Walk 42 Brading and Adgestone Vineyard - 3 miles

Despite 20 years on the Island I had never been to Adgestone Vineyard; I was delighted to find it one of the loveliest spots on the island. On a hot day it was just like being in France or Tuscany.
I started by taking the Old Morton Road up past Morton Manor; now only open once a year, you can peep through fence at the fine gardens.

Continue up Bully's Hill to join the Brading Downs Rd, walking carefully along the busy road until the first car park where the footpath begins along the left hand side. Little to say except that the views over the South Wight and Sandown Bay are stunning.

When the footpatch ends in a parking area, footpath B29 leads off opposite towards Nunwell, descending through the shade of Kelly's Copse.

The path leads through a gap in the hedge to descend until it joins the main Nunwell Trail coming in from the right.

Turn ahead here to follow the path which curves back up hill to the left towards Brading Down.

Here are panoramic views across the north of the island and over to the mainland. Camera challenge, to see how my new camera coped with the Spinnaker Tower 10 miles away in Portsmouth. A bit blurry, but quite good.

The path rejoins the Brading Downs Rd and following it back on the side leads back to the main viewpoint, where a broken signpost leads off downhill the south. Where paths join a signpost confirms the route down to Adgestone Vineyard, ignoring steps down to the left.

The vineyard is free to enter but £7.50 will buy an audio tour around the vines and a winetasting session to finish in the café.

Just a few yards away is Brading Roman Villa so it is tempting to think there may have been vines around here long ago...

The vineyard has a number of varieties of red and white grapes and well as producing fruit wines such as apricot and elderflower.

 The vines stretch up the sheltered, south facing slopes with fine views from the top of the vineyard towards channel.

Grape varieties include Bacchus, Rondo, Serval and Gewurztraminer as our climate favours those grown in Germany.

In the garden is a run of fancy chickens...cute!

 

From the vineyard, after a break in the garden, the Lower Adgestone Rd or Sheep Lane and the Yar River Trail lead back the main Bradings Down and coastal roads. Alternatively, a short detour leads to Brading Roman Villa.

Walk Map

Walk Details
Start: Old Morton Road
Finish: Yarbridge
Distance: 3 miles
Time:  60 minutes, plus time to tour vineyard
Bus: No 2 or 3 from Ryde or Newport
Refreshments/WC:Adgestone Vineyard