Thursday – On a brighter but still windy day, 8 of us gathered at the start of The Tennyson Trail, from Freshwater Bay to the Needles, Coastguard Watch, and Return (under 8 miles). With views of Freshwater Bay, we climbed the West Highly Down to the Tennyson Down Memorial, ( a commemorative marble Celtic Cross 1897, to the poet laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson) ensuring we kept to the path with a large cliff area roped off warning with evidence cliff subsidence, not helped by evidence of many rabbit warrens, creating some deep holes. We took the most southern coastal route to the National Coastwatch Station affording outstanding views of the Needles, and old Light House, which saw operation 1786 to 1994 when it was fully automated, up to present day. Paying a visit to the Needles Battery is well worth the entrance fee, and very educational. Though it never saw action, it was guardian to the Solent Strait 1863 to 1954, when it ceased being of military use. It was sold to the NT in 1975, now open to the public as a museum testament to the historical protection of the southern coast. A hidden gem, an iron spiral staircase leads via a tunnel to a spotlight and viewing platform, affording perfect views of The Needles, the Lighthouse, and Solent Strait. While we were there the heavens opened, this time with warm sun light, off-set by still chilly Channel winds.
We were surprised to discover, for those who might find the coastal walk too much of a difficulty, there was actually a coast bus, part of the IOW Breezer service, which could bring you up to a turn-round pike located outside the National Coastalwatch Station.
Leaving the Needles Battery, we were afforded spectacular views of the scenic Allum Bay Chine and its colourful sandy cliffs, with “the Needles chairlift” extending from a public carpark down to the shoreline. From our perspective the coastal stairlift station looked more like something that had seen better days, and more looked like what might have been some coastal structure that had suffered cliff fall damage and land subsidence, pushing the structure out to sea.
Taking a route away from Allum Chine, we returned to the Tennyson Trail, a more southerly route, steadily climbing the side of the West High Down. Being in the lee of the Channel wind, our return journey became very warm, especially with the sun burning through the clouds….. but, as luck would have it, the gods looked kindly on us, another wall of drizzle holding off to we arrived back at our cars.
Everyone agreed, a very enjoyable and educational day with spectacular views, complimented by good weather gracing us when the occasion counted.

Friday – Day 5 and our final walk bringing a close to another successful stay on the Isle of Wight; and on our last day, with winds eased off and almost cloudless blue skies above, we said our final Good Byes to our holiday home, and set out for Shalfleet and exploring the old coastal village of Newtown, the saltmarsh nature reserve and its surroundings; an easy approx 5 mile walk along lanes, quiet country roads and coastal tracks. After a picnic stop at the town quay boat-house, a photo opportunity on the old Newtown Town Hall steps, and a chat with some Hebridean Sheep,
before leaving Shalfleet we popped in to The New Inn for refreshments before visiting Henry VIII’s Yarmouth Castle defensive fort; and for others, a last meal before leaving for the ferry.

To round off another successful break-away to the IOW, with an hour to kill before we boarded our homeward bound ferry, four of us headed in to Yarmouth Castle for a final catch-up on the Islands history, and a photo opp from the ramparts, the perfect vantage point to watch the docking and alighting of passenger from the PS (paddle steamer) Waverley, and watching the arrival of our own ferry for the return journey home.

contributions and ideas courtesy: Stephen C. Laurence B. Guy & Peter, and new member Andrew Clayton
MANY THANKS to Ian M for organising another successful break away