The walk westwards from Ventnor to Steephill Cove and beyond is one of my regular strolls. As far as Steephill it's all on made up paths, so it's a year-round walk with a few steepish slopes. This time I started and finished at the top of the town, but it's easy to start the walk from the town centre. From Easter onwards, there are several cafés open at Steephill Cove, and it's a popular route for weekend walkers and their dogs.
We start by passing the Ventnor Cascade, laid out in 1903, where a stream that once supplied a mill tumbles over rocks among planted gardens.
Generations of children have played on the island shaped paddling pool, and freshly landed fish can be bought from the Ventnor Haven Fishery, run by the same Ventnor family for decades.
At midday in March, it was cool to see this guy and his dog chilling out in the sun!
A focal point on the seafront is the Spyglass Inn.
I was lucky to spot this small Ventnor Wall Lizard, probably a female as the males are usually a brighter green in colour. These little creatures love to bask on the sunny south-facing drystone wall lining the car park above the inn. This colony of Podarcis Muralis is one of only a handful in the UK and probably now the largest as they can now be found from the Botanic Gardens to Wheelers Bay.
The south of island is subject to erosion, so this barrier of rock armour protects this stretch of the coastline.
In the summer, this slope will be covered in vibrant pink flowers, Carpobrotus, but today only a few were visible. Also known as the Hottentot Fig, it is a South African plant which flourishes all along the southern shoreline, which is said to have sub-tropical micro-climate.
And so to Steephill Cove, one of the prettiest spots on the island with its collection of fishing cottages. In summer it throngs with visitors and locals enjoying a crab sandwich from the catch of the Wheeler family who own much of the property here and have fished here for many years. But today, the cove is looking a little sad, as it took a battering in the winter storms and repairs are still underway.
Climbing back up to the clifftop brings us into meadows behind the Ventnor Botanic Garden, where this incinerator is a reminder of the days of the Royal National Chest Hospital.
The coastal path now runs along the back of the Botanic Gardens. The path is a right of way but the garden is now fenced in; until recently the gardens were free to enter and would be full of families any sunny day.
Here a walled footpath runs alongside the edge of the gardens taking us back to the main road, but a few steps further takes us to Orchard Bay.
The island has a long history of smuggling and this cottage in its secluded bay was the scene of a major crime, (by island standards) in 2000. Six drug smugglers, including the house owner, were foiled in their attempt to land 900lb of cocaine from the Caribbean. Hit by storms, engine failure forced them to land further along the coast and carry the haul along the cliff path where 150 Customs and police officers were waiting for them!
Return to the main pathway pack to the road, taking the footpath to the left of a cottage when a gate blocks the way, to reach the main road and turn right to follow the road back to town.
If you wish to visit the Botanic Garden you will pass the entrance and if you don't want to pay to go in, a glimpse of the gardens can be seen from the car park.
The south facing gardens were full of Osteospermum and cherry blossom.
Slipping into Ventnor Park for a few yards, these Bergenia huddled in the shade of the trees alongside the stream. From here it is just a short stroll back into the centre of town.
Walk details
Start and Finish at Central Car Park or with optional loop to Mitchell Avenue
Distance: 3.75 miles
Time: 2 hours
Refreshments: All year round in Ventnor. At Steephill Cove from Easter to October
WC: Public in town and on Ventnor seafront and at Steephill Cove
Bus: No 3 to town centre, No 6 from Ventnor to Botanic Garden
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