New Year

I started the new year off gently by going for a stroll from Quarr Abbey to Binstead and back with a friend. It was a glorious winter afternoon, cold but dry and bright, and we caught up on all the news as we walked. Lovely. We stopped off at Holy Cross church in Binstead on the way back; this is an old church that I have walked past many times but never been in. It has a beautiful wooden 'boat' ceiling, which has Norman style wooden arches overlaying it. The stone pulpit is in just the right spot to survey the congregation and keep an eye on wayward choristers! The church was, unsurprisingly, very tranquil. Worth a visit.

Afterwards we stopped for a hot drink and cake at the Abbey cafe before wandering up to admire the pigs and then toddling off home.

Godshill and Wroxall

I met up with a chum today and we headed to Godshill, parking in the  big car park there.  We had decided to follow a route found on 'Visit Isle of Wight', but swiftly went wrong. We made it as far as All Saints Church, on the hill (hence the name of the village I guess), then got a little confused. We walked along the lane, but couldn't see a footpath leading off it, so turned round and went the other way ending up back in the village. It was a pleasant detour, with lots of thatched cottages and few tourists. If we had carried on along the original path we would have got to our footpath. Ah well!

We decided to head through the village to The Griffin Inn as I knew there was a path there that led to Appuldurcombe House, where we wanted to go. This led behind the pub, across a meadow and into woodland, full of fallen leaves and sweet chestnuts. Lovely! We took the path to the right which came out by a deer park and led gradually uphill, coming out at a crossroads of paths. The one straight ahead led up the infamous Gat Cliff and the one on the right skirted round the base of it. I didn't want to go up the cliff as I was feeling particularly unfit today (what a wimp!), so we took the right hand path which eventually led to Freemantle Gate. We went through here and paused for a while to admire it, then continued on to Appuldurcombe House, where we paused to discuss its scandalous history and whether or not it was haunted, as is commonly believed. Onwards from here to the junction with Rew Lane and a brief jaunt into Wroxall.

Wroxall is not a village I know well, but it seemed pleasant and had an unusual church. After a while we found Appuldurcombe Lane and headed back across the fields to Freemantle Gate, pausing to admire a raptor in flight (still undecided on which one it was) and getting excited about a passing spitfire. From the gate we strolled down the lane to Godshill, passing a paddock of Shetland ponies on the way. We ended up in The Griffin for a bite to eat (nice baguettes), then headed to the Willow Tree Tea Garden for a coffee before heading home. Lovely day!

Intended route: https://www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/dbimgs/Walk_Appuldurcombe.pdf 

Actual route: https://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4826342.html 

Distance: 6 miles.

All Saints Church, Godshill

St John's Church, Wroxall

Beautiful Brighstone

Well, I'm back in Brighstone again for an overnight stay and more dog-sitting. I have to say that I have completely fallen for this village; it is so peaceful in the cottage I stay in on the village outskirts, with more nature than you can shake a stick at just while you are having a cuppa in the garden. Gorgeous! Today I have seen a wren almost within touching distance, blue tits, pigeons, buzzards, wasps, at least three species of bumblebee and I'm hoping I'll see baby toads this evening (we were invaded last time!). Everyone that I have met in the village has been extremely friendly, welcoming and helpful too. 

After lunch I took the pooch for a walk, starting in Coombe Lane and wandering along the paths until we got back to the village centre, joining a large group of ramblers as we got there. We walked up towards the downs, then cut across a field following a path that gradually descended between walls of sandstone and earth, bordered with bracken and blackberries which came out on Upper Lane opposite the lane by the library. Very nice. Pooch found lots of things to sniff and had a thoroughly lovely time running about the lanes jumping at pigeons in the hedgerows.

In the evening I drove up to the car park at the top of Strawberry Lane and strolled up the down path while pooch ran after her tennis ball and explored. Glorious view from the top of the hill that I will forever adore.

Brighstone Down

After spending yesterday on the sofa under a fluffy blanket, listening to the rain, watching 'Call the Midwife', and eating biscuits and Welsh cakes, I thought that I ought to get some fresh air and exercise today. I set off for Brighstone and parked at the car park at the top of Lynch Lane, next to Strawberry Lane.

