This walk began at the free car park in Wroxall, grid ref: SZ 551 798. It's about 5 miles and should take just over two hours.
Turn left out of the car park, head down the hill and then left again. Follow the main road up the hill, past the Star pub on your right and then turn right in to Stenbury View. As the road bends to the right, take the signposted footpath up the hill. This is where the trail begins.
This footpath is also a bridleway and was muddy for the first 20 minutes or so until we got up on to Wroxall Down. This is all National Trust land.
Once out in the open, follow the path towards the road. There are many paths off but we headed towards the coast to the right of the radar station. We decided to cross the road and walked behind the radar station. We were then on St Boniface Down, the highest point on the Isle of Wight. There are beautiful sea views from here and also lovely views of Ventnor.
We followed the path behind the radar station and then joined the path that we were originally on as we arrived on Luccombe Down (see photo). From the viewpoint on Luccombe Down, you can see Sandown, Shanklin and Culver Down.
From Luccombe Down, we headed towards St Martin's Down, but took the path to the right on Shanklin Down. This took us back down off the hill via a very steep and muddy path. There are steps at one point - lucky there is a handrail! Once back on the flat, you cross a couple of fields and then you can pick up the Worsley Trail (or Red Squirrel Trail if you were cycling!) that runs from Shanklin to Wroxall. Turn left and the cycle path (a disused railway line) takes you back to Wroxall.
We walked past the Star pub on our way up the hill and saw that they had a new chef, so we thought we would try it out. Food was excellent - would recommend it!
Weather promised to be changeable and it was! So I am wearing my Craghoppers waterproof jacket and beanie!
