Walking on the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight packs chalk downs, sandstone cliffs and quiet estuaries into a small island. A coastal path runs all the way round, from the Needles and Tennyson Down in the west to the landslip country of the Undercliff and the sandy bays of Sandown and Shanklin in the east. Below are free walks on the Isle of Wight, each with a map, distance and starting point.
Difficulty is shown only where we have graded the route, so choosing a level hides walks not yet graded.
Walks with a mapped start point are plotted above; the rest appear when you search their town. Zoom, drag or click a pin to explore, or search a town to list its walks.
Choose a starting town
West Wight
Back of the Wight & Ventnor
Sandown, Shanklin & Bembridge
Cowes, Ryde & the North
Top walks by area
A starting point for each part of the Isle of Wight: well-documented routes that finish back where they start, between 1 and 12 miles.
West Wight
- Brighstone via Brighstone ForestCalbourne · 4.9 mi
- Shalfleet via NewbridgeShalfleet · 5.5 mi
- Brook via MottistoneBrook · 5.7 mi
- Colwell Bay via TotlandTotland · 2.0 mi
- Brighstone via Pumpfold LaneBrighstone · 2.4 mi
- Freshwater Bay via NeedlesFreshwater · 6.1 mi
Back of the Wight & Ventnor
- Niton via Yar River TrailNiton · 3.0 mi
- Rookley GreenRoud · 3.4 mi
- Wroxall LoopWroxall · 4.6 mi
- Bierley Loop To Wydacombe Inc WaterfallBierley · 1.6 mi
- Wheelers Bay To Steephill Cove, CircularVentnor · 2.6 mi
- Chale Green via Gotten ManorChale Green · 2.4 mi
Sandown, Shanklin & Bembridge
- Bembridge via the Yar River TrailBembridge · 4.5 mi
- Sandown via America Wood and Sandown AirfieldSandown · 6.2 mi
- Shanklin via America WoodLake · 6.7 mi
- Newchurch via Langbridge and ArretonNewchurch · 6.9 mi
- Newchurch via Newchurch Moors Nature ReserveWinford · 2.4 mi
- Shanklin Circular WalkShanklin · 4.6 mi
Popular on the Isle of Wight
Where to walk on the Isle of Wight
Walks on the Isle of Wight are easy to plan, with a coastal path all the way round, well-marked footpaths inland and buses linking most towns.
West Wight
The west of the island is chalk downland ending at the Needles. Tennyson Down and the cliffs above Alum Bay are reached from Freshwater Bay, and Yarmouth and Brighstone give walks along the estuary, the downs and the quieter south-west coast.
Ventnor and the Back of the Wight
The south coast below St Boniface Down is the Undercliff, a sheltered strip of landslipped ground with its own mild climate. Paths here are beautiful but sometimes closed after landslips, so check for diversions.
Sandown, Shanklin and Bembridge
In the east, Shanklin and Sandown have long sandy bays and the wooded Shanklin Chine, and Bembridge looks out over its harbour towards the Solent.
Cowes, Ryde and the north
The north coast faces the Solent, with woodland, creeks and nature reserves between Cowes, Wootton and Ryde. It is gentler walking, and the ferry terminals make good starting points.
Choosing a walk
There are 65 walks on the Isle of Wight on Walking Rambler, starting from 25 towns and villages. Of those, 19 are under 4 miles, 25 are 4 to 7 miles, 11 are 7 to 10 miles and 10 are 10 miles or more. Of all the routes, 42 bring you back to where you started, which makes them easy from a car park, while 16 are one-way routes, best paired with a bus or train. The busiest starting points are Shanklin (8 walks), Brighstone (5 walks) and Yarmouth (4 walks). Use the filters above to narrow the list by length, route shape or difficulty, or search for a town to see every walk that starts there.
When to go and getting around
The island is good for walking all year, and its mild climate makes it a good winter choice. Late spring brings wild flowers to the downs, and May is a popular month for walking here. In summer, the beaches and coastal towns are busy, but the downs and inland paths are much quieter. Plan one-way coastal walks around the bus network, and check for path closures on the south coast after wet or stormy weather.
