Walk 1546 - Freshwater and Norton from Yarmouth, IOW

 
Click thumbnails for larger images.

This walk explores a section of cost west of Yarmouth with views across the Solent and then does a circuit inland to Freshwater. The views throughout are good and with the oaths well signed and numbered.

The start is the Fort Victoria Car Park (Grid ref. SZ339898) on the western outskirts of Yarmouth. After parking exit the car park and walk back up the road a little way to join the Coastal Path F6 on your right. Follow this path, ignoring any adjoining tracks and climbing the steps when you reach them. You have lovely views along here looking out over the Solent with Hurst Castle on the mainland. After approximately 1 km. the path bears right and joins a metalled lane. From this lane you have lovely views of Headon Warren and the Needles in the distance.  Follow the lane to its junction with the main road ignoring the Coastal Path sign on your right. 

At the main road bear left to the brow of the hill then cross over at the dropped kerb and go straight ahead to Golden Hill Fort, where you take Bridleway F15 which is on your right just before you enter the Fort's tunnel. If you wish you can divert here and do the circular walk around the Fort which gives you lovely views of the surrounding countryside. Keep on F15, ignoring any adjoining paths, until you reach a footpath crossroads where you go left onto a tarmac path, and then branch left when you reach the sign warning of motor vehicles using the lane.  At the main road go left then cross over into Church Place.

Take footpath F1, which goes between the pub and the churchyard, and straight ahead at the metalled lane following the signs for the "Freshwater Way". At the end of the lane, just in front of the farm, go over the stile on your left then bear right keeping the hedge on your immediate right.  Go over the next stile into a closed in path and out through the kissing gate where you bear left up a farm lane, still following F1 to Yarmouth. Continue along this lane until you reach a signpost under a tree on your right where you go over the stile in front of you.

Follow this path and after you go over the 2 stiles very close together bear left along the edge of the field to another stile in the corner. Go straight ahead here keeping the field boundary on your right, along by the woods and then into them.  When you leave the woods via a gate, go left, still on F1 to Yarmouth, until you reach the main road. Go left for a few yards then cross over and take the footpath on your right down to the shore. The sign shows F5 Fort Victoria 1/2 mile.  Walk along here keeping the sea on your right until you reach Fort Victoria and the car park.  Ignore the sign "Road access to Fort Victoria". 

Suggested Maps

It is recommended you take a map with you when following a walk route. The preferred scale is 1:25000 used by the Explorer series.

	OS Explorer	1:25,000	Sheet OL29
	OS Landranger	1:50,000	Sheet 196

Note : If two maps are listed at the same scale then either (a) both are required for full coverage of the route or (b) the route is covered on both maps.

Rockstone Cottage, Freshwater - Isle of Wight
Bed & Breakfast - 1.5 miles / 2.3 km away

The Granville, Totland Bay Isle of Wight - Isle of Wight
Bed & Breakfast - 1.9 miles / 3.0 km away

The Wellington Hotel, Ventnor, Isle of Wight - Isle of Wight
Hotel - 15.8 miles / 25.3 km away

La Fosse at Cranborne, Cranborne - Dorset
Bed & Breakfast - 23.0 miles / 36.8 km away

Kings Arms Hotel, Salisbury - Wiltshire
Hotel - 27.7 miles / 44.3 km away

Self Catering Directory
A wide range of properties throughout UK & Europe

Walks & Peaks Bedsearcher
Search, choose and book your accommodation online.

NOTE - all distances are "as the crow flies"