This walk started just south of Wootton, at the bus stop past Wootton Station. It was a pleasant if not especially scenic walk through fields and meadows around the old railway. Packsfield Lane leads to the steam railway line.
The path heads across fields and these lambs were happy to stay quite close to the path as I crossed their field.
Not the greatest walk for flower spotting, but there were some wild roses in the hedgerows.
The route re-crosses the railway line before heading back.
The walk itself finishes by the Sloop Inn at Wootten Bridge, known for their low priced carvery and riverside location, both of which I sampled and enjoyed.
Looking downriver along Old Mill Pond.
I walked for a while along New Road on the western side of the creek. You cannot get right down to the water's edge as the road runs between private properties and their waterfront gardens and jetties, but plenty of boats can be viewed between hedges.
A pirate boat was terrorising the seas today!
This lovely swan was a special bonus.
My reason for the walk was a photo trip to Butterfly and Fountain World, so I set out back along Whiterails Rd towards Newport, a 40 stretch along the main road with no pavements, not a route I'd bother to do again.
Butterfly World is a visitor attraction aiming to bring awareness of the environmental needs of the butterfly and, as on many days, there was a party of school children being led around learning about the 52 varieties of butterflies housed here.
The butterflies are housed in a tropical glasshouse, and I was daft enough to choose the hottest day of the year so far to visit, so it was absolutely sweltering! As well as butterflies, small birds, like these zebra finches, flutter about you.
They are quite tricky to photograph as they don't stay still for long, so you have one at rest to focus a decent shot.
I can't identify many of the butterflies, but I think this one is a Malachite; I love the way it's camouflaged with its surroundings.
This one I think is the Common Indian Crow.
A Malabar Tree Nymph, native to India.
Butterflies like strawberries! Who knew?
Also on the site is Fountain World, a series of gardens centred around water features.
A few minutes down the road is the turn off for the Isle of Wight Lavender Farm, which I had been meaning to visit in lavender season. The track leading to the farm is about a 15 minute walk but seemed longer in the heat!
The lavender fields were not yet in bloom, but the gardens were lovely.
Tempted by the offer of a lift back to the main road, I didn't stay long, so a return visit is planned for a little later in the month.
Walk Details
Start: Wootton Bridge
Finish: Isle of Wight Lavender Farm (Open 10-4, closed Wed and Sun)
Distance: 6.5 miles
Refreshments and WC: Wootton village, The Sloop Inn, Butterfly World and Lavender Farm.
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