Hampshire Life: February 2019 (^) 61
WA L K
W
ightlink’s ferry
crossing from
Lymington to
Yarmouth at the
western end of the Isle of Wight
takes just 40 minutes, making
this walk – which starts from
Yarmouth itself - quite feasible as
a day return from the mainland.
And with train services direct to
Lymington Pier station, adjacent
to the terminal, you could leave
the car behind altogether for this
trip. The Lymington – Yarmouth
route is the most scenic of the
Isle of Wight ferry crossings.
At Yarmouth you can step
straight off the ferry and start
walking, but do allow time for
a wander round the little town
either before or after the walk.
Yarmouth Castle, which adjoins
the harbour, was the last addition
to Henry VIII’s coastal defences,
completed after his death in 1547.
The nearby Grade 2 listed pier,
the longest wooden pier in the
UK, was opened in 1876.
This coast-to-coast route links
the north and south sides of the
island, taking you round the
attractive Western Yar estuary,
and following one of the Island’s
named and waymarked trails,
the Freshwater Way. The Yar is
one of two rivers of that name
on the Isle of Wight, referred to
as the Western Yar to distinguish
it from the other. It rises near
the beach at Freshwater Bay
on the south coast and flows
northwards to join the Solent at
Yarmouth. Millions of years ago
when Britain was still part of
the European land mass, the Yar
flowed into what was then the
Solent River. Its source was much
further south, as evidenced by
the present estuary, whose width
is wholly disproportionate to its
length. This is what remains of a
much larger river.
The Western Yar Estuary has a
wealth of wildlife, with its tidal
waters, salt marsh and mudflats
being home to a wide range of
plants and animals. Resident
estuary birds include lapwing,
1
(SZ354898) From the ferry terminal
walk round the harbour, cross the main
road and just before the road bridge turn
left along a surfaced path beside the River
Yar. The large brick building you pass on
the left was formerly a tide mill.
2
(SZ356891) Just beyond it you reach
a junction, where you bear right along
the bridleway-cum-cycleway (signed for
The Causeway and Freshwater), a wide
track that follows the route of the old
railway line. Before doing so, it’s worth
a brief detour to the left to the former
THE WALK
Yarmouth Station, now a café/restaurant.
Return to the junction and follow the
track south. A variety of wading birds
and waterfowl can be seen in the estuary,
especially in winter.
3
(SZ348871) At the road, if you want to
shorten the walk by omitting the lower
loop, turn right up to the church rejoining
the main route at waypoint 6. For the full
walk, turn left and follow the road to the
B3399. Turn briefly left, then cross the road
and continue along Manor Road, very soon
bearing left through a gate to follow the
oystercatcher, little egret and
curlew, while in the winter
months visitors such as brent
geese and wigeon can be seen.
The Solent and its estuaries are
very important for over-wintering
birds, which makes it an ideal
time for this walk, perhaps
during half term this month. For
those who would prefer a shorter
walk, it is very easy to reduce the
length by omitting the lower loop
from waypoint 3.
Black-headed gull on the River Yar
LEFT: Yarmouth
harbour
ABOVE: View
from waypoint 3
over Western Yar
Estuary
PHOTOS: FIONA BARLTROP
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