There are many pleasant walks which start in Carisbrooke, with views of the castle. From Newport, county town of the Isle of Wight, you can head up to Carisbrooke easily on foot. From Carisbrooke High Street, turn off into Castle Road, head up Castle Hill and then off to the right into Castle Lane and then left into Millers Lane. This takes you behind the castle (photo below). There are footpaths off to the left of Millers Lane which allow you to walk around the castle and back to Castle Hill.
I did this short walk around the castle today. It took about half an hour but it can be easily extended.
There is a car park off Carisbrooke High Street (Grid ref: SZ486882; Postcode: PO30 1NR) so you could start your walk from here. Turn left out of the car park and then left into Castle Street, which then becomes Millers Lane, from which you can turn off to walk around the back of the castle (photo below).
If you want a longer walk from the car park, go left up the hill with St. Mary's Church on your right and then straight across at the mini roundabout, continuing up the hill until you reach Nodgham Lane on your left. After 100 metres down Nodgham Lane, take the small lane on your right signed Tennyson Trail to Brighstone Forest. Follow this bridleway until you come to a crossroads. Go straight ahead, through this field until you reach the next gateway. Turn left into a very short lane and at the end go left down the side of a field. At the bottom of the next field, go through the gate on your left into Cow Lane. When you reach the main road, go right for a few yards then left down into Bowcombe Farm Lane. When you have passed the houses and farm buildings continue along the farm track, ignoring the bridleway on your left, until the track opens out into fields. Take the footpath across the field on your left. This field gives a lovely view of Carisbrooke Castle and St.Mary's Church tower straight in front of you. At the lane go left for a few yards then over the stile on your right into the water meadows to take you back to Carisbrooke. When you reach the metalled lane go right and then left into Millers Lane. From here, if you wish to walk around the Castle, you can take the footpaths from Millers Lane (photo below). I did this walk a few months ago and it took a couple of hours.
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