Bembridge Down and Culver

Today was a glorious spring day, so my friend and I decided that a yomp up to the Yarborough Monument on Culver Down would be the ideal way to test post-covid lung capacity!

We parked in the estate beyond the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, crossed the road and the carpark beyond, then began our ascent along a path in the turf. The path led through some scrub, past an abandoned building that may have been a gun emplacement in WW2, before coming out into the open again by a holiday camp. 

Soon we were on National Trust land and walking along the top of Red Cliff, aptly named for the colour of the rock. To our right was a large area of landslip, covered in golden gorse; as we breathed in we were hit by the delicious coconutty smell of gorse blossom - glorious!

Soon we were ascending again, this time on chalk Downland and heading ever upwards to the monument. When we got there, we discovered the tea stall was shut, but luckily the pub offered tea and a seat with a lovely view of the channel. 

We descended after a while, listening to the skylarks and admiring the view across Sandown Bay. When we reached the far side of the landslip, we turned left and followed a path down through the gorse bushes, took our chances on a makeshift set of stepping stones on a very muddy section, and eventually ended up on the beach. We strolled along looking vaguely for sea glass and new-to-science fossils (no such luck!) before heading back to the car and home.

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

Bembridge Down

We tried a new route today, much to the teenager's disgruntlement. I realised that I had never walked up Bembridge Down to Culver Cliff so as today was sunny and reasonably warm we gave it a go. I parked at Yaverland, then we crossed the road and joined the coastal path behind the sailing club climbing uphill over turf towards a shrubby area. Here the path became more formal and led through flowering hawthorn and gorse, past a derelict gun battery and then up and past a holiday village. beyond the chalets the path opened out onto Bembridge Down proper, denoted by a National Trust sign and information board. We detoured around a muddy patch then began our ascent.

The down spread out around and above us, with the beacon of the Culver Cliff monument beckoning us from the hill top. To our right was the cliff edge, and as we ascended, the extent of Sandown Bay became apparent. I knew it was a large bay but had not seen it from this impressive perspective before. We stopped for a picnic lunch on a patch of springy turf overlooking the bay, and watched the sun glinting on the sea, and container ships lining up in the channel; these appeared empty so we assumed they were waiting to be called into port in Southampton. We also watched a hawk, possibly a kestrel, glide overhead on the breeze then turn and hover effortlessly above the cliff looking for prey. Glorious.

We continued upwards and made it to the top fairly quickly. To the teenager's delight there was a café serving ice cream and fizzy drinks so we paused here for refreshment. I went and explored to the end of the promontory and discovered Culver Battery, with the remains of two large gun emplacements. There was also the site of Culver Signal Station as well as a Beacon Basket. I had had no idea any of that was there. Apparently it was used by the military until the 1960s, and not much is known about what went on there. It is now managed by the National Trust. The views across the east end of the Island from here were fantastic; I could see Brading Haven, Bembridge and St Helen's, and across to Ryde and Portsmouth.

Once I had rejoined the teenager we inspected the monument which was dedicated to the Earl of Yarborough and was quite an impressive piece of masonry. We then walked down the lane towards Bembridge Fort, which is also managed by, and being restored by, the NT, but is only open occasionally. Bembridge Fort is another Palmerstone defence against possible invasion by the French in the 1800s. After this we returned to the downland and stomped down the hill to the coastal path, retracing our steps to the car. An invigorating walk, and one that could be taken considerably further.

Distance: 3.8 miles

Route: http://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4283423.html

View across Sandown Bay

Landslip

Yarborough Memorial

Gun Emplacement

Bembridge Fort

Gorse

The Poo Museum

This afternoon we went on an expedition to the 'Poo Museum' located within the Isle of Wight Zoo at Yaverland. Once we had seen it advertised, it would have been rude not to go.

The zoo is located in an old fort on Yaverland seafront, a bit further along from the Dinosaur Museum.  If you go, and are expecting an experience similar to London Zoo or Marwell Zoo, then you will be disappointed, as this is a small zoo in a slightly dilapidated seaside town. However, it does have quite a lot of animals, all well cared for, and staff who know what they are talking about and who give tours.  Back to the poo....

The Poo Museum was located inside the walls of the fort, and was put together by Ecclestone George, a collective of local artists I think; there were various lavatories located around the walls containing information leaflets, and quite a few poo samples which had been prepared and contained within spheres of clear plastic (I think!). Samples included rat poo, skunk poo, cat poo in a shoe, dinosaur poo and human baby poo. Each sphere rested atop a drainpipe, and was connected to other pipes. At the far end was a 'Poo Tree' with small black plastic bags among its branches, as this seems to be a common sight in the countryside these days.  Certainly an interesting idea and display all round, and the children and adults in there seemed to be enjoying it. I did, certainly.

We toured the zoo as we had paid to get in (discount for Island residents with proof of address), and admired the many lemurs, spider monkeys, giant rabbits, and goats before getting to the stars of the show; these were the big cats. The zoo is noted for rescuing tigers from circuses and we saw four or five beautiful creatures today, including a pure white one. There was also a GORGEOUS jaguar (my favourite big cat), with stunning markings. We couldn't get close to the lions as their enclosure was roped off - I think they were being given space to get to know each other. However, we could see a large male lion in the distance.

After the zoo we went for a drive, via Shanklin and Ventnor, and ended up having a blat up the military road before heading home along the back roads to avoid all the road works, and singing along to Snow Patrol and Beyoncé at the top of our lungs. Along the way, in fact all day, we had played 'Yellow Car No Returns' which I won, much to the teenager's disgust ("I'm not playing any more anyway Mum"), with a final score of 23 - 17. Always a good game.

Simi the new Tiger

Yaverland

Another quick walk today, to blow away the cobwebs after work. I parked in Meadow View, Yaverland as it was free, and turning right at the end, walked briskly along Culver Parade to Sandown Pier. En route I passed the Isle of Wight Zoo, famous for its tigers, Dinosaur Isle, famous for its prehistoric bones and animatronic dinosaurs, and a multitude of slightly faded Victorian hotels. The sun was fading fast, but gleaming pink on top of the tall, gray storm clouds, which luckily passed by unspent. The tide was out and many dogs and their owners were walking on the wide sandy beach. The view in one direction was the towering Culver cliff, and in the other the town of Shanklin, with its beach and lift. Directly ahead was the English Channel with a scattering of container ships on the horizon, lights blinking in the gathering dusk.

 

Distance: 2.4 miles

Footpaths: Coastal path.