Isle of Wight

Ventnor Downs prehistory and wartime walk

A sunny view from Ventnor Downs looking down through Coombe Bottom via pistol butts to the sea — Coombe Bottom and the rifle pistol butts at Ventnor bathed in the sun | © National Trust / Sue Oldham

This short but challenging walk on the south side of the Isle of Wight takes in a Bronze Age burial site and reminders of the island's wartime history.

Near to

Ventnor Downs

Start point

Ventnor Downs car park, grid ref: SZ565784

Address
Ventnor Down National Trust car park, off Down Lane, Ventnor, Isle of Wight.
Directions via Google Maps
On foot
The Isle of Wight Coastal Path passes along the seafront at Ventnor, half a mile (0.8km) from the start of the trail. There are a number of steep paths up to the trail from there. If you are arriving by foot, you could start and end the trail at Step 8, Ventnor Industrial Estate, grid ref: SZ561779.
By ferry
Wightlink (0871 376 1000) ferry runs from Portsmouth to Fishbourne, 13 miles (21km) from the start of the walk.
Visit Wightlink website
Red Funnel (0844 844 9988) goes from Southampton to East Cowes, 15 miles (24km) away.
Visit Red Funnel website
By bus
The Southern Vectis (01983 827000) No. 3 service runs half-hourly between Newport and Ryde. Get off at the end of Down Lane in Upper Ventnor.
Visit Southern Vectis website
Cycling
The 'Round the Island' National Cycle Network Regional Route 67 passes Down Lane in Upper Ventnor.
Visit Round the Island cycle route website
By road
Take Down Lane (off the B3327) from Wroxall to Ventnor Road in Upper Ventnor. The car park is just before the fenced off radar station. The nearest postcode is PO38 1YL.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome but please keep them on a lead around wildlife and livestock, and take any dog waste home with you.
Car park
The trail starts at Ventnor Down National Trust car park, off Down Lane in Ventnor. There are also other free car parks off Down Lane.
Toilet
The nearest toilets are in Ventnor town, half a mile (0.8km) from the start of the route.
Café
There are several cafés and tea-rooms in Ventnor.
Shop
There are a number of shops, including supermarkets, in Ventnor.
Pub
There are several pubs in Ventnor.
Restaurant
There is a range of restaurants in Ventnor.
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Ventnor Downs car park, grid ref: SZ565784
Stage 1
In the car park, look out for the plaque commemorating the Channel Airways Dakota plane that crashed here in fog in 1962. To start your walk, turn right out of the car park and follow the road to the entrance gates for the National Air Traffic Services (NATS).
The former RAF Ventnor
NATS is the former location of RAF Ventnor. To your left, you can see some surviving Second World War brick structures. The radar station, established in 1937, warned of German aircraft and flying bombs approaching across the Channel. It played an important part in Operation Overlord and the Battle of Britain. During the Cold War, there was a hidden underground nuclear operations room here. This has since been filled in, but to the left of the gates you can still see the square manhole cover that marked its entrance.
Stage 2
Continue along the road by the NATS fence for 10yds (10m), then turn off close to a water trough on the left. Turn right to follow the grassy path parallel to the road. When the path divides, take the left fork. After 65yds (60m) take the faint path through the bracken on the right. It goes past a solitary tree and crosses a track before passing through gorse-covered Bronze Age burial mounds. Continue on this path as it bears right to reach an area of open land. You are now at the highest point on the Isle of Wight with public access.
Bronze Age burial barrows
Here, you are entering a Bronze Age cemetery thought to have contained 21 round barrows dating back to around 2000 BC, some of which are still visible. About 90 yards (85m) north of the car park, beside the main track, you'll see some quite large and distinctive barrows. Cemeteries and barrows were built on the edge of settlements, in full view, because people had great reverence for their ancestors. Barrows also served as territorial markers.
Bronze Age barrows on Luccombe Down | © Alan Phillips
Stage 3
Walk straight across the open land towards a signpost 90yds (85m) away. After a further 80yds (75m), turn 90° right to reach a kissing gate by the corner of the NATS fence. Go through the gate.
Stage 4
Follow the path immediately to the left of the NATS fence until you reach a tall mast and another kissing gate. Go through the gate.
Stage 5
From here, head 40yds (40m) downhill and through another kissing gate where there's a viewpoint bench. Carry on downhill for about 190yds (175m), following the track to the right that zigzags down to the base of Coombe Bottom.
The remains of the Isle of Wight Rifles pistol butts on Ventnor Downs | © National Trust / Richard Downing
Stage 6
Continue along the coombe, keeping to the right. About 110yds (100m) before you reach the trees at the far end, the path divides. Take the right fork and shortly afterwards the left, staying close to a wire fence on the left.
The Isle of Wight Rifles
The Isle of Wight Rifles were established in 1859 with part-time volunteers, but by WW2 they were conscripts and formed part of the Hampshire regiments. They fought at Gallipoli in 1915. In 1917 the regiment was virtually destroyed when 800 men died at the Battle of Gaza. Coombe Bottom was used as a training rifle range. The rifle targets were placed on a raised bank facing west. There were also pistol butts with the targets, parts of which remain, on a brick wall.
Stage 7
Continue along the path by the wire fence and go through the kissing gate and down the steps to the road. Go through another gate and turn left and left again into the industrial estate.
Ammunition store used by Isle Of Wight Rifles in Coombe Bottom, Ventnor Downs | © National Trust / Sue Oldham
Stage 8
About 30yds (27m) along on the left is the Coastguard Rescue Station. With your back to it, you'll see the Terminus Hotel on the corner to the right. Just behind the hotel, there's a steep flight of stone steps on path V1. Take the steps up to a kissing gate at the base of the hill, then continue up the steep slope of St Boniface Down, and eventually through another kissing gate, until you reach the mast. Turn left and follow the path to the immediate left of the wire fence, taking you back to the car park by the Dakota plaque.
Ventnor railway station
A blue plaque outside the Coastguard Rescue Station marks the site of the former Ventnor railway station. The railway was built inside a sandstone quarry, which provided building material for the town. You can still see the entrance to the tunnel under the downs where the trains came through. As well as holidaymakers, the railway brought many people with tuberculosis to the Royal National Hospital for treatment and convalescence. The hospital closed in 1964 and the site is now home to the Ventnor Botanic Garden.
End point
Ventnor Downs car park, grid ref: SZ565784
Trail map
Ventnor Downs Prehistory and Wartime walk map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey
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Heather and gorse on a hillside with views down over fields at Ventnor Downs, Isle of Wight

Trail

Views of Ventnor walking trail

Enjoy far-reaching views of the downs and the English Channel, as well as a rich blend of wildlife, on this short but challenging walk on the south side of the Isle of Wight.

Ventnor Downs, Wroxall, Isle of Wight, PO38 1AH

01983741020

isleofwight@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Start point

Trail information

Difficulty*

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Full trail

Getting here

Facilities

Accessibility

Terrain and elevation

Trail route

Total stages: 8

Total stages: 8

Start point

Stage 1

Point of interest

Stage 2

Point of interest

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

Point of interest

Stage 6

Point of interest

Stage 7

Point of interest

Stage 8

Point of interest

End point

Trail map

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