Sunday, 7 April 2013

Summer 2013

My Guided Wight Walks are on hold until mid-October as I am off to Tuscany to lead a walking & cultural holiday for 6 months!

Meanwhile if you do have any queries for my Guided Walks in the future do drop me a line.

Many thanks for your interest.



Michele

Sunday, 27 January 2013

Newtown

Today's walk was a short but pleasant one around Newtown.  Once one of the most important towns on the Island with two MP's. Sadly destroyed by the French & never recovered but the Town Hall still remains. Became a school, then a house, then a hostel, then a ruin! Now belongs to the National Trust.


Newtown is a great place for birdwatching with two hides so remember to pack your binoculars.


In December 82 species of birds were sighted.


The board walk takes you to the former salt pans.  The harbour was once capable of sheltering 50 large ships.


Newtown is a great destination for a 3 mile nature walk with history of this once important town known as Franchville.

Saturday, 26 January 2013

Smugglers & Shipwrecks

Did a lovely undulating 8 mile version of my Smugglers & Shipwrecks walk today.

Set off up on Mottistone Down to Brook Down then through Freshwater Golf Course with Freshwater Bay & Tennyson Down beyond.


Looking in the opposite direction along the Back of the Wight with a couple of intimate crows in the foreground.


The weather was a little overcast but dry & surprisingly mild. The clouds created some wonderful patterns in the sky over the sea.


Walked past Compton Farm with its wildlife & traditional buildings.


Up onto Brook Down, through the grounds of Brook Hill House, the former home of the writer J B Priestley & past the Neolithic Long Stone.


I have shorter & longer versions of my Smugglers & Shipwrecks walk.  Do contact me for further details.

Thursday, 24 January 2013

Winter Wonderland

Happy 2013 everyone & here's to another year of Guided Wight Walks with Michele!

I would like to share with you some photos I took recently of our Winter Wonderland.  Walked along the old railway line between Yarmouth to Freshwater.


Boats on the River Yar in the distance.


Magical!


The Causeway, Freshwater


Looking across to the Downs.  The Isle of Wight really became the Isle of White!


I am happy to announce I am available as a Walking Guide for private groups this year.

I have a portfolio of walks to suit all levels of fitness & interests including some of my favourites & more: Western Yar Stroll, Smugglers & Shipwrecks, Up High on the Downs, On Top of the Island, Water & Woods & Salt & Pepper.

As always not only do I lead the walks, I give interesting & entertaining information along the way about the history of the Island, geography, flora & fauna, smugglers & shipwrecks, Victorian visitors, music festivals, ghost stories & dinosaurs!

My charges are: 2-3 hour walk/4-6 miles - 2-10 people @ £25/11-20 people @ £40
4-5 miles walk/8-10 miles - 2-10 people @ £50/11-20 people @ £75.

My contact numbers are: 01983 761574 & 07771 616540
or email michele.wightdelight@yahoo.co.uk

I look forward to meeting you & showing you the beautiful Isle of Wight on a Guided Wight Walk with Michele


Monday, 8 October 2012

Another summer season is over!

My Guided Walks have been a little quiet this summer hence the lack of posts.
However my Western Yar Stroll has been the most popular especially with Warners, Norton Grange. At the beginning of September 17 members of the Concierge Club joined me for a very pleasant 4.5 mile stroll.



The weather was kind to us & we saw some of the local wildlife including an elusive red squirrel, a friendly donkey


plus plenty of birdlife along the Western Yar including several mute swans.


I've met some lovely people on my walks from all around the country.




I am available over the autumn & winter months as a private guide. All levels of walking experience catered for. Do give me a call or send me an email to discuss the various options:
Home 01983 761574
Mobile 07771 616540
Email michele.wightdelight@yahoo.co.uk

Up on Tennyson Down


Newtown Estuary


Freshwater Bay with the Back of the Wight beyond!


Luccombe Down with Sandown Bay & Culver Down in the background

 
Hope to see you on a Guided Wight Walk with Michele sometime soon.
 
 

Saturday, 26 May 2012

Salt & Pepper

Today I led my Salt & Pepper walk from Blackgang Chine with a lovely group of girls on a Hen Weekend.



First we headed up to the Pepperpot.  The UK's last surviving medieval lighthouse. Built in the early 14th century by Lord de Godeton. A man of the church who helped himself to wine from a shipwreck. He was almost excommunicated for his actions, instead he was given a penance to build a beacon & chapel.




Then we walked along the ridge with fantastic views across the Island in all directions to Hoy's Monument. Erected by Michael Hoy, a Russian merchant to commerorate the visit of Czar Alexander in 1814.




Next we headed down to the village of Whitwell where we stopped for a very tasty lunch at the White Horse Inn: www.thewhitehorsewhitewell.co.uk

Our last stretch was along the coastal path above St Catherine's lighthouse where we enjoyed the view. St Catherine's  has the most powerful light in the UK, reaching 26 sea miles in clear visibility.






I have two versions of this walk 7 miles or 8 miles.
Both start & finish at the car-park above Blackgang Chine.

Tuesday, 1 May 2012