Up High on the Downs

I'm pleased to announce I am reintroducing my popular Up High on the Downs walk fortnightly on Fridays commencing on 6th April.

This walk will now begin from Stoats Farm Caravan & Camping, Weston Lane,Totland Bay.
www.stoats-farm.co.uk

7.5 miles
Moderate
Uphills, downhills & level!

Meet at reception 09.30.
Allow 4.5 hours.
Bring a picnic

We walk up the road past the High Down Inn & make our way up onto West High Down & along to The famous Needles. There is a stunning viewpoint near the former rocket launching test site. Down below is Scratchells Bay, only accessible by boat.

In the distance we hope to see the chalk cliffs between Studland & Swanage on the Isle of Purbeck & Old Harry Rocks. The chalk ridge once connected the island to the mainland until the sea level rose about 7000 BC & the River Solent as it was then broke through the chalk ridge & the Island first became an island.

Next we see the coloured sands of Alum Bay. Nearby the first permanent wireless station was established by Marconi in 1897. He first exchanged messages with a tug in Alum Bay then with Bournemouth & Poole 40 miles away.

Then it's up to the impressive Tennyson's Monument. The Down here was renamed Tennyson Down in his memory. Queen Victoria was an admirer of his works. In 1884 she created him Baron of Aldworth in Sussex & Freshwater on the Isle of Wight.

From the monument we head down towards Freshwater Bay with more impressive views along the Back of the Wight.

Our final stretch takes us past Dimbola Lodge, the former home of the Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron, the thatched church of St Agnes & behind the former home of the Poet Laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Adults - £5.00
Seniors 65 plus - £3.00
Children under 12 - £2.00

To book:
Email michele.wightdelight@yahoo.co.uk
Phone 01983 761574
Mobile 07771 616540

Back of the Wight

This new walk, Back of the Wight will begin on most Wednesdays from 4th April until 24th October.
NOT 13th June

We meet at The Orchards Holiday Park in Newbridge outside reception at 09.30.
www.orchards-holiday-park.co.uk

6.5 miles. Moderate. Uphill & Downhill twice! Approx 3 hours.

From the holiday park we set off across country, through Westover Plantation to Mottistone Down where we come across several Bronze Age burial mounds dating back 3500 years..

From here we hope to have some fantastic views looking along the Back of the Wight to Blackgang in the east & Freshwater Bay in the west. We then head down then up again onto Brook Down.  Behind us amongst the rhododendrons is Brook Hill House. Once the home of the writer J B Priestley between 1948-1959.

Up on Brook Down there are more Bronze Age burial mounds above us & more views looking across to the chalk cliffs below Tennyson Down. The Poet Laureate Tennyson lived in Freshwater Bay & the Downs were a favourite place of his to walk & be inspired.

Our final part of the walk takes us down to more farmland with views of the Solent & the location of the infamous 1970 Isle of Wight Pop Festival when 600 000 hippies descended upon the Island. At the time the Island only had a population of around 100 000!

Adults - £5.00
Seniors 65 plus - £3.00
Children under 12 - £2.00

To book:
Email michele.wightdelight@yahoo.co.uk
Phone 01983 761574
Mobile 07771 616540

New for 2012 - Smugglers & Shipwrecks

A new version of my popular Smugglers & Shipwrecks walk will begin on most Tuesdays from
3rd April until the end of October.
NOT 5th June, 31st July, 9th Oct & 30th Oct.

5.5 miles. Grade moderate. Approx 3 hours. After a flatish start we have a gradual uphill climb then downhill.

Starting & finishing at The Sun Inn.  A 600 year old countryside pub with a sea view in the small village of Hulverstone, PO30 4EH.  A great venue for lunch & a drink after our walk either inside or outside in the pleasant garden.
www.sun-hulverstone.com

We meet at 10.00 in the pub garden.  Our walk takes us to the village of Brook & the location of one of the very first lifeboat stations on the Island in 1860.

We follow the coast path along the Back of the Wight which is notorius for Smuggling & Shipwrecks to Chiltern Chine.  One of the 19 chines on the Island.  A chine is a word only used on the Isle of Wight, Dorset & Hampshire & means a ravine/steep sided river valley.


We make our way gradually up to the Long Stone.  Placed here by Neolithic people & marks the rising sun. En route we hope to have some great coastal views to Blackgang in the east & Freshwater Bay & Tennyson Down to the west.

 

Below us is the quaint village of Mottistone with it's pre-Elizabethan Manor & the 12th century church of St Peter & St Paul. Our final descent takes us back to The Sun Inn for a well deserved bite to eat & refreshing drink.

Adults - £5.00
Seniors 65 plus - £3.00
Children under 12 - £2.00

To book:
Email michele.wightdelight@yahoo.co.uk
Phone 01983 761574
Mobile 07771 616540

Winter Walks

Take advantage of the crisp sunny days on a Guided Wight Walk with Michele.
Not only do I lead the walk but I give informative & interesting information along the way.

Do come prepared with lots of layers, hat, gloves, scarf, water/snowproof jackets, flask of hot drink & snacks/lunch. Plus something to sit on when we take a rest.

In February & March I am offering private walks.
2-3 hours/4-6 miles @ £25 per group
4-5 hours/8-10 miles @ £50 per group.

Do contact me on 07771 616540 or 01983 761574 to check my availability or send me an email
michele.wightdelight@yahoo.co.uk

Looking forward to meeting you!