Coming out of the car park, I turned right and then picked up a footpath on the opposite side of the road and bimbled along it to see where it went. I hadn't brought a map. More on that later! I stopped periodically to gaze through my binoculars at hovering kestrels and soaring buzzards, riding the wind in the sky above me. Glorious. Wish I could do that! The path led on, passing Brighstone Forest on the left and showing glorious views along the west coast on the right. I never tire of that view. 

I paused for a while to sit on a stile and gaze across the countryside and seascape below, before continuing on towards a viewpoint showing the distance to lots of different places on the Island and around the world, and then past cattle sheds belonging to Cheverton Farm and a beautiful herd of cattle (all different colours), where I paused to lean on the gate and admire them for a while.  I was later overtaken by a family of mountain bikers and later I found a sign for the 'Devil's Spine', part of a mountain bike trail run by the farm. 

I turned back shortly after the cattle, and met a lady and her puppy; we had an interesting conversation about our mutual lack of skill at photography while her puppy bounced up and down next to me. Next, I turned along a footpath that led into the forest, assuming it would head for Lynch Lane. It did, in a roundabout way! I had no map, as mentioned earlier, and managed to get myself turned around. Having found a broader, stonier path than the rather damp one I was following, I began walking along it, not entirely sure in which direction I was going. That was fine; I was ambling up a hill and spotted a hare feeding on the grass and got quietly excited as I had never seen one before. Wow! I was glad I had the binoculars as I got a really good look at it without getting to close and scaring it off. Shortly after that I met another lady who informed me that I'd end up in Carisbrooke if I continued in that direction, so i turned round and found myself back at the car park fairly soon afterwards.

This was a lovely, gentle walk with magnificent landscapes, cloudscapes and seascapes, and lots of wildlife to spot. I saw several birds that I cannot identify, lots of insects, and there was an abundance of wild flora. I'll have to wander back soon and gather hazelnuts and sweet chestnuts. It was also good to see evidence of the forest being managed, with coppicing of sweet chestnuts evident.

Route: https://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4798056.html

Distance: approx. 5 miles

Wootton and Briddlesford

Three of us set off on a exploration of the Wootton area this morning, at crack of dawn. Not entirely sure why, but it seemed like a good idea. We parked the car in Fernside Way, strolled round the corner to Station Road and turned left and went in search of a footpath. We rejected the first one we saw and took the second, heading blindly on (we did have a map but, well,...) until we eventually reached Briddlesford Road. We turned right again and continued until we got to Knights Cross and turned left down a farm track, past Knights Farm, and an antiques emporium until we came to the delightful Trufffles Tiny Campsite.

This was the main reason for the walk, as we had read about the campsite on Twitter and wanted to check it out. We were beguiled immediately! This was proper, almost wild, camping. With Llamas. We were shown around by Marnie, and saw the compost toilets (fantastic) and the wood burner, sunken fridge (butler sink with a lid), woodfire and solar heated shower, and outdoor kitchen area. Amazing. I felt like I wanted to live there all summer! I hope that it works out well as it is a lovely idea.

Afterwards we walked to Briddlesford Copse with Marnie and Stewart (a wild camper), and said goodbye, and then continued on to Wootton through Fernhill woods, past the ice house and Hurst Copse, picking blackberries on the way, then stopping at The Sloop for lunch before going home. Lovely!

Route: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/660662
Distance: 4.5 miles

Compost Toilet 

Camp kitchen

Mooches with a Pooch

This week a friend and I are house and dog sitting in Brighstone so have been exploring. Walks have included:

Coombe Lane Loop 1

Start at Coombe Lane (off Lynch Lane), follow past the farm buildings then turn right through a makeshift gate and walk uphill. At the top of the hill turn left and walk towards the Ramblers gate in the corner. Go through the gate and follow the path to a junction and turn left, following the path gradually downhill to a turning on the left. This looks like a tree lined tunnel, with a ditch on the left and leads back to the top of Coombe Lane.

