Lin's Isle of Wight Walking Blog: Walk 17 Around Rookley

This walk followed the route of the Southern Vectis leaflet, available for download here.
It was an easy, fairly flat walk through farmland and country lanes around Rookley and offering fine views over Chillerton Down.

I started, on a hot but somewhat cloudy day, on the cycle path at Blackwater Hollow;
for future reference the cycle path is a 6.5 mile route to Sandown, good for a winter walk.

Shetland pony benea tree in field beside the Sandown Cycle Path

Across the fields are the gravel pit quarries at Blackwater.

Leaving the cycle path, the path crosses Birchmore Farm, before coming back to the main Rookley road.

Tractor ploughing field on Birchmore Farm, Rookley, Isle of Wight

Birchmore Farm field, Rookley, Isle of Wight

Field on hill on Birchmore Farm, Rookley

Crossing to Bunkers Lane takes us past a few houses and I had to stop to photograph one of these beautiful hibiscus bushes.

The path then follows the edge of a patch of woodland until a set of wooden steps lead up through two gates by a sheep trough.

Upturned tree trunk on Bunkers Copse, Rookley

Here were beautiful views across the sheep pastures of Rookley Manor Farm towards Chillerton Down.

Crossing the field past this wind-bent tree, we head down towards farm buildings.

After a few minutes, I took the option to divert to the Chequers Inn, turning right around the corner of the field towards the red roof of Rookley Farm.

This proved to be a rather desirable farmhouse with a beautifully tended cottage garden.

Passing cornfields a bridleway, GL5a, leads to the pub.

Along the path, were patches of cornflowers and corn marigolds.

Cornflowers and corn marigolds on Rookley ramble

Macro shot of cornflower on walk around Rookley

The Chequers Inn is a popular pub with families in summer as it has a playground, but on a school day the garden was peaceful and a nice spot to enjoy the views with a drink. Originally a customs house, but it has been a pub since at least 1800.

The Chequers Inn, Rookley, Isle of Wight

Rather than retrace my steps to follow the leaflet route, I took the Niton Road then turned right on the GL6 path across another cornfield to rejoin the main road.