Hiking the Isle of Wight – England’s Largest & Sunniest Island

Name: Hiking the Isle of Wight – England’s Largest & Sunniest Island
Start: 2024-07-27T07:15:00+01:00
End: 2024-07-28T21:00:00+01:00
Location: Novotel London West

Schedule

Sat Jul 27 2024 at 07:15 am to Sun Jul 28 2024 at 09:00 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

Novotel London West | London, EN

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Head to our website to reserve your place:
https://meetu.ps/e/N8psn/yHmRL/i
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Come and join us for a hiking weekend on England’s largest island, the Isle of Wight! The UK's Holiday Island and Dinosaur Capital of Great Britain, the Isle of Wight is officially one of Britain’s sunniest places and enjoys the luxury of a milder climate than most other places in the UK. On this trip, we'll immerse ourselves in some of the most stunning landscapes and discover on foot miles of the spectacular coastline, beaches, historic downland and many hidden treasures that this beautiful diamond-shaped island has to offer.
We're going to stay at the hotel at the popular seaside resort town of Shanklin!
ITINERARY
Saturday:
07:15 meet outside Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR (a five-minute walk from Hammersmith Station); 07:30 sharp departure; 10:40-11:25 ferry from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight; 12:00-18:00 hike along the coastal path from Totland to Brighstone, with a lunch stop at Freshwater Bay (difficulty: Moderate, distance: 18km, ascent: 510m); 18:00 departure; 18:30 check-in at the Medehamstede Hotel at the seaside resort town of Shanklin; 19:00 dinner and free time; 20:56 sunset;
Sunday:
08:00 breakfast at the hotel; 09:00 departure; 09:15-14:15 hike from Ventnor to Bembridge, taking in the Isle of Wight’s most famous seaside resorts (difficulty: Easy, distance: 18km, ascent: 330m); 14:15-16:00 lunch in Bembridge; 16:15 departure; 17:40-18:25 ferry from the Isle of Wight to Portsmouth; 21:00 London, Hammersmith.
HIKE DESCRIPTIONS
Saturday:
On the first day we'll do a hike along the coastal path from Totland to Brighstone. Our route will take us past the famous pinnacles of chalk that mark the western end of the island, the Needles, and Freshwater Bay – one of the island’s most picturesque beaches. The highlights of the walk include Alum Bay with its unusual multi-coloured sand cliffs, the iconic 19th-century Needles Lighthouse and dramatic sea views from Tennyson Down.
Sunday:
The second day will be even more exciting as we’ll take in three of the Isle of Wight’s most famous seaside resorts – Ventnor, Sandown and Shanklin. Starting from Ventnor, we'll follow the promenade to Bonchurch, with its ancient 11th-century St Boniface Church. Continuing through picturesque woodland with the Wishing Stone, the path will head to seaside promenades and sandy beaches at Shanklin and Sandown. From there we’ll ascend to the chalk cliffs of Culver Down with the imposing Earl of Yarborough Monument and magnificent views over the island. Our hike will finish in the busy coastal village of Bembridge, situated on the most easterly point of the Isle of Wight, where we’ll stop for lunch before our journey back to London.
DIFFICULTY & EQUIPMENT
Please note that this trip requires a good level of fitness. Good hiking boots with ankle support and waterproof clothing are essential (see the ‘What to bring’ section for more details).
TRANSPORT
As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus.
LUGGAGE
You can bring two small bags with you: one cabin size personal item bag (up to 10kg) and one smaller hiking backpack to fit under the seat. During the hike, you can leave your luggage in the minibus.
BOOKING
Please RSVP and pay by bank transfer to the account below, leaving your Meetup name and the name of the trip as a reference (e.g. John IOW):
Business Account Name: London Social Hiking Limited
Sort Code: 20-17-20
Account Number: 63116514
We'll let you know by changing your status to ‘Paid’ as soon as the payment is cleared. You can check your status next to your name in the attendees list of the event. Please allow up to 48 hours for the payment to arrive.
THE PRICE OF £268 INCLUDES
• Transport throughout the trip
• Experienced, professional CPC/PSV minibus driver
• Return ferry ticket to the Isle of Wight
• Guiding on all hiking routes by an experienced Mountain Leader
• Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders
• One night's accommodation at a hotel in shared twin rooms (you'll share your room with somebody from our group of the same gender)
• Full English breakfast on Sunday
• Professional event organisation
• Admin fee
• 20% VAT
THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
• Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects, and personal trekking insurance)
HOW TO CONTACT US
For all enquiries, please PM our admin (one of the hosts of the event) via Meetup, or leave a comment on the event page or the event chat. If you have any difficulties locating the starting point, please call Anna on 07596844467. Please DO NOT contact our hike leaders during the week on the phone numbers provided.
WHAT TO BRING
• Suitable hiking shoes with ankle support
• Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers
• Gloves/hat/cap
• Water bottle (min 1L)
• Nuts and energy snacks to last you during the trip
• Walking poles (optional)
• Gaiters (optional)
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