Summer coastal walks on the Isle of Wight

We look after a third of the coast on the Isle of Wight, which means there’s plenty to explore. From dramatic cliffs with far reaching sea views on Tennyson Downs, to soft sandy beaches at St Helens and Compton, the coast is a wonderful place to walk. We’ve put together a few trails so that you can discover more than just sandcastles at the seaside this summer. And with every footprint you leave behind in the sand, you’re helping to keep the beach clean for everyone.

The footpath sign ahead beckons to the chalk cliffs of Freshwater Bay
Compton Bay and Downs   Isle of Wight

ABC of the downs walk on the Isle of Wight

Have a go at our walk taking in Afton, Brook and Compton Downs. It could take you right back to the Ice Age, and you might even be lucky enough to spot a dinosaur footcast near Hanover Point.

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The lighthouse and cottage at Knowles Farm, Isle of Wight with the sea in the background.
St Catherine's Down and Knowles Farm   Isle of Wight

Shedding light on the tip of the Wight walk

Walk our moderately challenging route to the most southerly point of the Isle of Wight, taking in the Island's only surviving onshore lighthouse as you go.

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Spring wildflowers bloom by St Helens lagoon, besides the Duver
St Helens Duver   Isle of Wight

Down on the Duver

Enjoy a short but varied coastal walk exploring St Helens Duver, a sandy spit of land on the eastern tip of the Island, rich in wildlife and history.

Admire our coastal wildlife
Two walkers stride out along the harbour wall at Newtown with water on both sides
Newtown National Nature Reserve and Old Town Hall   Isle of Wight

Enjoy the estuary... Newtown walk

Take a gentle stroll through the varied habitats of the Island’s only National Nature Reserve, and visit a hamlet with a colourful past.

Enjoy the tranquility of the Nature Reserve
A wheat field with Compton Bay and the white cliffs of Tennyson Down behind
Mottistone Gardens and Estate   Isle of Wight

Mottistone meander: south to the sea

Enjoy an easy walk through delightfully farmed countryside on your way to the coastal cliffs of Sudmoor Point.

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Two walkers setting out along the Needles headland
The Needles Headland and Tennyson Down   Isle of Wight

Tennyson Down: a meander with Maud

An invigorating downland walk, with a splendid view of the iconic Needles, plus a 19th-century fort, Cold War rocket test site and a monument to a Victorian poet laureate.

Take an invigorating hike in the footsteps of Tennyson