St Catherine's Down and Knowles Farm
A wild rocky coast with jutting cliffs, a windswept down and sheltered wooded valley
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St Catherine's Down and Knowles Farm
Overview
A wild rocky coast with jutting cliffs, a windswept down and sheltered wooded valley
This is one of the most wild and beautiful parts of the Isle of Wight with a wonderfully varied landscape in a relatively small area.
Turbulent currents swirl round St Catherine's Point and waves crash on the rocky shore. St Catherine's Lighthouse seems to be perfectly placed in the tumbling and slipping landscape, but is a reminder of how dangerous this coast was to shipping. Paths weave through the bushes and glades of Knowles Farm and suddenly emerge above great landslips beneath cream-coloured cliffs.
St Catherine's Down rises behind these cliffs and forms a whale-back hill with amazing views right across the Isle of Wight. Below this is the beautiful Wydcombe valley with its network of paths and ancient tree lined track ways.
- Telephone
- 01983741020
- isleofwight@nationaltrust.org.uk
St Catherine's Down and Knowles Farm
How to get here
- Address
- Blackgang, Isle of Wight, PO38 2JB
- By road
- St Catherine's Point is the southern-most part of the Isle of Wight, and Blackgang Chine Viewpoint car park lies between Blackgang Chine and Niton on the A3055 which runs from Freshwater Bay to Ventnor and Shanklin. The car park for Knowles Farm is at the end of Sandrock Road, Niton. From the centre of Niton village head towards St Lawrence down Barrack Shute. Turn right into St. Catherine's Road. Turn right after the pub and left into Sandrock Road. OS grid ref: SZ 494 758
- By bus
- Southern Vectis bus service between Newport and Ventnor runs every 2-3 hours during the daytime and stops by the Viewpoint car park above Blackgang Chine. For details of bus timetables see www.islandbuses.info.
- By cycle
- The 'Round the Island' cycle path passes by Blackgang Chine along the A3055.
- On foot
- Consult Ordnance Survey Landranger Map 196 or OS Explorer OL29 for footpaths. The waymarked Isle of Wight Coast Path passes through the Blackgang Chine viewpoint car park.
St Catherine's Down and Knowles Farm
Prices
Admission free
What is Gift Aid?
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points. Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
- Gift Aid Admission or
- Standard admission
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you the Gift Aid Admission prices. But it's entirely up to you which ticket you choose. If you want the Standard Admission instead, just let us know when you come to pay.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid* — an extra 25 per cent — potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below: Payment of the additional percentage donation is entirely voluntary, so if you prefer to pay the standard admission please advise our reception staff at the till point.
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid donations must be supported by a valid Gift Aid declaration and a Gift Aid declaration can only cover donations made by an individual for him/herself or for him/herself and members of his/her family.
St Catherine's Down and Knowles Farm
Opening times
Thursday 24 May
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Friday 25 May
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Saturday 26 May
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Sunday 27 May
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Monday 28 May
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Tuesday 29 May
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
Wednesday 30 May
- Countryside Dawn to dusk
St Catherine's Down and Knowles Farm
Contact us
- Telephone
- 01983741020
- isleofwight@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Address
- Blackgang, Isle of Wight, PO38 2JB