Isle of Wight Coastal Path Walking Holidays

Your walking holiday takes in the Tennyson Heritage Coast from St Lawrence to Freshwater, along the island’s southern coastline. Admire the coloured sandstone cliffs at Alum Bay, explore the famous Needles and see the towering chalk cliffs at Freshwater Bay.

On your walking holiday you experience the invigorating air, quality of light and enchanting scenery of an island that has drawn in artists and poets, writers and scientists alike. Stretches of designated “Heritage Coast” cover nearly half the island’s 60 mile (97 km) coastline – a designation only applied to coastlines whose fine qualities preserve the natural wildlife.

Sections of the walk will appeal to birdwatchers, with a combination of marshland, mud-flats and sands attracting a wide variety of species. Yarmouth Castle, Osbourne House (Queen Victoria’s country retreat), Tennyson's monument, castles, abbeys, churches, yellow sandy beaches and even wine-tasting are all to be enjoyed on this fascinating walk.

The first two days of walking from Ryde via Cowes to Yarmouth, are considerably more inland than coastal. However, the easy-going walks along cliffs and gardens are pleasant walks in themselves, and the exception in comparison with the other sections. The route to Brighstone leads you through more secluded rural areas, and is one of the more challenging of the sections as the route descends and climbs back up to a balcony path with views over the Back of the Wight.

Leaving Brighstone, the path skirts cliff edges before descending to the sands and Victorian promenade of Sandown and Shanklin. The walk is mainly flat and not too taxing, apart from several short and steep ascents such as 'Devils Chimney' just outside of Ventnor. The final section to Ryde is almost entirely coastal and shouldn’t present any difficulty as you enter Ryde through Priory Wood.

Please note that recent damage and landslips along the coastal path mean you may encounter temporary diversions during this walk. These routes may change throughout the season as sections are repaired or redirected. All diversions should be clearly signposted.