The Needles & Tennyson Down
11 people attending
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For those of you that enjoy the frisson of a ferry journey across the Solent, this is a further excursion to the Isle of Wight. The ferry sails from Lymington Pier to Yarmouth on the western side of the island, where the landscapes are largely rural. This route incorporates part of walk No. 29 in ITV’s ‘Britain’s Favourite Walks - Top 100’. I cannot confirm that Julia Bradbury has actually walked it, although I have.
This does make for an early start and quite a long day out from London, but the far reaching views and the environs of the Isle of Wight are sublime and more than repay the time and effort. There are sea views for the greater part of this route, and it also features The Needles (a series of chalk stacks), the multi-coloured cliffs at Alum Bay, and a climb up to Tennyson Down. The route back from Freshwater Bay to Yarmouth is beside the marsh fringed River Yar along a disused railway line.
Depending on the time of our arrival back in Yarmouth there may be an opportunity to have a swift drink before catching the ferry back to Lymington Pier.
Image credits: The Needles by Christophe Finot licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5; View Towards the River Yar by Peter Trimming licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0; Tennyson Down Monument by RobSCM licensed under CC BY 3.0. All other pictures are public domain or taken by event leader.
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
You will need a packed lunch, and plenty of water and snacks to see you through the day. We will stop for a picnic lunch at a suitably scenic spot; for your own comfort you may wish to bring something to sit on.