Circular Walks
This page describes two circular walks, one starting at Freshwater Bay and the other from the National Trust car park in the
chalkpit at the end of Highdown Lane and both going to the Needles Batteries. The distance for the first walk is 10km in total
and the second is 6km. Both are moderately strenuous but the effort is rewarded by stunning downland and coastal scenery. Click
here for a map showing the position
of Freshwater Bay relative to Yarmouth and Totland. If you are taking the shorter walk proceed as follows: facing the sea turn
right along Gate Lane, shortly, on your lefthand, you will pass the thatched church of St. Agnes. Where the road forks keep to
the left, Bedbury Lane, and contine to the Highdown Inn where turn sharp left into Highdown Lane. Continue to the car park at
the end of the lane. Skip the next paragraph.
Click here for a detailed map of
the start of the walk. From the public car park in Freshwater Bay face the sea, turn right, and walk along Gate Lane. Shortly,
on your left, you will pass Dimbola Lodge, once the home of the pioneering Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. The
house is now a museum and photographic centre and has a very pleasant tearoom. Continue past Dimbola Lodge to St. Agnes church,
one the few remaining thatched churches in the British Isles. Contrary to a date on a foundation stone, one taken from an
earlier building, the church was built by the Tennyson family for the people of Freshwater in 1908. Continue straight ahead to
the junction of Gate Lane and Victoria Road, there is a grocery store where the roads meets, and take the footpath through a
gate on the right. Proceed along this footpath and take the left fork when the path divides, at this point you will see a rustic
bridge crossing the righthand path which is said to be the route Lord Tennyson took to the downs. Continue on the lefthand path
to where it meets another path and turn right. Proceed along this path until it meets the car park at the end of Highdown Lane
where the shorter walk starts and finishes. Click here
for a map of the last part of this section.
Click here for a map showing the
car park. The car park is on the righthand edge of the map, roughly half way up, designated by a white 'P' on a blue background.
From the carpark walk back towards the lane, take the bridleway on the left and contine to a style. Cross the style and bear
slightly to the right down a gentle slope to follow the line of the hedge until you meet another style. During this last section
you will pass Warren Farm which is worth a detour for a cream tea, a light lunch or perhaps a cup of tea and a slice of homemade
cake. Warren Farm is open from Easter to October and opening days and hours are on a notice at their gate.
Cross the style you are at and walk down the steps to the road, click here
for a map of your location. You are just below the white 'P' on a blue background at the righthand side of the map. If you turn
right you will be at the Needles Pleasure Park with its amusements, restaurants and public toilets. To contine the walk turn
left along the road taking great care to watch for the bus and other vehicles that use the road. Continue on the road until it
bends sharply to the left and go straight ahead to the entrance to the Needles Old Battery.
After your visit to the Old Battery take the footpath on the right just outside the entrance and continue up the hill to the top
of the down. This section is quite strenuous but the fantastic views of Alum Bay and the Solent offer many excuses to stop to
photograph and admire the view. You are now at the Needles New Battery, turn right along the road to the site of the rocket
testing and the breathtaking Needles viewpoint. Retrace your footsteps to where the footpath from the Old Battery meets the road
and go straight ahead up the steps cut in the grass bank. Head towards the small building and veer slightly right to the aerials
where you will see a fence with a style. Cross the style and continue straight ahead towards the Tennyson Monument which can be
seen on the skyline. When you come to the style you crossed earlier in the walk, cross over and veer slightly right up the hill
towards the Monument. Skip the next paragraph if you started your walk in Freshwater Bay.
From the Monument turn away from the cliff edge and walk down the slope towards the trees where you will come to a steep
footpath. Take great care, the path has steps but is very steep in places and the unwary could easily trip. At the bottom of
this footpath is the car park at the end of Highdown Lane where you started your walk.
Continue straight ahead on Tennyson Down towards Freshwater Bay, when an open field appears on the left cross the style and
follow the mown path diagonally across the field (this path is relatively new and is not shown on the map). Where it joins the
lane turn left and continue to its junction with Gate Lane where turn right to Freshwater Bay and the start of your walk.
If you have enjoyed this walk, and wish to further explore the area, a range of walkers maps have been compiled by Freshwater
and Totland Parish Councils. The Freshwater series is available from Tourist Information in Yarmouth or the respective Parish
Councils' offices. See the 'Links' page for information about how to contact them.
Source:
All maps - http://www.getamap.co.uk/getamap/