This was a nice, easy Boxing Day stroll which took about 40 minutes starting at Ryde Pier.
Built in 1814, Ryde Pier is the second longest accessible pier in Britain at nearly half a mile long.
From the pier entrance (postcode: PO33 2HE; grid ref: SZ593929) head west along the Esplanade, then into St Thomas' Street, taking the first turning right into Buckingham Road. Bear round to the left past Buckingham Close, and then uphill to the junction with Spencer Road. Turn right into Spencer Road and follow it for about half a mile until it becomes a gravel track ending at white gates. Pass through the gates and cross the entrance to Ryde House and take the footpath signposted to Binstead and Quarr, known locally as Ladies Walk. Ryde Golf Course now lies either side of the tarmac path which descends to cross a bridge then continues up the hill on the other side to pass Binstead Church to the right.
Binstead Church stands on the site of a Norman Church built to serve workers who quarried stone for the old Quarr Abbey as well as Winchester and Chichester Cathedrals. Most of the present church is Victorian except for a Norman doorway containing a medieval effigy of a person sitting on a ram’s head. Follow round to the left away from the church, then turn right into Church Road turning right again onto a level driveway. At the house gates, take the path to the left and continue through level woodland to reach Quarr Road. Turn right and follow the lane which starts to descend and becomes a gravel track before meeting a gate through which you continue to pass the old Abbey ruins to the right. The track ascends to cross the entrance to the new Quarr Abbey.
The original Quarr Abbey was opened in 1131 by a small Cistercian order of monks. The Abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1537 and the new Abbey was built almost 400 years later in 1912 by a Benedictine order of monks using an eye catching rose-red coloured Belgian Brick. I stopped for a while to admire the pigs, before continuing to Fishbourne Lane. Turn right in to Fishbourne Lane. You may wish to stop for a drink or a bite to eat at the Fishbourne Inn.
Either after stopping at the pub, or instead of going to the pub, head down the hill and there is a small pebbly beach, from where you can watch the Wightlink vehicle ferries come and go.
This was an accessible walk of less than 2 miles. Visitors from the mainland could start the walk at Ryde Pier Head or from the Fishbourne ferry terminal and then do this walk in reverse.
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