Seaview Circular Walk

 Today was cold but bright, at least to start with, so a trip to Seaview seemed in order. Parking at the car park in Pier Road, we found the coastal path and started walking along it. The path along the road, then up and behind some magnificent houses, and past some significant earthworks,  then led along the seafront for a little while. The coastal path leads uphill and past the Priory Bay Hotel, leading to the end of the estate, down the road past Nodes Point Holiday Village, through a kissing gate on the left hand side and downhill through fields to St Helen's Duver Beach. We slowed down here and ambled along the seafront in search of a cup of tea, but the cafe was closed. We continued along, looking through cracks into beach huts which looked long abandoned but which will be used again soon I am sure, as soon as the weather warms up. They were once railway carriages.

We turned back and followed the beach to Nodes Point, past the remains of the church, and the partially submerged causeway that leads to Bembridge Fort at very low tides. The beach swings round past a rising, wooded cliff to a heap of rocks on the waters edge. We scrambled carefully over these, and came eventually to Priory Bay, thanking heaven that it was low tide! The beach here is pristine, a great sweep of sand with woods on one side and the sea on the other. Someone had taken the time to take great branches of driftwood, and partially burned logs and stand them upright in a rough line as an art installation. By this time the sky over Portsmouth was growing ever blacker, the sea was streaked with green, and the branches stood stark against the pale sand, the green sea and the darkening sky. Wonderful. 

Continuing on, we left Priory Bay and entered Seagrove Bay. There was a raised wooden walkway here leading to the promenade, so we followed this for a while before returning to the beach. Unfortunately, at this point the weather from Portsmouth hit the Island and we were caught in a mini snowstorm, rushing for shelter against the sea wall and watched the sand blowing along the beach. As the snow didn't let up we continued back along the coastal path to the car park and huddled for warmth against the heater. Glorious walk!

St Helen's Church

Railway Carriage Beach Huts

Periwinkles

Art installation

April

Ryde to Seaview
A brisk impromptu stomp along the seafront to the Seaview Hotel, (stopped for a cuppa),  and back, with a friend, putting the world to rights. Lovely! Excellent views across the Solent too.

 

Cowes

A brisk walk through the town and on to Egypt Point lighthouse and back in the rain, stopping off for a cuppa at Coast. Lovely way to clear the cobwebs away.

 

Quay Arts

Popped in for lunch (lovely) and had a peek at the current exhibition. Definitely worth a visit. Excellent exhibition of body sculptures and art (Olympians and meta humans) by artist Louisa Giblin.

 

Isle of Wight Cantata Choir

The IOW Cantata Choir gave a strong rendition of Verdi's Requiem, ably accompanied by the IOW Symphony Orchestra and four superb soloists. Another excellent evening out.

Ryde to Seaview

I met up with a friend today, after we had planned to walk from Ryde to St Helen's and back. While I was waiting I watched the ducks and geese on the boating lake who were in full voice trying to woo each other and fight off competitors.  We walked along the seafront from the Duck cafe to Seaview, but the weather was against us so we called in to the bar at the Seaview Hotel to get out of the rain and have a coffee. We ended up staying for a sandwich too (yummy) before heading back into the drizzle and back to Ryde.

Despite the weather this was a lovely walk! The tide was out and the beach from Appley to Seaview looked glorious, and the views to the sea forts in the Solent were good. The  bar at the hotel was cosy and full of old prints of photos of the Island, and the sandwiches were generously filled. I shall definitely go back! 

Route: https://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4697812.html

Distance: 4 miles

Summer Strolls

We go for a few short strolls around the place as the fancy takes us, so I thought I'd list them here.

Cowes Seafront

This is always a nice walk at this time of year; the town is bustling with sailors and tourists, there is usually yacht racing on the Solent, and many people are out on the seafront watching the sailing, playing on the beach or strolling along the promenade. We also have the pleasure of fairly regular visits from a common seal who likes to lounge on the old steps by the Royal Yacht Squadron.

Ryde Seafront

We like to stroll from the boating lake to Appley Tower, the café beyond or even Seaview if we're feeling energetic. Often we paddle in the sea as this is a sandy beach, and get an ice cream from one of the vendors along the way. One's route back is often marked by the smoke from multiple disposable barbecues, with the pleasurable scent of sizzling sausages Along the way.

Cowes to Newport Cycle Track

This is a lovely walk along the route of the old railway, with plenty of shade on sunny days, and lovely views across the river Medina, and the surrounding farmland. Lots of wildflowers and wildlife, as well as walkers, runners and cyclists.

Chilton Chine

A good walk for small children and dogs! Park near Isle of Wight Pearl on the west coast of the Island, follow the path to some steps that lead down to the beach and have a pleasant walk and paddle. Keep an eye on the tide as it comes in quite quickly and there aren't many exits back up the cliffs.

Appley to Seaview

The teenager and I have decided to go for a walk every Sunday afternoon for the foreseeable future, come rain or shine. I'm not sure about the last bit as we are essentially creatures of comfort who prefer to stay in the dry, if not the warm. However, we have made a start.

 

We drove to Ryde and parked in the car park behind Appley Tower, a folly on the seafront, then strolled through the soggy park and down to the promenade. From here we turned right, headed past the tower and stomped along the seafront past the wintry, sandy beach full of dog walkers, and avoided small children on bicycles and scooters. The wind was behind us, and the drizzle was upon us, but we carried on, chatting amiably about films, books and school. Very pleasant. The promenade took us past lots of fading Victorian and early 20th century villas, and as far as the beginning of Seaview, a lovely village, and its extremely nice beach houses. When the path turned towards the village proper, we turned back, and detoured through Puckpool Park, built in the remains of a 19th century coastal fortification.

 

On the way home we made a minor detour and stopped for a cuppa and a slice of cake at Bluebell's Café at Briddlesford Farm. Very nice it was too, and I highly recommend the lemon drizzle cake!

Staycation Day 2

Day two started reasonably early, with me making the picnic. We then headed into Cowes, pausing for a photo outside Hurst's (we have been challenged to visit every branch on the Island this week!), then caught the number 1 bus to Newport. We hopped off at the bottom of Hunnyhill, dashed down Lugley Street and I posed for a photo outside Hurst's. Off to the bus station next where we caught the number 9 to Ryde. We hopped off in Union Street and, guess what, snapped a photo of Hurst's and also popped in to buy forks for our picnic as I had forgotten to pack any. We strolled down to the bus station, found we still had quite a wait so wandered over to admire the hovercraft that had just come in. Finally we caught the number 8 bus and alighted at the Wishing Well pub in Pondwell.

From here we joined the Barnsley Trail and spent a pleasant couple of hours tramping through fields and along footpaths, picking sloes and blackberries as we went, and having picnic lunch on Seagrove beach. I'd never been to this beach before and found it was lovely. The beach was mostly sandy and sloped shallowly. Perfect for children. We walked through Seaview to rejoin the trail, stopping briefly for a cup of tea and an ice cream. We then realised that we only had about twenty minutes until the bus left (or we'd be stranded for an hour), so we walked uphill at high speed until we got there! We were in time and spent a pleasant few minutes sitting on a rickety bench in the sunshine at the bus stop.

Buses: 1, 9, & 8

Footpaths: R61, R62, R71, R74, R105, R91, R95

Budget: drinks and ice cream £4.30