Nettlestone to Sandown

Well, it's that time of the year where I help take 16 teenagers rambling around the Island. We were dropped off in Nettlestone, and wended our way towards Priory Hotel, round the side, and down to a footpath by the side of a caravan park. This led across fields to St Helens and the Duver, bone dry in the heat, and across the causeway to Bembridge. We then pootled along the Embankment and stopped for an early lunch and loo break at the café.  

 

After lunch we headed up through the village and along the road to the windmill, passing it on our right before plunging downhill into the woods and a break from the sun. We missed our turning here, but followed the road back round until we found our footpath, crossed another road and walked through another holiday park until we found the coastal path again. From here we turned right and headed along the cliffs and up Culver Down to the monument, had a brief pause and then leapt downhill across the downs until we reached Yaverland and Dinosaur Isle where we met the bus home.

Lovely walk on a beautiful day. The views across Sandown Bay were magnificent, and the water was so blue and sparkling. Gorgeous place to live!

Route: https://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4776930.html

Distance: c 7.75 miles



Sandown Bay



Culver Monument

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

Flat Walk the Wight 2016

It's that time of year again when the Island community comes together to raise money en masse for Earl Mountbatten Hospice by taking part in Walk the Wight. There are several options, either walking the breadth of the Island from Bembridge to Alum Bay, going from Bembridge to Carisbrooke Castle, Carisbrooke Castle to Alum Bay, or, for those less fond or capable of hills, the flat walk from Sandown to Shide. We chose the latter due to creaky bones, lack of training, and the presence of teenagers.

We met at the park and ride in Somerton and caught the bus to Isle of Wight College. The bus was free with our walker number. Nice! Here we boarded the shuttle bus to Sandown Bay Academy; now, this was an open top Island Breezer, and the weather was pleasant, some chose to sit on the exposed top deck. The views were glorious and the bus was aptly named. Along the route we passed other walkers doing the big walks and all waved merrily back and forth - very jolly. We disembarked at Sandown, and followed the road round to the start of the Red Squirrel Trail (Newport - Sandown cycle path) where the walk began, and joined crowds of other walkers heading back to Newport.

We had 'Goldilocks' weather; not too hot, not too cold, but just right, and were able to remove our jumpers quite quickly and enjoy the spring sunshine. The atmosphere was lovely, with walkers of all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities taking part. We saw several people in wheelchairs, with mobility strollers, children on pushchairs, as well as three people completing the walk on stilts. Of course. Lots of people brought dogs too. The scenery was delightful, with wetlands to begin with, and Highland cattle, followed by more formal farmland and woodland. Spring was definitely upon us as the verges were full of wildflowers, and the trees were clothed in green. Along the route were several wooden sculptures, all interesting and with a nature theme, and many side paths that looked like they needed exploring in the future.

The walk ended in Shide, where we all received medals for taking part. My teenager had raced on ahead and saw a Samba band while she was waiting for us, but the band had gone when we caught her up. We ended by catching the shuttle bus into Newport and getting an 'artisan toastie' on a bread board at Skintrade Café in the square. Tasty!

Route: http://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4318879.html
Distance: 8 miles
Fundraising: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Clare-Murray7

Highland Cattle

Horse Chestnut flowers

Railway Bridge

Busy Weekend

So, Friday night became quiz night. I was invited to join a team of friends for a fundraising event in aid of Layla's Trust, a local children's charity, at the Traveller's Joy in Northwood. The night began with an all you can eat curry, consisting of four types of curry, rice, onion bahjis, poppadoms, and chutneys. Very nice indeed! The quiz started at about 8pm, and got rather competitive fairly quickly. We knew the majority of the neighbouring team so quite a bit of heckling ensued. Great fun. We didn't win, but we did have a good evening. The pub was packed so I expect that a lot of money was raised for the trust. 

Saturday was very busy. We had a family outing to Lymington and met up with my sister and her family. We all pottered round the market (well worth a visit) as well as the lovely shops, before going to lunch at The Ship Inn, a pub on the quay. Here we had a delicious meal, although the service was unusually bad, and caught up with all the family news. I recommend the burger and chips!

In the evening, once back on the Island, I joined a couple of friends and we drove to Newport to join in the 'Wight on Pink Breast Cancer Now Torches and Tassels' walk from Sandown to Newport. We registered, then caught the free bus to Sandown Bay Academy, the mustering point.  Everyone had to stand around for a while in the cold ready for the 8pm start. We were entertained by a jolly samba band though, who got everyone in the right mood. At 8pm we lined up, listened to a speech by a town crier, and set off accompanied by more samba music.

The route was well planned, with marshalls at road crossings, and pink arrows sprayed on the path to direct us. We followed the Sandown to Newport cycle track, the old railway line for the most part, which was bordered at the start by the River Yar, and later on by the River Medina. About halfway along the route there were ladies handing out water, and a portaloo was provided. Everyone was in a jolly mood, many people were in fancy dress (not me) and fun seemed to be had by all. As we walked along, and walkers were spreading out, we could see a line of pink fairy lights and light up head-dresses moving along the route. It must have looked quite peculiar to anyone seeing it from afar who didn't know what was happening.

At the end of the route, we passed under a bridge and through an archway of pink balloons and were cheered and given a medal and goodie bag. An excellent, well organised event which I hope will be repeated next year.

Route: http://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4273406.html

Distance: 8.5miles 

Lymington Quay

Samba band

Sculpture near Blackwater

Balloon archway

Medal and goodies