Know before you go
Practical points for walking on the Isle of Wight. Rules and timetables change, so check the linked sources before you set off.
Getting there
Wightlink sails from Lymington to Yarmouth and from Portsmouth to Fishbourne and Ryde; Red Funnel sails from Southampton to East and West Cowes; and Hovertravel crosses from Southsea to Ryde in about 10 minutes. Yarmouth and Ryde are good bases for walking without a car.
Trains and buses
The Island Line runs from Ryde Pier Head through Brading, Sandown and Lake to Shanklin. Southern Vectis buses link the towns, and the seasonal Needles Breezer serves Yarmouth, Freshwater, Alum Bay and the Needles.
Landslips and cliff paths
The south and west coasts are eroding, and sections of the coastal path close after landslips and are diverted inland. Follow diversion signs, keep back from cliff edges and be alert to rock falls, especially in winter and stormy weather.
Dogs on beaches
From 1 May to 30 September dogs are restricted on parts of Colwell, Cowes, East Cowes, Freshwater Bay, Gurnard, Sandown, Shanklin, Springvale, Ventnor, Yaverland and Ryde beaches. Brook Bay, Totland, Bembridge, Whitecliff Bay, Steephill Cove and Bonchurch are among the beaches open to dogs all year.
Tides
A rising tide can cut off beaches below the cliffs, so check tide times before any walk along the shore rather than the clifftop path. In an emergency at the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
Maps
The whole island fits on one map: OS Explorer OL29 Isle of Wight. The coastal path is around 67 to 70 miles long and can be joined at any point.
Walking on the Isle of Wight: questions
How many walks are there on the Isle of Wight?
We list 65 walking routes on the Isle of Wight, starting from 25 towns and villages. The typical route is about 6 miles; 19 are under 4 miles and 10 are 10 miles or more. Every route is free to view.
Which towns have the most walks?
Niton (8), Shanklin (8), Totland (6), Brighstone (5), Bembridge (4) and Yarmouth (4). Use the town search or the town list on this page to see every walk from a particular place.
Are there short circular walks on the Isle of Wight?
Yes. 14 routes under 4 miles finish where they start, including Niton via Rocken End Beach (1.0 mi), Shanklin Circular Walk (1.0 mi), Bierley Loop To Wydacombe Inc Waterfall (1.6 mi) and Colwell Bay via Totland (2.0 mi). Choose Under 4 mi and Back to start in the filters above to see them all.
How many walks follow the Isle of Wight Coastal Path?
10 of our Isle of Wight routes use the Isle of Wight Coastal Path for some or all of the way. Use the Coast path walks quick pick above to list them.
Are there easy walks on the Isle of Wight?
14 routes are graded easy so far, such as Colwell Bay via Totland (2.0 mi), Niton via St Catherines Oratory (2.0 mi) and Brighstone via Pumpfold Lane (2.4 mi). We are still grading the rest, so many other short routes are gentle too.
Can I take my dog on Isle of Wight walks?
Yes, on most routes. From 1 May to 30 September dogs are restricted on parts of the main beaches, including Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor, Ryde, Cowes, Freshwater Bay and Colwell, but beaches such as Brook Bay, Totland, Bembridge, Steephill Cove and Bonchurch welcome dogs all year. See Know before you go for more.
How long is the Isle of Wight Coastal Path?
Around 67 to 70 miles (about 110 km). It is often described clockwise from Ryde Pier, and our coastal path walks split it into day-length stages you can join anywhere.
Can I walk on the Isle of Wight without a car?
Yes. Foot passenger ferries and the hovercraft land at Ryde, Yarmouth and Cowes, the Island Line runs from Ryde to Shanklin, and buses connect the towns, so many walks start close to public transport.
Which long-distance trails pass through the Isle of Wight?
The Isle of Wight Coastal Path, Bembridge Trail, Godshill Trail, Hamstead Trail, Nunwell Trail, Stenbury Trail and Worsley Trail all pass through the Isle of Wight, and each has its own guide on Walking Rambler.