The Great Outdoors Spring 2019

Always take a map and compass with you. ©Crown copyright 2019 Ordnance Survey. Media 058/17

0 km (^246810121416182022)
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0
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Start/Finish
Brighstone village
car park GR: SZ427827
(or start from pt 6: Chilton
Chine car park on A3055
GR: SZ409822).
From Brighstone car park
walk back up lane to main road
(B3399). Turn L then R along
North Street, passing picturesque
thatched cottages (which include
a museum, worth a look when
open). At T-junction cross road
and continue up track opposite,
ascending downs. Stay on
the bridleway, bearing R and
continuing up and across open
downland to a junction where
you bear L. Ignore next bridleway
on L, then turn sharp R and then
sharp L to top of chalk ridge.
A short distance to the R is
Brighstone & Freshwater
Isle of Wight ENGLAND
22km/13.7 miles/6-7 hours
Ascent 520m/1720ft^10

JUDGING BY THE

PLETHORA of walking

festivals that take place

each year up and down

the country, there must be

popular demand for such

events. hey are, of course,

ideal for those who enjoy

organised walks in the

company of others. he Isle

of Wight Festival is one of

the UK’s longest-running

(taking place over a fortnight

in May each year), which

fact alone is testament

to the island’s appeal as a

walking destination. Indeed,

a walking group I know of

visits the Isle of Wight for

its annual AGM/walking

weekend every autumn

without fail. Why always the

same place I asked a friend

Limerstone Down viewpoint.

2

Turn round and head along

ridge-top track. Before long

Tennyson Trail joins from R. Carry

on down beside Brighstone Forest

to road.

3

Turn R, then L through car

park and on up Mottistone

Down, part of NT’s Mottistone

estate. Note Bronze Age barrows

(burial mounds). Carry on down to

another road.

4

Once again turn R, then

almost immediately L

and head uphill again, still

following Tennyson Trail. A brief

detour R takes you to trig point

and view atop Five Barrows.

Maintain direction over Brook

and Compton Downs. After

going through a gate, watch

out for golf balls as you cross

Freshwater Bay Golf Club course.

At fork on Afton Down bear L

down to main road and either

cross and pick up coastal path

down to Freshwater Bay or

walk down beside road (verge,

then pavement).

5

Follow coastal path from

Freshwater Bay E/SE via

Compton and Brook Bays for 8km

to Chilton Chine, where path turns

inland to car park on main road.

6

Cross A3055 and follow

track to Chilton Farm. Keep

ahead along road, then R along a

bridleway. Cross next lane and

follow footpath back to car park.

Gradient proile Metres above sea level

Fiona Barltrop

enjoys a spring

walk before the

festival-goers

arrive

The Great Outdoors Spring 2019 103