Me And My Dog On The Isle Of Wight
More than 500 miles of marked footpaths and a host of sandy beaches make the Isle of Wight a great place for dogs to visit – with their owners! Footpaths can be found along the towering chalk cliffs of the south coast, in its wildlife-rich wetlands and woodlands, hidden away in the lush green countryside and along the river valleys that dissect an island just 23 miles wide and 13 miles deep, boasting some of the UK’s most varied landscape.
The good news is that it isn’t just the Island’s beaches and rural footpaths that make the Isle of Wight a dog’s delight, as many of the hotels and self-catering establishments featured in the Wightlink Holidays brochure actively welcome well-behaved dogs and their owners too.
Ferry-inclusive short breaks can cost as little as £105pp for two night’s bed and breakfast accommodation whilst there’s a host of hotel breaks priced from £70pp for an overnight stay. There’s also the option of longer stays in a wide range of self-catering cottages and apartments. For example, seven night ferry-inclusive holidays in a luxury converted barn cost from £500 for a week’s accommodation for four people and their dogs.
Dogs travel free on both Wightlink’s car ferries and its FastCat passenger catamarans so money-saving day trip tickets – available year round – can provide the gateway to an energetic day’s walking the Wight.
Whether or not you are a regular visitor to the Island, Wightlink has produced a shortlist of some of the best dog walks on the Isle of Wight to help you on your way.
Top Treks For Dogs – And Their Owners
St. Boniface Down, high above south coast Ventnor and Bonchurch. This is an energetic walk uphill past grazing sheep but well worth it for panoramic views of the Isle of Wight and beyond.
The Walking with Dinosaurs territory at Hanover Point and the surfers’ paradise Compton Bay, where you might stumble on the clay footprint of a dinosaur from 120 million years BC and your dog might unearth a prehistoric bone.
Freshwater Causeway, a long, flat waterside walk to Yarmouth estuary – great for a sustained run. Once an old railway track, this scenic route along the river estuary is one of the best places to spot a host of birdlife and, if you are lucky, red squirrels.
The ‘Little Colorado’ landscape above St. Catherine’s Lighthouse, spectacular for its unparalleled views of the disappearing cliffs of south coast Isle of Wight. This is the perfect dog walk away from civilisation with splendid views of majestic red cliffs all around, some challenging hill walking (a real test of fitness levels) and the option to clamber down, through admittedly-boggy land, to a long stretch of virgin sand below.
Tennyson Down, the famous cliff walk from Freshwater westward towards the Needles. This is a dramatic walk through a part of the Island deservedly designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Bonchurch landslip, a 1½ mile cliff walk from Victorian Bonchurch along narrow leafy lanes to pretty Luccombe Chine, with the sea far below. This is an area of continuing cliff erosion, so expect the changes to the walk as time progresses.
A Beach Paradise
The Isle of Wight boasts over 25 miles of beaches, most of them sandy and many open to dogs and their owners away from the summer season – places like fossil-rich Brook on the south coast and Fort Victoria, near Yarmouth, which backs onto acres of densely wooded Country Park. If you don’t know them, try these:
Ventnor, a long expanse of red sand beach with crashing waves. Great in winter, whether you’re on two legs or four, it’s all about beating the tide on Ventnor beach. Breakers come crashing into the red sands, knocking the adventurous flat. The game is to avoid getting drenched.
The Duver, at low tide this east coast resort near Bembridge is a feast of rock-pools. The Isle of Wight may be famous for its sandy beaches but the rock-pools and this long shingle stretch make great for exploring for dogs and children.
Tiny Steephill Cove, west of Ventnor, is a well-kept local secret. Accessed down a steep, narrow lane, what this beach lacks in sand, it makes up in rock pools. It’s a great place for beachcombing and sniffing out all manner of treasures.
The Pleasure Of A Walk With A Pub That Welcomes Dogs At The End Of It!
Not everyone is an intrepid walker – even dogs – and Wightlink has researched a collection of walks for the ‘leisure walker’, with the incentive of top class pubs at the end of them. (Wightlink Pub Walks is available on request by telephoning 0871 376 1000). Two of the most suitable for dogs are:
The network of rural walks, each with well-marked footpaths, around Shorwell, one of the Island’s prettiest villages. There is such a diversity of choice that the length of walks is entirely up to you – but do take an Ordinance Survey map to guide you. All of the walks lead back to the Crown Inn, an attractive pub, quaint but with a roomy interior and a charming garden with a stream running through it.
Godshill has long been one of the Island’s most popular villages, but the trail plotted by Wightlink is well off the beaten track, offering canines a varied landscape of wood and meadows, steep in sections with wonderful panoramic views for humans from the highest point at Gat Cliff. It ends with an easy walk through beautiful pastureland, leading to the maze in the garden of the Griffin. Large and extremely family-friendly, this well-known pub is totally unfazed by the sight of walkers complete with muddy dogs.
Many of the Island’s B&Bs, hotels and self-catering cottages welcome dogs, including:
- The Fernbank Hotel www.fernbankhotel.net
- Priory Bay Hotel www.priorybay.com
- Niton Barns www.nitonbarns.co.uk
Please note that some establishments may charge a small fee for dogs.