s u B

yby Ledge

Rambles rockpooling and family barbecues family and rockpooling

Island

a wide beach at low tide, ideal for prawning, for ideal tide, low at beach wide a to see the see to

best way best

ee

which were built from 1544 onwards. Also known as as known Also onwards. 1544 from built were which dinosaur finds have been made in the cliffs at . at cliffs the in made been have finds dinosaur

emplacements filled in. filled emplacements

Sandown Castle was one of Henry VIII’s , Forts, Device VIII’s Henry of one was Castle Sandown the best exposures of dinosaur material in Europe. Many Many Europe. in material dinosaur of exposures best the

were stored. All the guns were removed in 1956 and the the and 1956 in removed were guns the All stored. were

Sandown Castle Sandown

Starting around 126 million years ago, the rocks contain contain rocks the ago, years million 126 around Starting emplacements and underground bunkers where shells shells where bunkers underground and emplacements

the effects of possible future environmental changes. changes. environmental future possible of effects the manned during both world wars. There were two gun gun two were There wars. world both during manned

are seaweeds, anemones, and other coastal wildlife. coastal other and anemones, seaweeds, are

These tell us much about the past and give clues to to clues give and past the about much us tell These to defend the sea approaches to . It was was It Portsmouth. to approaches sea the defend to

the best rockpools in are exposed where there there where exposed are England in rockpools best the

The Island’s diverse geology contains a wealth of fossils. fossils. of wealth a contains geology diverse Island’s The Built in 1906, this is one of many fortifications created created fortifications many of one is this 1906, in Built

Culver Cliff are 65 million years old. At low tide, some of of some tide, low At old. years million 65 are Cliff Culver

Culver Battery Culver

museum and visitor attraction. visitor and museum

million years old whereas the upper chalk layers at at layers chalk upper the whereas old years million

Dinosaur Isle is Britain’s first purpose-built dinosaur dinosaur purpose-built first Britain’s is Isle Dinosaur

Bembridge, the rocks are relatively young, being 1.8 1.8 being young, relatively are rocks the Bembridge,

fort in 1867. in fort

Dinosaur Isle Dinosaur

There are some remarkable geological formations. At At formations. geological remarkable some are There moved when Prime Minister Palmerston built a moated moated a built Palmerston Minister Prime when moved

placed further west of its current position, but was was but position, current its of west further placed

constantly renewed habitat. renewed constantly

said that some of its remains are still visible at low tide. low at visible still are remains its of some that said

Committee paid for the monument which was originally originally was which monument the for paid Committee

process is important for wildlife as it allows for a a for allows it as wildlife for important is process

park, between Fort Street and Culver Parade, and it is is it and Parade, Culver and Street Fort between park,

on board suddenly, in 1846. The Squadron Yacht Royal The 1846. in suddenly, board on

which are constantly crumbling and slipping. This This slipping. and crumbling constantly are which

established. Its site is now the Sandham Grounds public public Grounds Sandham the now is site Its established.

but died died but Kestrel, The vessel smaller a bought he Later,

The cliffs at are soft clays and , sands, and clays soft are Bay Whitecliff at cliffs The Charles I, before the present-day town of Sandown was was Sandown of town present-day the before I, Charles

Whitecliff Bay and Culver Cliff Culver and Bay Whitecliff

flourished and the club grew in numbers and reputation. and numbers in grew club the and flourished The castle was finally demolished in the time of of time the in demolished finally was castle The

Yacht Squadron at . During this time, yachting time, this During Cowes. at Squadron Yacht

repulsed.

serious centre for wild animal conservation. animal wild for centre serious In 1825 he was appointed first Commodore of the Royal Royal the of Commodore first appointed was he 1825 In

over amid heavy skirmishing. They were were They skirmishing. heavy amid Down Culver over

Today, the Zoo has established itself as a a as itself established has Zoo Wight of Isle the Today, . . Falcon full-rigged the was ship famous most his – sailing

who had landed at Whitecliff Bay and made their way way their made and Bay Whitecliff at landed had who there was a range of animals, including lemurs. including animals, of range a was there Lord Yarborough was passionate about the sea and and sea the about passionate was Yarborough Lord

was the scene of a desperate battle with French invaders invaders French with battle desperate a of scene the was zoo enjoyed several tiger births. By the early 1990s, 1990s, early the By births. tiger several enjoyed zoo h Monument Monument h Yarborough Lord The

