Isle of Wight Walking

The Isle of Wight has 500 miles of footpaths waiting for you to explore, with stunning scenery on the coast and unmissable inland vistas, it is a walkers' paradise. If you want to bring your four-legged friends, dogs fly free with us and our passenger hovercraft service arrives on the shore at Ryde, just a few steps away from the Isle of Wight coastal path.

If you fly with Hovertravel, you’ll be across the Solent in under 10 minutes, ready to start your walking adventure.

Whether you are looking for a challenging walk exploring further afield or a family-friendly meander, we have picked some of the best Isle of Wight walking routes on offer when you step off the hovercraft at Ryde:

Seaview Hotel - Take the Isle of Wight coastal path along the seafront, taking you to the picturesque seaside town of Seaview.

St Helens Duver - This Isle of Wight circular walk is 3.8 miles, the National Trust walk offers some beautiful coastal views across to Bembridge harbour. St Helens can easily be reached by the Southern Vectis no. 8 bus service, it departs Ryde Transport Interchange and takes approximately 20 minutes.

Bembridge and Culver Downs - This 5.6 mile circular route is an Isle of Wight National Trust walk, taking you past the only surviving windmill on the Island and along part of the Isle of Wight coastal path. It promises stunning views from the top of Culver Down. The walk starts from Bembridge, the regular Southern Vectis no 8 bus service departs Ryde Transport Interchange and takes approximately 30 minutes.

If you are looking for a little walk with the whole family from Ryde, then there are a couple of nice options to choose from.

Quarr Abbey - Take the Isle of Wight coastal path to Quarr Abbey, this 2.5 mile route will take about an hour, and you will be greeted with tranquil gardens and grounds and a Tea Shop serving delicious treats!

Pig Leg Lane - A short walk from Ryde is the Pig Leg Lane nature reserve. This is a fantastic place for a walk with the family with open meadows, wonderful wildlife and you might even spot a red squirrel or two!

There are also a couple of walking festivals that happen on the Isle of Wight in the spring and summer. These are ideal for walking enthusiasts or those that love a good bit of scenery! 

Walk the Wight - This annual event for the island charity, Mountbatten Hospice, takes place in May and is the only chance to walk the unique, 26.5 mile route across the full length of the Isle of Wight. This walk is open for just one day each year and gives access to several restricted areas, starting in Bembridge and finishing at Alum Bay with some of the best island scenery to be seen in the UK.

Isle of Wight Walking Festival - The spring event takes place in May and the autumn event takes place in October. With guided walks available throughout the Island to suit all abilities offering something for everyone.

For more information on Isle of Wight walks, the Visit Isle of Wight website has all the information you need.