ISLE OF WIGHT COAST PATH CHALE TO TOTLAND 17 miles |
OK This is when I start to do some real walking.
Long distance walking at its best. Glorious scenery, and a mammoth walk thats
going to take all day and sap every last bit of my strength. The walk out of Chale includes
the usual locked Church - look but dont touch mentality. Yes we all suffer just
because of a minority of bad guys. Let me know if you ever see inside. This part of the
walk is an introduction to the mechanics of erosion and the famous Isle of Wight chines.
Watch out thats the footpath disappearing over the cliff - last years footpath!
Watch out again thats me disappearing down into a chine and puff, puff, puff
clambering back out the other side. Stop at the Pearl centre, its worth a look, plus
they do great cream teas. Whoever thought up this enterprise we salute you. Capitalism at
its best; from small acorns great trees grow! Onto Freshwater Bay and oh yes you do
deserve a quick beer at the Albion Hotel. Not too much remember what happened yesterday.
Soak up the scenery and timeless quality of the Bay, children play on the hard beach and
venturesome swimmers paddle in chill waters. This is where its oh so easy to say,
thats it Im done in
. thus far, but no further. Great things
are ahead. Im off again, straight up onto Tennyson Down, no sweat
. Well quite
a bit really. Now for miles of pleasure. I found lots of people walking over the Down,
most gravitating to the Tennyson memorial. Yet I found some secluded spots where I
contemplated the meaning of life etc. The Needles next and then onto Alum Bay with
its coloured sand and happy memories from that school trip. I spent ages then
deciding which little glass nick knack to purchase with the their lines of coloured sand.
Take the chairlift to the bay; its a must and even the boat ride out to the Needles.
Heaven waits for sinners! Sure your be late in tonight but you wont forget this day
for a lifetime. Climb up once again over Headon Warren with its fine views over the
Solent; that yachters paradise. Then down along the front, passed the Waterfront Inn and
then into Totland. Yes OK I was totally shattered, but unwound later watching the sun go
down over the Solent at the
.guess where ?
|
Chale church | towards Brighstone Bay | Freshwater Bay | The Needles from Tennyson Down |
The Needles | Alum Bay | Chairlift to Alum Bay | The Solent from Headon Warren |
RYDE - SANDOWN | SANDOWN - CHALE | CHALE - TOTLAND | TOTLAND - COWES | COWES - RYDE |