Although Sandown Castle was never attacked, in 1545 it it 1545 in attacked, never was Castle Sandown Although Bembridge Tigers were introduced at the end of the 1970s and the the and 1970s the of end the at introduced were Tigers

Catholic Church. Catholic

within the walls of the existing Victorian fort. fort. Victorian existing the of walls the within

oto

French and Spanish after Henry’s break from the Roman Roman the from break Henry’s after Spanish and French 1950s. Known locally as Sandown Zoo, it was built built was it Zoo, Sandown as locally Known 1950s.

Sandown

defences intended to defend against the threat of the the of threat the against defend to intended defences The Island’s first zoo was established here during the the during here established was zoo first Island’s The

Henrician Castles, these were a network of coastal coastal of network a were these Castles, Henrician Isle of Wight Zoo Wight of Isle

Leave the car Ramblesby at home – take a Sandown Countryside Code Bus bus e to Respect Protect Enjoy to the Isle of Wight’s best way to see the Respect other people most inspiring walks. Bembridge Just use the handy Island t$POTJEFSUIFMPDBMDPNNVOJUZBOEPUIFS QR code inside Description A linear coastal walk along very people enjoying the outdoors to "nd your good paths suitable for families, with a monument t-FBWFHBUFTBOEQSPQFSUZBTZPVëOE bus route and sea fortifications to explore at Culver Down. them and follow paths unless wider access Distance 4.7 miles. Start Bus stop, Victoria is available Road, Sandown. Access information There are Protect the natural environment no stiles, but a hill to climb to get to Culver. Most of the paths are suitable for families with buggies. t-FBWFOPUSBDFPGZPVSWJTJUBOEUBLFZPVS Refreshments Sandown and Bembridge pubs and litter home cafés. Toilets Patrons of pubs and cafés. Internet t,FFQEPHTVOEFSFêFDUJWFDPOUSPM All walks in this series can be downloaded from this Enjoy the outdoors website www.iowramblers.com/page44.htm or www. t1MBOBIFBEBOECFQSFQBSFE islandbuses.info/things-do/rambles-bus/ t'PMMPXBEWJDFBOEMPDBMTJHOT

Sandown Bembridgeto

Front cover Red Cliff and Culver Cliff from Sandown beach A linear walk over chalk cli#s at the extreme eastern end of the This page Dinosaur Isle Island, featuring geology, dinosaurs – and tigers... Route From the bus stop at Sandown 1 take the uphill, bearing left, and head towards the tall Lord to a gate. Here turn right and descend on the coastal pathway around the mini-roundabout, towards the Yarborough Monument 4 . Go right along the lane, path. Go by a holiday park and then pass part of coast and join the esplanade 2 . Go left here and passing tea rooms and the Culver Haven pub, to reach School. Go through a gate to a car park 6 . Go left follow the esplanade, passing the canoe lake, Dinosaur an information board describing Culver Battery. Go left and continue along a road, Forelands Field Road. Go left Sandown Isle museum, Brown’s Golf Course and Isle of Wight to find a car park and head to the far left corner where and then turn right into Egerton Road. Turn left into to Zoo. Join the grassy coastal path 3 . Follow the path a narrow footpath can be found 5 . Go along the path Crossway to find the bus stop 7 .

Pictured, clockwise from top left Brown’s Golf on Sandown seafront; The Lord Yarborough Monument; gun emplacement at Culver Battery; Isle of Wight Zoo; a beacon on Culver Down; goats Bembridge graze the down above

Information Bus times 0871 200 22 33 calls from landlines cost 10p per minute Web www.islandbuses.info www.iowramblers.com facebook.com/southernvectis facebook.com/Ramblersiow twitter.com/southernvectis Email [email protected] 7 Lost property 01983 523831

6 Key Tea rooms

Public house

Bus stop

Car park

Public footpaths Walk route

Cowes EastEas t CCowesowe s Wootton RydeRyd e YarmouthYarYarmoumouth NewportNew por t Bembridge Freshwater Sandown

Ventnor

5

4

3

Scan this code with your smart e phone to access the Southern best way to see the Vectis timetable applicable to Island this walk. 2 1 Rambles Busby