Things to see & do

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What's on

Bug hunting in the Wildzone at Bembridge Windmill community day © National Trust

We arrange many activities for families, general interest and specialist walks.  A full event list can be found on the Newtown Old Town Hall web pages...

Activities

Godwits © Chris Gomersall RSPB images

The nature reserve is a wonderful place to discover wildlife. Black tailed godwit arrive from Iceland in winter. Newtown also provides glorious opportunities for walks and sailing.

Don't miss

  • Meet our volunteers in the Mercia Seabroke bird hide
  • Visit two other bird hides near Town Copse and Clamerkin
  • The Old Town Hall has more information about the history of Newtown
  • Look out for butterflies in the sunny glades of Walter's Copse
  • Small coppiced glades have a wonderful display of early spring flowers
  • The hay meadows full of wild flowers in spring

Newtown audio trail

Salt pans at Newtown National Nature Reserve © NT/Sue Oldham

Salt pans at Newtown National Nature Reserve

© NT/Sue Oldham

Download our audio trail and accompany us around Newtown National Nature Reserve.

We have created separate files for each location, so please download all 19 parts:

  1. Introduction to Newtown
  2. Starting the walk from the Old Town Hall
  3. Noah's ark
  4. Walking to Hollis Cottage
  5. Hollis Cottage
  6. Walking on to Nobby's Butt
  7. The pump
  8. The church
  9. Rose Cottage and Myrtle Cottage view
  10. Rose Cottage and Myrtle Cottage information
  11. Gold Street
  12. Marsh Farm House
  13. Hedgerows
  14. Horizon board
  15. The Mercia Seabroke bird-hide
  16. Second World War
  17. Bridge across saltmarsh and saltpans
  18. The start of the Newtown Nature Reserve
  19. Back to medieval Newtown and the town pound

Enjoy the estuary... a Newtown trail

Newtown National Nature Reserve as seen from Cassey Bridge © National Trust

Take a gentle 1½ to 4-mile stroll through the varied habitats of the Island’s only National Nature Reserve, and visit a town hall with a colourful past.