Walk 59 Ryde to Seaview

 https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2280015

This walk was planned to find somewhere to take friends for a meal, but frankly, not much choice!

I started at St John's Church, Oakfield. At the junction, Appley Lane leads straight to the beach walk, but I took Appley Rd by mistake leading through Puckpool Park to join the coastal path near the Dell cafe (35 mins).

Then follow the path passing the beach huts to the Boathouse pub (50 mins) .

 Along the way, Portsmouth and Spinnaker Tower can be seen across the Solent, then the Solent Forts.

Enter Seaview along the Esplanade past the sailing club to reach The Old Fort.(1 hr 10, 2.4 miles).As the tide was in, I couldn't continue to Seagrove beach via the coast so retraced steps along the coastal path, passing Appley Tower. 

Pass Appley Beach cafe and above it is Catch restaurant.

Beyond the boating lake, pass through the fairground to reach the marina. Here is Harbour House,  a tapas and cocktail bar.

 Return to the main road to come to Ryde Castle, the Hoverport and bus/train terminal.

Walk 59 Ryde to Seaview https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2280015
 

Walk Details

Start: Bus stop at St John's Church opposite Oakfield School
Finish:  Seaview
Distance: 5.2 miles
Time: 1 hr 10 each way, total 2 hrs 20
Bus: No 3 from Newport, No 8 from Seaview
Refreshments/WC: Puckpool Park, Old Fort Seaview, cafes along coastal path

Seaview Wildlife Encounter

Not really a walk, just a wander round Seaiew Wildlife Encounter with a camera. Bus 8 drops off at the end of Oakhill Rd; passing a picturesque Water Tower we come to one of island chainsaw artist Paul Sivell's Green Man carvings.

Seaview Wildlife Encounter was once known as Flamingo World and still is home to dozens of these flamboyant creatures, varying in colour from deep coral to palest pink.

One thing  l learned was that flamingoes don't actually stand on one leg at all;  what appears to be a knee bent backwards is in fact the ankle and heel, as its knee is much further up, hidden underneath its feathers. So the whole length from the ankle to the toes is actually a giant foot.  So half the flamingo’s legs are actually its feet, and it stands on tiptoes!

There are two Pink-backed Pelicans, which originate from Arabia, Madagascar and Africa.

Numerous ducks and geese follow you around hoping for a feed.

There were several peacocks, one of which permanently displayed his fine tail.

This was the first time I had seen a Laughing Kookaburra, surprisingly large and happy to chat to anyone who clucked at him.

Just about the only duck species I can recognise is this colourful Mandarin Duck.

I do like this shot of a flamingo hiding his head in his feathers. Apparently this is their sleep position so perhaps he is just about to doze off!

Two colourful parrots share a cage.

Just a handful of meerkats but still adorable.

The park is home to a mob of Bennett's Wallabies like this dozy albino. Visitors can go walkabout in their enclosure; they are very friendly and love to be stroked as this little one found out.

This is one a number of albinos in the park, though they are rare in the wild.

Members of the camel family, young alpacas like this one are called 'crias'.

Three otters scamper about an enclosure supplied with lake and otterhouse.

It was near feeding time and the otters huddled around the gate waiting for their food and miaowing....like this.

They were dry when I arrived but soon gave in to the temptation for a dip!

Penguins never fail to amuse and these Humboldt penguins were cute.

Enjoying the sun....

Off for a dip...clearly a group decision.

Walk 26 Coastal Path Ryde to St Helens - 4.85 miles

Another stage on the coastal path, having gone a bit out of sequence on my clockwise route. I started at Appley Sands just outside Ryde and more or less followed the path into St Helens. Before writing this post, I came across a new HDR photo editing app, which explains some of the unnatural images...just a bit of fun!

I was quite pleased with the way my camera handled these shots across the Solent, after all the coast is about 7 miles away. The nearest of these Solent Forts is No Man's Land Fort, and behind it is Horse Sand Fort, both built as part of the Palmerston defences and now  hospitality centres.

On the north-eastern tip of the island is the village of Seaview; originally an Edwardian holiday resort and the village is comprised largely of holiday accommodation and second homes, making it very seasonal in character.

 This view taken around 1900 shows the old suspension bridge.

The latest additions are these upmarket beach huts with space for one's boating equipment below and living space above, but at over £199,000 and no sleeping permitted they didn't appear to be very much occupied this week.

A feature of Seaview Harbour any time of the year are the Sea View One-Design Dinghy class of up to 180 classically designed wooden racing boats built by a local family firm.

Even in August the huge expanses of beach from Appley to Seaview are virtually empty.

Looking across to Portsmouth one can see the Spinnaker Tower and the Gunwharf Tower Building.

Rope Walk leads up to the village by the Yacht Club.

Today was the Seaview Regatta, with sailing races and traditional family events such as climbing the Greasy Pole and fireworks.

 

I lunched here at the Old Fort Bar/Café.

Yachts sailing past No Man's Land Fort.

From Seaview I followed the sea wall, which can only be done at low tide; Bembridge Lifeboat Station is the the background.

The next bay is Seagrove Bay, popular with families playing beach games.

Priory Bay is around the next headland. I tried to follow the coast through the woods, but there is not really a path round these days, so the official coastal path route goes inland at the end of Seagrove Bay...route map here.

I took this ladder into Priory Woods and eventually found a route along the edge of the golf course to reach the coastal path again, descending across fields to St Helens.

Baywatch on the Beach is a popular café on the sea wall.

Walk Route

Walk Details
Start: Appley Rd
Finish: St Helens
Distance: 4.85 miles
Time:3 hours
Bus: No 8 to Ryde
Refreshments and WC: Puckpool, Seaview and St Helens