Isle of Wight
Rollercoaster cliffpaths. Chalk downs. A warm
welcome. Island life. Remote estuaries with rare
birds. Medieval fortresses. Delightful villages. Take
it easy. A quiet English country holiday just a
ferry-ride away.
The Isle of Wight is a world unto itself, with chalk cliffs,
gorse-flecked hilltops and thatched villages beneath whaleback
slopes.
For the walker it's an ideal scale with excellent variety.
Along the west coast you will find golden beaches at Compton Bay while in contrast
the north side of the island is marshy and remote. Further
inland you come across secluded forests and downland
ridges that give the feeling of being on top of the world.
Detailed information
| Last minute special offers
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| Classic Walking programme details |
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A typical Classic Walking day…
… will offer you a choice of 2 or 3 guided walks, each
of varying length and ascent. If you are new to walking, start
at the easier level, where the pace is the gentlest. We have
plenty of stops to enjoy the views and to rest. As your holiday
progresses you may feel confident to try a more challenging
level, or stick to the same level - it's entirely your choice.
More information on the type of footpaths
you're likely to find on the Isle of Wight.
On holidays before Easter and after 25 October, your daily choice of walks will
generally comprise a medium and a harder walk chosen to suit guest numbers and the cooler weather. 13, 16, 20, 23 March; 3, 17, 27 April 2009.
The following walks will be offered for holidays commencing on these dates:
5, 19, 23 July; 23, 27
August; 6, 20 September; 4, 18, 28 October 2008.
| Arrival day |
| Easier Walk: The Needles and the Battery
|
6½ |
775 feet |
Medium Walk: The bays and downs of west Wight
|
8¾ |
1025 feet |
| Harder Walk: The Solent, The Needles and the Channel Coast |
11¾ |
1200 feet |
| Easier Walk: Historic Brading and Culver Cliff |
6½ |
575 feet |
Medium Walk: The north east coast and Bembridge Trail
|
9¼ |
375 feet |
| Harder Walk: A ticket to "Ryde" to Sandown |
11¼ |
500 feet |
| Easier Walk: The Undercliff |
4¾
|
550 feet |
Medium Walk: The Upper cliffs and the Landslip
|
8 |
825 feet |
Harder Walk: From St Catherine's to
St
Blasius |
10½ |
1200 feet |
| There are no organised walks today to allow you time to explore the area independently or just relax in the Freshwater Bay House and grounds. |
| Easier Walk: Godshill, The Worsley
Monument and Appuldurcombe House |
5 |
750 feet |
| Medium Walk: Godshill and five downs
|
8½ |
1175 feet |
| Harder Walk: The eight downs horseshoe
|
10¼ |
1250 feet |
| Easier Walk: The West
Yar Valley |
6½ |
250 feet |
| Medium Walk: Isle of Wight Pearl via Brighstone village to Freshwater Bay |
8¾ |
1025 feet |
| Harder Walk: Downs, forest and coastline of South West Wight |
13 |
1225 feet |
| Departure day |
The following walks will be offered for holidays commencing on these dates:
2, 12 July; 30 August;
13, 17, 27 September; 1, 11, 15, 25 October 2008.
| Arrival day |
| Easier Walk: The Needles and the Battery |
6½ |
775 feet |
| Medium Walk: The bays and downs of West Wight |
8¾ |
1025 feet |
| Harder Walk: The Solent, The Needles
and Channel coast |
11¾ |
1200 feet |
| Easier Walk: By high cliffs and Whitwell
to a botanic garden |
6 |
400 feet |
| Medium Walk: Ups, downs and panoramic
views in Southeast Wight |
8¾ |
1175 feet |
| Harder Walk: Quiet glades, channel views
and a tropical garden |
11¼ |
1100 feet |
Easier Walk: Hills and hollows from
Shorwell to Carisbrooke Castle
|
6 |
825 feet |
| Medium Walk: Downs and lanes via Brightstone to Carisbrooke
Castle |
8¾ |
1125 feet |
| Harder Walk: The three trails |
12¾ |
1550 feet |
| There are no organised walks today to allow you time to explore the area independently or just relax in the House and grounds. |
| Easier Walk: Historic Brading and Culver
Cliff |
6½ |
575 feet |
| Medium Walk: The Nunwell Trail,
Brading and Culver Down |
9½ |
725 feet |
| Harder Walk: Coast to coast in east
Wight |
12½ |
1025 feet |
| Easier Walk: Wooded trails and grassy
downs |
6½ |
725 feet |
| Medium Walk: Winkle Street to Hulverstone |
8½ |
975 feet |
| Harder Walk: Withybeds, downs, forests and chines to Freshwater Bay |
10¾ |
975 feet |
| Departure day |
[Back to the top]
| Footpath information |
|
On these holidays there is a choice of up to three walks for varying abilities each day. For maximum choice we offer two weekly itineraries -
ideal if you wish to book a 14-night holiday or return for a second visit.
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Easier Walks: 4¾ to 6½ miles with gently undulating gradients. Minimal to 825ft of ascent in a day. |
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Medium Walks: 8 to 9½ miles with occasional steeper sections. 375ft to 1,225ft of ascent in a day. |
|
Harder Walks: 10 to 13 miles with some steep sections. 500ft to 1,550ft of ascent in a day. |
All walks follow a range of coastal and downland paths, usually good underfoot.
[Back to the top]
| Average temperatures |
|
| March |
4°C |
10°C |
| April |
5°C |
12°C |
| May |
8°C |
16°C |
| June |
10°C |
18°C |
| July |
13°C |
21°C |
| Aug |
13°C |
21°C |
| Sept |
11°C |
18°C |
| Oct |
8°C |
15°C |
| Dec |
4°C |
9°C |
[Back to the top]
| Other walking holiday ideas |
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We also offer the following holidays at Freshwater Bay, find out more below:
Alternatively, guided walking holidays on the Isle of Wight include:
[Back to the top]
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| Where you'll stay |
You'll be based in our fine Country House accommodation, Freshwater
Bay House, which stands in the semi-circular bay of Freshwater on the Isle
of Wight
Named after the semi-circular cove in
which it lies, Freshwater Bay House
occupies a premier coastal location with
some of the island’s best walks on the
doorstep. Many of the 50 bedrooms,
mostly en-suite, have wonderful sea
views, with others overlooking the
extensive grounds. Dating from the 1790s,
this prominent local landmark is now a
very comfortable Country House with
three lounges, a light and airy function
room, heated outdoor pool and a children's play area.
Consistently rated very highly for the
quality of its food and attention
to detail, it remains one of our
most popular holiday venues. |
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