Tennyson Trail, Isle of Wight
Distance: 14.5 miles (23km)
Start: Carisbrook, Newport, PO30 1NR
Finish: Alum Bay
Terrain: Ancient lane, track, trail
Toughness: Moderate to challenging
Ascent: 547 metres
Navigation: Easy (waymarked)
Good for: Coast, forest, wildlife
Lat Long / Grid Ref of Start: 50.6914, -1.3123 / SZ4867088194
A challenging, scenic run across the Isle of Wight, starting from Newport, in the island’s centre and heading out over hills and through the picturesque Brighstone Forest to the Needles and around to Alum Bay. Follow High St (B3401) W, then turn L onto Nodgham Lane, following waymarkers for the Tennyson Trail and passing Carisbrook Castle and Bowcombe Valley. The route climbs over Bowcombe Down, Brighstone Down, Mottistone Down, Compton Down, Tennyson Down and High Down, each with its own tough ascent and fast descent. Finally, the route descends to end at Alum Bay. This fantastic ridge provides extensive views across the island and out to sea.
Miles Km Directions
0.0 0.0 Follow Carisbrook High Street (B3401) west, turning left onto Nodgham Lane, following Tennyson Trail waymarkers
0.4 0.6 Follow footpath up hill and along ridge, heading south west and entering Brighstone Forest, climbing over Brighstone Down past trig point and decending to edge of forest
4.6 7.4 At path junction on southern edge of forest, bear right and follow path west along edge of woodland, crossing one road
6.9 11.1 Cross B3399 and continue west up to trig point and continuing along ridge over Brook Down and Compton Down and descending into Freshwater Bay
9.8 15.8 Turn left onto A3055 and follow road for 100m before turning right and following Coast Path around the bay and west along the coast, ascending Tennyson Down to reach Tennyson’s Monument
11.6 18.8 Continue to follow waymarkers around headland at The Needles, descending to finish at Alum Bay
Download and print route directions (right click to download)
Download .GPX file (right click to download)
OS Map
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Open Street Map and interactive elevation profile
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