Newtown River is a large natural inland harbour on the northwestern coast of the Isle of Wight, named after the nearby village of Newtown. It is often referred to as Newtown Creek or Newtown Harbour. It is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a national nature reserve, owned and managed by the National Trust.
I started this walk in the village of Shalfleet at grid reference: SZ 414 892. The nearest postcode (that of a very good pub, The New Inn): PO41 4NS.
Follow the road, with The New Inn on your left, past Shalfleet Farm and then turn right on to a footpath. This path comes out at Corf Farm, on the main road. This is actually the coastal path (always surprises me as you cannot see the sea from here and the road is hardly a path!). Take care walking along this road (coastal path!) as there are parts without a grass verge and the cars do drive past at speed! Pass the entrance to Corf Scout Camp, on your left, and walk along the road to a junction where you will see Newtown Town Hall signposted. Turn left on to another road.
Before you reach the Town Hall, immediately after the Causeway Lake, take the footpath to the left. Follow this path across a meadow and out on to a very quiet road with a few houses around, and then straight out on to the nature reserve. Keep to the path, across the footbridge, walking in an anti-clockwise direction until you get back to the point where you entered the nature reserve. Do remember a camera, the nature reserve is lovely.
Then walk back down the short stretch of quiet road and turn left. Pass the beautiful church on your left (do pop in!). From the church, follow the road back to the coastal path, which is clearly signposted.
Once you get back on to another road, which is still part of the coastal path, walk for about 150m and then take a left in to Walter's Copse. After about 100m within the copse, turn right and head to the perimeter of the copse. Follow this path around, again anti-clockwise, until you reach the coastal path again.
Or, at the far left corner of Walter's Copse, you can take a path back out on to the nature reserve. There were nesting Oystercatchers at the side of the path when I was there - a great spot for bird watchers!
Once out of Walter's Copse, turn right on to the coastal path which will eventually take you back to your starting point in Shalfleet. This is a flat walk and quite accessible (although take care along the road with children). It is difficult to estimate the amount of time needed as that depends on how long you spend looking at the birds, flowers, insects, waterways... or even just enjoying the peace and tranquility, in the nature reserve!
