I was asked to write a guest blog piece for
https://www.mumonanisland.com/ about walks for young families. Here you go!
"Well, it has been many years since I had to consider walks suitable for pushchairs, or the availability of benches for sitting and feeding babies on. However, I'm up for the challenge, so have taken my pregnant chum out for strolls so that we can assess some walks.
The first thing that struck me is that we have an abundance of esplanades on the Island, with benches, flat(ish) pavements and, bonus, public loos. One of my favourites is the walk from
Ryde to Seaview; there are benches at regular intervals (the ones approaching Seaview are particularly lovely), the paths are solid all the way along and generally wide enough for a big buggy, and assorted adults and children to walk abreast. There is also Appley Beach; sandy and perfect for sandcastles, and when the tide goes out it stretches for miles and the sea stays shallow. Perfect for toddlers to explore. There is also a play park near the tower, and a paddling pool next to the boating lake. If you need a bit of revitalising there are several cafes along the way, and I can personally recommend the tea and cake at The Dell Café.
Cowes to Gurnard is another favourite; the beach isn't sandy apart from a small patch at Gurnard, but if your child likes throwing stones into the sea, the beach is perfect. The path is wide, though not always level from Egypt Point Lighthouse. There are benches and shelters all the way along, and refreshments at regular intervals; lots of pubs in Cowes, then the ice-cream shop near the green, and at Gurnard is the marvellous Waterside Café, and The Woodvale pub. Public loos are available on the Parade at Cowes, above the Green near the ice-cream shop, and on the Green in Gurnard. There is also an excellent play park on Gurnard Green, and the green itself is excellent for running up and down, and for rolling down hills. The beach is pretty good here too, and popular with families.
Totland Bay to Colwell Bay is a short walk, with cafes at both ends; I don't recall many benches but you could sit on the sea wall quite comfortably. The walk could easily be extended to go to Fort Victoria, although there may be patches of path that would be tricky for a buggy. However, there is a good path from Fort Victoria going through woodland with lots of space for running about and squirrel hunting. There's a nice café and loos at the fort too.
The walk from Yaverland to Shanklin along the esplanade is another good one. The majority of the walk is flat, there are multiple cafes and ice cream stops in Sandown and Shanklin, public toilets at regular intervals and lots of benches. Sandown Bay has some of the best beaches on the Island, perfect for paddling and making sandcastles. If your little ones like dinosaurs there is also the Dinosaur Isle museum at Yaverland, near the Isle of Wight Zoo (tigers and lions mostly).
Ventnor to Bonchurch is another lovely seaside stroll. Ventnor esplanade has plenty of cafes, benches and public loos as well as a pleasant, shingly beach. There is a paddling pool at one end too. The stretch from Ventnor to Bonchurch is along the base of cliffs with no facilities, but you could sit on the seawall if needed. The walk could be extended from the Spyglass Inn by walking up the hill and through the car park, to a green space above the sea. The footpath leads round eventually to Steephill Cove but you would have to negotiate several sets of steep steps before that.
There are also walks inland; the Cowes to Newport cycle track is a lovely walk, but there are no benches until you get to Dodnor picnic site, near the end. You can continue into Newport and stop at the Bargeman's Rest pub or the Quay Arts Centre; loos at both, or there re public loos on Newport Quay. A similar walk is on the Sandown to Newport cycle track; again, not many benches and no loos, but a lovely walk with lots of paths going off the sides. There is a nature reserve at the Sandown end too which is worth exploring. At the Newport end there is a sculpture trail, which is rather lovely.
The River Yar at Yarmouth is another pleasant walk; this one goes along the riverbank and through woodland. There's lots of space for little ones to run about, and there is the occasional bench if memory serves me correctly. The walk does go round the river on both sides but I think the second side is less suitable for pushchairs. It is worth going as far as the Red Lion pub in Freshwater, although you may need to book if you want to eat. In Yarmouth itself there are several lovely cafes which are child friendly.
If you have an all terrain buggy Parkhurst Forest is worth a visit. The main paths are usually fairly solid (not tarmacked), and there is lots of space for little ones to run about and exhaust themselves! There aren't many places to sit, but there are occasional benches on the main paths, as well as some fallen trees, and there are benches in the squirrel hide. Firestone Copse near Wootton is similar, but with less benches."
