Separatedfrom the mainland by the sparkling waters of The Solent, the Isle of Wight is England’slargest island. Covering 147 square miles, half of this beautiful isle hasNational Landscape status, with its dramatic cliffs, wide-open river estuaries,rolling downland, picture-postcard villages and traditional seaside resorts. Fourdifferent sea crossings from Hampshire get you to the start of walks in thisguide: catch the ferry from Lymington for the short sailing to Yarmouth to do amini coast-to-coast walk to Freshwater; from Southampton, take the catamaranservice to West Cowes for an old railway-line walk by the River Medina to theisland’s capital, Newport; and Ryde is a wave-skimming hop by catamaran fromPortsmouth or hovercraft from Southsea for a coastal-path saunter to Seaview. Wight’smagnificent chalk downs form the island’s spine, providing high points withsuperb all-round views on the walks at Limerstone, across Tennyson Down to TheNeedles in the west, and over Bembridge Down in the east. There’s an excitingestuary crossing over the causeway at St Helens;and woodland adventures, with possible red squirrel sightings, in Brighstoneand Parkhurst forests. You can visit the island’s most haunted house atAppuldurcombe; enjoy grand views over the Undercliff from Blackgang; and marvelat the development of radiotelegraphy at Culver.
