Walk 44 Bluebells in Beech Copse, Godshill - 1 mile or 2 miles

Starting off 2019, {March 23rd, I recently heard of another bluebell wood, so decided to check it out before having lunch in Godshill. Not really a proper walk, just a mile, but it made a lovely stroll in a patch of ancient woodland just behind Godshill village. As is often the way on the island, a five minute walk away from the thronging coach parties led into a haven of peace and open views across the south of the Wight. Watch out for red squirrels among the trees, but I had no luck today.

The walk starts out along Hollow Lane which runs to the right of the Griffin Inn on the High Street, a large family oriented eatery currently offering a carvery three times a week, with plenty of garden tables, a maze and a bouncy castle. A few steps down the lane, a sign marks the start of the path, which runs along the back of the pub garden.

After about 10 minutes, you reach a gate with the following signs leading into Tottle Bottom Farm.

Here you can take either of the main paths, left or right, as they both lead into a triangular loop marked out with the above brown signs.

This is the area where you will find the best of the bluebells. No more commentary needed, so bluebells....voilà.

From the top of the path, before doubling back along the loop, a path leads away to meet up with the trail leading to the right through the Freemantle Gate and on to Appuldurcombe and Wroxall or left back to Godshill for anyone wanting a longer walk.

Here I found a pastoral idyll spread out before me...

However, lunch was calling, so I made retraced my steps back to the Griffin for a totally unearned lasagne.

Update and Extension March 2022.

No bluebells yet but did this walk again today but extended it past the triangle up through trees to turn left at the top of the slope and take a path down across a field to join the Stenbury trail and then Godshill Park Road to meet the main road opposite Moor Farm. (1.8 miles total). A fairly gentle slope.

Another extension is to add a loop up around Church Hill and Hollow Lane, taking in the church and pretty cottages seen in postcards of the village, taking the total distance to just over 2 miles.

Walk Details
Start: The Griffin Pub, Godshiill
Finish: The Griffin
Distance: 1 or 2 miles
Time:  up to an hour
Bus: No 2 or 3 from Ryde or Newport
Refreshments/WC: Godshill cafes, pubs, public WC in car park opposite Griffin.

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!