Route: https://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4784608.html 

Distance: approx. 2 miles

Coombe Lane Loop 2
Start in Coombe Lane, head past the farm buildings and take the path straight ahead (furthest left) and follow the path along, and around until you get to the upper end of the tree lined tunnel. Turn right here and follow the path uphill. Stay on the path, pausing to admire the view of the coast at the farm gate at the top, then continue downhill along the sunken path. The path ends on the main Shorwell - Brighstone road, where you should turn right and head back to the village, getting back to Lynch Lane and Coombe Lane via Upper Road.

Route: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/660659
Distance: approx. 2.3 miles

Totland Bay and Colwell Bay

We tried to park in Totland but all the side roads were being resurfaced it seemed, so we headed for Hurst Point View and parked there instead. We followed the road until it met footpath T1 and turned left towards Totland, cutting through One Horse Field on the way. This is a pleasant little nature reserve. We came out on a grass area and found a path that led to the coastal walk between the two bays, at the Pier Cafe. We turned right at the bottom and headed to Colwell Bay, marching along in the wind, turned round at the end and came back, pausing for a cup of tea and a doggie treat at the Pier Cafe. Lovely! Afterwards we continued along the seafront to the old Lifeboat station at Widdick Chine and followed the steps up to the road, back along Turf Walk and eventually to the car, via a run around the park.

Route: https://gb.mapometer.com/edit/route_4784619.html 

Distance: approx. 3 miles

Brighstone Down

Start in Lynch Lane and walk uphill towards Strawberry Lane, and then on to the National Trust car park on the left. Pass through the gate opposite the entrance and follow the path uphill. We continued until we were roughly opposite the Long Stone at Mottistone, then turned back and went home!

Route: https://gb.mapometer.com/edit/route_4786520.html 
Distance: approx. 2.5 miles

Brighstone

Well, we have had weeks of unending sunshine so today my friend and I decided to go for a walk. It thundered and rained. Of course. However, the thunder was exciting and the rain refreshing so all was good. 

We started off in Lynch Lane and headed for the footpath to Moortown (I think that's right; on the right as you head downhill past Coombe Lane), and followed it towards and round Gaggerhill Farm, where we observed some noisy dogs and beautiful horses. The rain started just as we turned into the lane next to the house and we dodged right to a footpath that took us uphill under the trees towards Grammar's Common. This turned out to be a private ("This is not common land") woodland and red squirrel sanctuary, but the footpath went through and we enjoyed the peace and stillness within. At one point we heard a woodpecker and managed to track the noise to three possible trees but could not see the bird itself. Fun looking for it though!

The path led on, out of the woods and down to Strawberry Lane. Here we turned right and picked up a footpath that led to the Long Stone, alongside Castle Hill. We paused in the rain to admire the Long Stone, then detoured to the left and up to the top of Castle Hill to admire the view. One of my favourites, showing the coast from Blackgang Chine to Tennyson Down, even on a cloudy, hazy day like today. We then doubled back and followed the path down through the woods to come out by Mottistone Manor. The manor was not open to the public today, so we crossed the road and prowled around the churchyard, which is a thriving haven for wildlife, and had a look inside the church itself. This is a rather lovely example of a small, country church, and had an interesting display about 'Warrior', the horse that inspired the novel "Warhorse", as he belonged to local landowners. 

We had run out of footpath so we followed the road back to Brighstone in search of a cup of tea, only to find that the once famous cream tea shops had disappeared, so we had a cuppa in the Three Bishops pub instead, and bought an ice cream from the village shop. And a Belgian bun. Oops. We did have a slight detour on the way, having seen a signpost that said village centre half a mile; we followed it over a stream (played Pooh sticks on the bridge), and came out on a housing estate with no indication of where to go, so we retraced our footsteps to the main road. After tea, we decided to head back to Lynch Lane, and found another footpath that led over the downs and through a sheep field to Coombe Lane, which we followed passing several stone cottages until we were back in Lynch Lane. Lovely walk!

Route: https://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4782839.html 

Distance: 6 miles

Pot Bellied Pig

Unusual clouds before thunder storm

Long Stone

Ordnance Survey Bench Mark on Mottistone Church wall

Brighstone stream