WALKING ON WIGHT
The Isle of Wight offers more than 500 miles of well-maintained footpaths to explore and enjoy, which makes Number Two Ashingdon Cottages a superb base for a walking holiday.
Several lovely half-day or full-day walks start from the front door…
One of our favourites takes you across RSPB-owned marshland, through ancient woodland and up onto Culver Down with its sweeping views of the East Wight. From this highpoint, you can pick up the Isle of Wight Coastal Path (the long distance path which encircles the Island and totals 65 miles in all), to Bembridge and then walk alongside the salt lagoons back to St Helens. This easy-to-moderate walk takes in a wonderful variety of scenery and takes around four hours to complete.
Circular treks up on to the chalk ridge of Brading Down, or along the coast to the pretty sailing village of Seaview are among the other fabulous walking options direct from the cottage.
It also offers easy access to recognised walks such as the Bembridge Trail and the Yar River Trail which follows the path of the river Yar from its source in Niton to the sea at St Helens.
Number Two Ashingdon Cottages provides an excellent base for walkers to explore further afield…
…perhaps to tackle longer sections of the Isle of Wight Coastal Path or to walk the chalk ridgeway that forms the backbone of the Island from Bembridge in the east to Alum Bay in the west. This 26.5 mile stretch is the route for the ‘Walk the Wight’ sponsored walk that forms the climax of the Isle of Wight Walking Festival each May (www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk). It’s a spectacular walk that can be done at any time of year, in one go or in several ‘bits’ – with or without a sponsorship form!
And the Island’s excellent bus service (www.islandbuses.info) means that you can take on this type of linear walk without the need of a car. You can also use the buses to explore the many gorgeous walks on the western side of the Island.
Whether you come to Number Two Ashingdon Cottages for a fortnight or just a long weekend, we recommend you get your walking boots on – you see so much more when you go by foot!
