Reverse Island Part 1 - round the island Cowes to Shalfleet 10.15am start

We will be walking the Coastal Path round the island in sections  - anticlockwise this time.

This is the first of our coastal path stages. It is a linear walk. Meeting at the chain ferry at West Cowes  at 10.15am , we will walk through central Cowes, along the seafront to Gurnard, then via Thorness Bay, Porchfield and Newtown, ending this section at Shalfleet (where there is a pub - the New Inn. I will check nearer the time whether this will be open. 

Please note that  there are no easy partway “escape” points accessible by public transport on this section of the walk. If  wanting a shorter distance walk, then walkers  are obviously free to sort a car  share arrangement between themselves to some partway point, but as far I can see that is unfortunately not practical with buses on this occasion.

So, allowing for the fact of a relaxed pace and stops, please treat this as a full day’s walking, with a lunch stop.

There are free toilets at  Cowes and Newtown visitor centre. Also (20p) at Gurnard. There is also potential access to toilets at the Sportsman’s Rest pub in Porchfield if we stop there for drinks.

Please note there is a significant section of road-walking in the middle of the walk, which is unfortunate but unavoidable – this is the current coastal path – please walk in single file and take care.

By car
If you are carshare/shuffling then there is onstreet parking in Shalfleet  (either near the New Inn, or on the other side of the main road in the Warlands Lane area) for the one car; then  drive the second car back to the startpoint in Cowes where there are public pay  carparks (or free onstreet parking – but take care to check it’s not a residents permit only area in Cowes).

However, to avoid the potential hassles of parking in  Cowes and to minimise driving back forth across the island before the walk, you may find it works better by bus ! ….

By public transport (bus – from Newport)
No 1 buses run fairly regularly from Newport to Cowes. The 09.43 from Newport bus station gets to Arctic Road stop at 10.00, it just a short walk down Arctic Road / Bridge Road to get to the floating bridge for a 10.15am start.

No 7 buses back from  Shalfleet to Newport go hourly, at 36 mins past each hour.  (Which one we catch will depend on the walk on the day but should be 15.36 or the 16.36, and we do finish at a pub if we find out that we have just missed one.

Car share
In the interests of the air, parking, and non-drivers, if anyone is able to offer, or needs, a cars hare then please post on WhatsApp group (to join group please message Serena 07564-811690)

DATES FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF SECTIONS OF THE REVERSE ISLAND WALK

          ~ Sun 4 May

         ~  Sun 1 June

         ~ Sun 29 June

         Further dates TBC - watch this space.