Vectis Trail

Isle of Wight

A figure-of-eight route taking in the quieter parts of the island inland, while including some coastal walking. It takes its name from the Roman name for the island. The route was devised by local Ramblers' Association members before the current network of marked paths on the island was developed. Their updated guide splits the route into six sections between transport points.

From Yarmouth it heads south and then towards the western edges of the island near Alum Bay, then east to reach the Tennyson Monument and the coast near Freshwater Bay. After Brook the route follows the downland ridges eastwards, crossing the returning figure-of-eight near Brighstone Down, to pass Carisbrook Castle. The Trail then continues to its easterly limit at Brading. The return is through Whitwell, then after touching the south coast again at Walpen Chine near Chale, it heads north west to Shorwell, crossing over the outward route to return to Yarmouth. The figure-of-eight can easily be split into two shorter walks and many other variants are possible using buses or a car. There is a schematic map on the second website below.

There are seven other trails on the island which are all included on OS mapping and some of which are connecting to the Vectis Trail and the Isle of Wight Coastal Path. These are: Bembridge Trail (15 miles) - Shide to Bembridge; Nunwell Trail (10 miles) - Ryde St Johns to Sandown; Hamstead Trail (8 miles) - Brooke Bay to Hamstead Ledge; Shepherds Trail (10 miles) - Carisbrooke to Atherfield; Stenbury Trail (10 miles) - Blackwater to Week Down; Tennyson Trail (15 miles) - Carisbrooke to Alum Bay; Worsley Trail (15 miles) - Shanklin to Brighstone. These trails are covered on the first website below.

The Bembridge and Tennyson Trails are part of the E9 Isle of Wight variant: see E-Routes (E9).

See also E-Routes (E9)

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Details:

Path Type:	Other Paths
Attributes:	Challenging Coastal Downland/Wolds
Start and Finish:	SZ355897 - Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
Open Date:	1988
Web Sites:	Visit Isle of Wight - Isle of Wight Walking Routes

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook

Vectis Trail  (Isle of Wight Ramblers  - 2015 )

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