Menu

Isle of Wight

UK Isle of Wight coastpath
UK Isle of wight alum bay needles
Whale Chine Beach on the Isle of Wight UK
§ 01

Welcome to Isle of Wight

The insider's travel guide to Isle of Wight

With a varied and fascinating coastline of 60 miles, the Isle of Wight is bigger than many outsiders expect.

Safe, quiet and untroubled by mountains or wilderness areas, it has become one of England’s most popular walking destinations.

There are no motorways or cities to avoid, instead expect peaceful, pretty landscapes, yachting harbours and wooded estuaries, old-fashioned seaside towns and rolling downland.

§ 02

The Isle of Wight atlas

1 picks Places & Experiences You Won't Find Elsewhere
Where
What

  • Distance: 70 miles/113kmDuration: 4 – 6 daysStart point: It’s a circuit – but any of the ferry terminals make most senseEnd point: Wherever, it’s a circuit, see above!Difficulty: Moderate with a few gentle cliff climbsSuitable for: Seascape admirers and those who like a sense of achievement As a long distance walk, the Isle of Wight coastal path is quite short but it provides an opportunity to walk right round the shoreline of England’s largest island. You might find that on return to the start point there’s great satisfaction in completing an island’s circumference, regardless of the length! Along the way, the Isle of Wight offers a surprisingly varied sequence of landscapes, including jagged chalk headlands, long sandy bays, salt marshes and estuaries. There are certainly no boring stretches on this route. Many islanders are keen walkers and many visitors try at least part of the coast trail. This means the local authority keeps the path well maintained and signposted. It also means you are likely to see other walkers at any time, especially round Tennyson Down and the Needles. Nevertheless the round-the-island walk is generally less crowded than mainland coastal trails simply because it’s harder for most people to get there.

  • Isle of Wight coastal path

    Isle of Wight coastal path

Find a travel specialist
Plan my trip →
§ 03

Dispatches

Guides & field notes
The best walking holidays in Europe
Guide

The best walking holidays in Europe

Paul Bloomfield
Paul Bloomfield

Europe is a famously popular and, in places, crowded travel destination. Escaping the bustle on a walking holiday in Europe's more-remote corners is a good way to escape the day trippers, tour buses and cruise ships that plague the continent’s busier hotspots.
The best walking holidays in the UK
Guide

The best walking holidays in the UK

Simon Heptinstall
Simon Heptinstall

The United Kingdom is a walking holiday paradise: Hundreds of thousands of miles of well-mapped public footpaths, beautifully varied landscapes, excellent hospitality, and easily accessible. It’s no wonder this is a nation of walkers.
Independent experts to plan your trip

Trusted specialists

Western Europe

Walkers' Britain

Explore the UK & Europe with Walkers' Britain
Visit site  
More on Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight Experiences
Things to see and do
Isle of Wight Itineraries
Multi-day routes
Isle of Wight Trips
Organised tours and packages
Isle of Wight Travel Companies
Independent specialists

Loading...