Follow a river on its journey from source to sea
The walk takes you through the beautiful Isle of Wight countryside and heads through the pretty villages of Godshill, Newchurch and Brading. The trail passes ancient manor houses at Morton and Great Budbridge, and also includes six trail side sculptures by local artist Paul Mason. This is a nice, flat easy waterside walk with plenty to see on the trail.
Starting as a spring in Niton you will see the river grow from the smallest trickle and gather itself through a host of tributaries before spreading across its wide floodplain and joining the sea at Bembridge. Along the way the river will guide you through rolling landscapes, past ancient manors and into busy cosy pubs.
This is the Eastern Yar, not to be confused with the other River Yar which comes out at Yarmouth on the western side of the Island. The Eastern Yar is 19 miles long and the Island’s longest river, draining over a fifth of its land surface.
The Yar River Trail is also 19 miles long. Spend a rewarding weekend walking the whole trail and getting to know the Island. Or you could walk one of the four shorter sections each themed on a different stage of the river. Click on the PDF link in this listing for directions and a map.
The Trail is waymarked and also features 20 stone-carved milestones. It uses a variety of surfaces - mainly paths and the course of a dismantled railway. Alverstone, Newchurch, Godshill and Whitwell villages are passed en route.
You can do the walk in stages if you wish, and Island Rivers have created separate maps for each stretch...
- Niton to Godshill - The Young River PART 1 (5 miles) MAP LINK
- Niton to Godshill - The Young River PART 2 (5 miles) MAP LINK
- Godshill to Newchurch - The Developing River PART 1 (4.5 miles) MAP LINK
- Godshill to Newchurch - The Developing River PART 2 (4.5 miles) MAP LINK
- Newchurch to Brading - The Central Floodplain PART 1 (4 miles) MAP LINK
- Newchurch to Brading - The Central Floodplain PART 2 (4 miles) MAP LINK
- Brading to St Helens - The River Mouth PART 1 (5 miles) MAP LINK
- Brading to St Helens - The River Mouth PART 2 (5 miles) MAP LINK
Read more about the Eastern Yar river on Island Rivers website.
WHERE TO BEGIN THE TRAIL
Find the stone waymarker just to the left of the entrance to Niton Manor Farm on Blackgang Road. The stream is a trickle here.
Paul Mason Sculptures
The Easter Yar River underwent a major river restoration programme in 2001. Paul Mason was employed to craft the 20 milestones along the river trail and to create a series of six sculptures sited along the river’s course, from Source to Sea. There are 6 spherical stones: Source Stone @ Niton, Ridge & Valley @ Strathhwell Park, Yar Stone @ Alverstone, Pools & Puddles @ Alverstone, Water Lilies @ Adgestone, and Plain Tide Sea @ Brading. Read more about them here.
