Lin's Isle of Wight Walking Blog: Walk 13 Newport to Cowes Cycle Path

A lovely sunny day gave way to a grey and cloudy evening as I met a friend to walk the cycle path from Newport to Cowes. With less than a week to go until the Isle of Wight Festival, the tents and flags were going up on the other side of the Medina.

This rusting hull is now known locally as the paddle-steamer Ryde Queen was launched as the HMS Ryde in 1937 as a passenger ship for the cross Solent traffic. She was called into military service as a minesweeper and anti-aircraft ship taking in the D-day landings being commemorated this week. After a spell in London as a floating gin palace, she returned to the island as a disco boat, but once it closed the steamer has been left to rust away in the river mud.

rusted hull of the ryde queen paddlesteamer

tents at the IOW festival across the river medina

rusted boat on the medina cycle path newport to cowes

Across the river, the spire on the hill is the church of St Mildred's at Whippingham, Queen Victoria's place of worship during her years at nearby Osborne House. Prince Albert worked with Albert Jenkins Humbert to design the church, where there is an exhibition of Royal memorabilia.