Tip of the Wight walk
Discover an ever-changing landscape with panoramic views and a wealth of wildlife, at this most southerly point on the Isle of Wight. See the island’s only surviving onshore lighthouse and explore the area where Marconi made some of his early experiments in radio.
Start point
Car park at end of Old Blackgang Road, Niton undercliff, grid ref: SZ494758Trail information
Caution!
Some paths are very steep and slippery, so please take care and wear suitable footwear.
Total stages: 6
Total stages: 6
Start point
Car park at end of Old Blackgang Road, Niton undercliff, grid ref: SZ494758
Stage 1
From the car park, go through the furthest kissing gate and turn left along a grassy track, keeping level and then bear right down into a dip. Turn left and follow the path through the valley, bear right and gently uphill at the fork. At a path junction, turn left parallel to the coast. Keep to the right of the large rock and eventually drop down to a road and go through a kissing gate. Turn right and head downhill.
Gore Cliff seen from the landslip below | © National Trust / Sue Oldham Stage 2
Bear right up the drive to Knowles Farm. Pass in front of the farm and go through the kissing gate to the left of the field gate. Continue straight ahead for 220yds (200m). Bear left and follow the cliff edge path back to the lighthouse, cross a stile below Knowles Farm. Turn left at the white boundary wall and follow the wall to a gate. Go through the gate, cross the road and go over the ladder stile to the other side of the wall.
Stage 3
Follow the boundary edge of the lighthouse, cross another ladder stile and turn right to get back to the cliff top. Continue along the coast and enter Castlehaven caravan park via a kissing gate. Pass through, and on meeting the stony track, turn left. It is worth a short detour to visit the secluded cove of Castlehaven, down the track to the right.
Stage 4
Climb up the track. 110yds (100m) after a sharp right bend and just after a bench, turn left up a tarmac path with steps and handrail. Emerge onto a road almost opposite the Buddle Inn. Turn right onto the road for 45yds (40m) before turning left up a tarmac path by the phone box. Follow the path upwards.
Stage 5
Turn right onto another road (watch out for traffic as there is no pavement) and fork right at a Y-junction at the road’s end. Cross the main road to a grassy area and follow the footpath on its right up Barrack Shute towards Niton village. Just before the crest of the hill take the turn on the left signed Coastal Path. Follow the path gently upwards to a kissing gate. Go straight on and follow the grassy coast path along the top of the cliffs.
Stage 6
Turn left at the marker post just before a seat and descend the steep and sometimes exposed path with steps to the road. There are some tricky sections where the path is narrow and slippery, falling away at the edge, so take extreme care. At the road, turn right and follow it back to the car park.
Old postcard views of the Undercliff before and after the landslip of 1928 | © Judges and Knight End point
Car park at end of Sandrock Road, Niton undercliff, grid ref: SZ4947
Trail map
Tip of the Wight walk map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey
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