Welcome to the Isle of Wight Ramblers
The Isle of Wight Area of the Ramblers has 420 members in 2 groups - The Isle of Wight Group and Wight Sole Group . Information about Wight Sole can be found at their own website www.wightsole.org.uk
The Isle of Wight Ramblers Group provides a wide variety of walks throughout the week covering a range of lengths and Wight Sole focusing on fortnightly circular walks on a Sunday.
As a Ramblers member you are welcome to join walks from either group as well as any other group throughout the United Kingdom.
You are welcome to join three walks and be covered by Ramblers insurance prior to becoming a Member.
If would you like to contact us please email info@iowramblers.com.
The little understood implications of Natural England's East Cowes to Wootton coast path running one mile from the coast.
Natural England Proposals Establish Open Public Access Around Osborne Park and Across the Barton Estate.
On the 22nd October Natural England’s public consultation closed on their route for the King Charles Coast Path between East Cowes and Wooton. This proposal runs largely inland and along the busy A3021. DEFRA and Natural England will now be reviewing the hundreds of submissions received from landowners and the general public.
The Marine and Coastal Access Act passed by Parliament in 2009 not only enables a 2,700-mile England Coast Path, but it also provides open public access to areas of countryside and shoreline on the seaward side of the trail.
Natural England’s Report for the East Cowes to Wootton includes a map (1) with pink shading that highlights the extensive areas of ‘coastal margin’ as the trail runs up to one mile inland from the sea.
Within this pink coastal margin area categories of land such as buildings with their curtilage, the Osborne Park paid attraction, the golf course, marsh/mudflat conservation sites, and arable fields are ‘excepted’ and not subject to open public access. However, significant areas of woodland, grassland, seashore and access routes between the trail and the sea will be categorised as open access spreading room open for public use.
With the benefit of legal advice, the Ramblers have assessed and mapped (2) relevant areas of open access spreading room around the Osborne paid attraction boundary and across the Barton Manor Estate. If the DEFRA Secretary of State approves Natural England’s current proposed inland route. People will be able to enjoy walks along existing tracks through Norris, Pier and Barton woods; explore the foreshore next to Osborne Park and relax on Barton Hard beach.
Hopefully the new English Heritage management team and other landowners are currently having constructive discussions with Natural England about potential truly coastal trail alternatives. Given the level of public concern expressed through the consultation, a Planning Inspector Inquiry will be needed to resolve this complex situation.
This is the last section of the KING Charles III National Trail awaiting resolution. Can we get it sorted out over the next few months, or are we going to see several more years of delay?
Our concerns about the England Coast Path
The Island will have a new coast path, the King Charles III England Coast Path. Legislation was passed in 2009 andwe now have a report from Natural England proposing a route between East Cowes and Wootton. England Coast Path Isle of Wight Progress is being made to implement a route around the rest of the Island. The first two sections will be opened in September 2025.
The ECP will be the first National Trail on the Island and should show the very best aspects of our seascape and heritage. This part of the coastal route passes through the important Norris Castle, Osborne and Barton estates. English Heritage has stated that it will not allow access through Osborne. It seems that negotiations with landowners have stalled and we are concerned that the Island could end up with inland routes along busy roads.
Do read our concerns in our LATEST REPORT
There will now be an eight week consultation period ending on 22 October 2025 when anyone can submit their thoughts on the proposed route. See the link to access a "representation form".
Come along to our Record Launch !
We are releasing our very own record "The Isle of Wight Rambler" by Steve Love. It can be streamed from Spotify via the player below or downloaded below.
You can meet Steve and hear the song at our final rally to be held on Wednesday 15 October from 2.30pm to 4pm at the square in East Cowes adjacent to Waitrose. Light refreshments will be available (no cost).
Isle of Wight Ramblers Festival Day 6 May 2024 East Cowes
About 100 people attended our day of discussion and protest to Osborne House. Full details of our concerns are shown in the article and reports below.
The Charles Dickens Trail
We have been working with Ian Dickens great great grandson of Charles Dickens and Sue Lowday, historian, to create the Charles Dickens Trail.
There is a comprehensive leaflet available here.
Further details and the details of the trail can be found on the The Charles Dickens Trail
There will be an official launch of the trail on 3 May 2025 when many of the Dickens family will be present.
Island Coastal Route
Natural England has now published their report describing the new Island Coastal route which is part of the England Coast Path. All documents can be found at England Coast Path- Isle of Wight. Nine of the ten sections have been agreed by Defra and two sections will be opening in mid Sptemeber 2025
The section East Cowes to Wootton has now been published and there is a consultation which end on 22 October. Anyone can sent a "representation" by email with their views. See the link above to obtain this form.
Ramblers AGM Sat 24 January 2026
Venue is Arreton Community Centre from 10am- see agenda when posted. Jill Green will be our speaker at 12.00. Lunch this year is provided FREE OF CHARGE. There will be a choice of home cooked beef lasagne (GF available) or Vegetarian quiche along with mixed salad, and garlic bread. There is apple crumble or sticky gingerbread with custard or ice cream
The minutes from the previous AGM and other documents are now available from the below links:
Minor Maintenance on our Paths
Whilst we are blessed with well-maintained paths, occasionally you might come across a footpath sign or stile obscured by grass. Can you help to clear the minor obstruction?
Simple jobs like this can often be done by a volunteer using just shears and a secateur, and at a time to suit yourselves. Simply let Tim Marshall know that you wish to be listed as a volunteer by emailing tim@rookley.net Tim will post this to the website www.mmiwp.co.uk which shows the latest problems and who will volunteer. When the work is completed, send another photo to Tim to update the website. Job complete.
When reporting problems found on any Island Right Of Way please report all problems to row@iow.gov.uk
IOW Ramblers Parish Footpath Representatives
There are currently two vacancies to cover the Bembridge and Arreton (West) areas
The expected responsibilities of all footpath representatives are as follows:
- To maintain definitive maps of the parish, and to have a clear understanding of the boundaries, rights of way, permissive paths and access areas within the network.
- To walk all paths at least twice yearly, to record the conditions and report any defects to IOW Council Rights of Way (ROW); and to carry out light pruning work during the course of these walks.
- Keep a watching brief on the network throughout the year, to report on issues identified to the ROW, or to assist any island-wide surveys; and to monitor the progress of any path initiatives within their parish, such path closures, diversions and campaigns, Donate a Gate, and other path improvement projects.
- To gather an understanding of basis ROW law and practices.
Please contact Helen Jones on helen.ventnor@gmail.com, the Parish Footpaths Rep Coordinator if you would like to help out or have any questions.
When reporting problems found on any Island Right Of Way please report all problems to row@iow.gov.uk