Walk 37 Wroxall Downs - 2.5 miles

This is my annual trip to the Downs above Ventnor and Wroxall in search of the carpets of bluebells for which they are known. My luck with the weather ran true to form and I left Ventnor in the sun only to arrive in the clouds which persisted until I completed my descent to re-emerge in sunlight back in town.

This time I took the usual path at the Industrial Estate off Mitchell Avenue, walked along the floor of the valley to come up in front of the Radar Station. Here bearing left leads you out to the tarmac road, below which the best of the bluebells are to be found.

I headed back east towards Wroxall instead of my usual Shanklin direction and was rewarded with some fine displays of bluebells. One can go back down the road to come out at Upper Ventnor (with shop) or, as I did, take the steep path left downhill. I took the path and on to come out on the other side of the industrial estate.

Whilst descending  I had a fine view over the rooftops of Ventnor, with the ocean going racing yacht Artemis sailing past the town.

The map below is rather approximate since I tend to wander among ill marked paths but it gives the rough location and route.

Walk Details
Start: Ventnor Industrial Estate, Old Station Rd
Finish: as above
Time: 2 hours
Refreshments: None
WC: None
Bus: No 3 

Walk 36 Firestone Copse

A bit late starting on my photo walks this year as it has been cool and not sunny enough to tempt me! But with the advent of the bluebell season I decided to try a new location, Firestone Copse in Wootton.

 The walk begins by The Sloop Inn at Wootton Creek and follows the edge of the lake.

From the Sloop cross the bridge and head up Kite Hill until a few yards along Firestone Copse Rd turns off to the right. Passing Kite Farm and Campsite you come to the edge of the copse after about 20 mins.

 From the road I soon saw a patch of blue and headed into the copse to find a shady corner filled with bluebells.

 Underfoot were carpets of Wood Anemones too...

 ...and of course lots of primroses.

But on wandering further in I found faint paths that soon disappeared, so I returned to the road and followed it down until I found the carpark and main entrance to the copse, about half an hour's walk from Wootton Creek. The copse is managed by the Forestry Commission and is composed of mixed conifers and broadleaves, but mainly sessile oak and Corsican pine. Hazel trees provide nuts for the red squirrels that live there.

Here begins a wide, gravelled circular path, by a 'keep dogs under control' sign leading around mixed trees, a walk of about 20 mins that would be good for a winter stroll.

 But alas, no more bluebells, so I returned to the first patch and took a few more shots in the early afternoon sun.

Cherry blossom was out on the lane going back.

A trip to Wootton is not complete without a swan shot...

...and of course lunch at the Sloop Inn!