetery. There were benches in strategic places (yay!), and I paused several times to admire the magnificent view across Newport and straight up the River Medina. It wasn't because I was unfit, honest. Mind you, it was a narrow path and very muddy after recent rain so it was quite a tricky slither. Anyway, the path continued past the cemetery to Whitcombe Road, with the option of a path to Nunnery Lane. The road must be crossed here, and after a brief walk up hill leads to the castle moat via another short path.

I chose not to go to the moat that day as it had been very muddy the day before and I had done enough slithering about, so I followed the road round to Froglands Lane and stomped down here, past another ford, and hedgerows full of catkins and snowdrops. The lane joins up with Clatterford Shute  and Miller's Lane.

Another route was somewhat less direct; I walked along to Shide then up Nunnery Lane (very narrow and very little wiggle room if a car drives along). Nunnery Lane comes out at the top of Whitcombe Road opposite the carpark, and next to Carisbrooke Priory. From there, take your pick of routes already mentioned!

Newport and St George's Down

Lockdown 3 and lots of local exploration has been going on. Today I had a socially distanced ramble with a chum, in the freezing February sunshine. We meandered around the town for a little while, then headed up St John's Road to Watergate Road and down the footpath at the side of St George's School to Shide. From here we joined the footpath along the river and headed towards Blackwater. After a while, and a brief stop for a cuppa from a thermos, we came to a bridge and turned left along a muddy, permissive path back to the main road, passing the cricket club on our way. 

We took our lives in our hands and crossed the road and joined a footpath leading up to St George's Down. This led past Standen House, a rather lovely country pile with a nice front lawn and a haha. The path continued up the hill into woodland, calm and quiet and lovely. After a while, and several stops for two unfit females to catch their breath, and also being passed four times by an enthusiastic runner trying to work off his dinner, we reached the top, coming out on the Bembridge Trail. 

Turning left we continued along the path, dodging large frozen puddles and passing Newport Golf Club. The path met with St George's Lane which we descended slowly, pausing often to admire the views across the valley to the hills beyond. Along the way we found several bushes with icicles hanging from them, something I have not seen for some time. The lane joined with Pan Lane, and we walked along to a footpath that led past some houses and back to the main road. A little further along we crossed over and joined the river path back to the town centre; we saw a heron standing on a little island of reeds mid-river and stopped for a while to watch it. Magnificent.