This short but hilly route is mostly on grassy paths, including one of the steepest paths on the Island. It can be slippery in wet weather. The views are spectacular as you reach the highest point on the Isle of Wight. On a fine day, you can see the mainland clearly, and the sea looks stunning.
THIS IS A NATIONAL TRUST WALK. PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING THIS IMPORTANT CHARITY BY BECOMING A MEMBER, OR BY MAKING A DONATION.
- Address: Ventnor Down National Trust car park, off Down Lane, Ventnor, Isle of Wight.
- OS map: Landranger 196, Explorer OL29
- Activity: Walking
- Challenging: Hilly, grassy terrain.
- Dog friendly: Dogs are welcome but please keep them on a lead around wildlife and livestock, and take any dog waste home with you.
- Full trail: Miles: 2.6 (km: 4.16)
- Access: Challenging
- Duration: 1 hour 30 mins - 2 hours
- Total ascent: 185m (600ft).
You can view a PDF of this walk by clicking the button below, but it lacks some of the historical information. So read below for further details which is taken from the National Trust website.
Step 1
In the car park, look out for the plaque commemorating the Channel Airways Dakota plane that crashed here in fog in 1962. To start your walk, turn right out of the car park and follow the road to the entrance gates for the National Air Traffic Services (NATS).
LOOK OUT FOR: The former RAF Ventnor
NATS is the former location of RAF Ventnor. To your left, you can see some surviving Second World War brick structures. The radar station, established in 1937, warned of German aircraft and flying bombs approaching across the Channel. It played an important part in Operation Overlord and the Battle of Britain. During the Cold War, there was a hidden underground nuclear operations room here. This has since been filled in, but to the left of the gates you can still see the square manhole cover that marked its entrance.
Step 2
Continue along the road by the NATS fence for 10yds (10m), then turn off close to a water trough on the left. Turn right to follow the grassy path parallel to the road. When the path divides, take the left fork. After 65yds (60m) take the faint path through the bracken on the right. It goes past a solitary tree and crosses a track before passing through gorse-covered Bronze Age burial mounds. Continue on this path as it bears right to reach an area of open land. You are now at the highest point on the Isle of Wight with public access.
LOOK OUT FOR: Bronze Age barrows
Here, you are entering a Bronze Age cemetery thought to have contained 21 round barrows dating back to around 2000 BC, some of which are still visible. About 90 yards (85m) north of the car park, beside the main track, you'll see some quite large and distinctive barrows. Cemeteries and barrows were built on the edge of settlements, in full view, because people had great reverence for their ancestors. Barrows also served as territorial markers.
Step 3
Walk straight across the open land towards a signpost 90yds (85m) away. After a further 80yds (75m), turn 90° right to reach a kissing gate by the corner of the NATS fence. Go through the gate.
Step 4
Follow the path immediately to the left of the NATS fence until you reach a tall mast and another kissing gate. Go through the gate.
Step 5
From here, head 40yds (40m) downhill and through another kissing gate where there's a viewpoint bench. Carry on downhill for about 190yds (175m), following the track to the right that zigzags down to the base of Coombe Bottom.
LOOK OUT FOR: The remains of the rifle range
As you reach the bottom of the coombe, you'll see the brick stacks and other remains of the rifle range. As well as being used for leisure, the range was a practice area for the Isle of Wight Rifles.
Step 6
Continue along the coombe, keeping to the right. About 110yds (100m) before you reach the trees at the far end, the path divides. Take the right fork and shortly afterwards the left, staying close to a wire fence on the left.
LOOK OUT FOR: the Isle of Wight Rifles
The Isle of Wight Rifles were established in 1859 with part-time volunteers, but by WW2 they were conscripts and formed part of the Hampshire regiments. They fought at Gallipoli in 1915. In 1917 the regiment was virtually destroyed when 800 men died at the Battle of Gaza. Coombe Bottom was used as a training rifle range. The rifle targets were placed on a raised bank facing west. There were also pistol butts with the targets, parts of which remain, on a brick wall.
Step 7
Continue along the path by the wire fence and go through the kissing gate and down the steps to the road. Go through another gate and turn left and left again into the industrial estate.
LOOK OUT FOR: the ammunition store
On your right as you follow the path through the coombe, you'll see the remains of the cave-like ammunition store built into the earth, although it now has no door. This was used by the Isle of Wight Rifles during training.
Step 8
About 30yds (27m) along on the left is the Coastguard Rescue Station. With your back to it, you'll see the Terminus Hotel on the corner to the right. Just behind the hotel, there's a steep flight of stone steps on path V1. Take the steps up to a kissing gate at the base of the hill, then continue up the steep slope of St Boniface Down, and eventually through another kissing gate, until you reach the mast. Turn left and follow the path to the immediate left of the wire fence, taking you back to the car park by the Dakota plaque.
LOOK OUT FOR: Ventnor railway station
A blue plaque outside the Coastguard Rescue Station marks the site of the former Ventnor railway station. The railway was built inside a sandstone quarry, which provided building material for the town. You can still see the entrance to the tunnel under the downs where the trains came through. As well as holidaymakers, the railway brought many people with tuberculosis to the Royal National Hospital for treatment and convalescence. The hospital closed in 1964 and the site is now home to the Ventnor Botanic Garden.
