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10 Isle of Wight Short Walks For Children (1 Mile) 2024 Guide
Here's our selection of 10 short walks on the Isle of Wight of about one mile. Some of them might be pushing closer to two miles, but we've done them all with our children at various ages of toddling and reluctant walking.
Some of them include a playground, an ice cream or a beach to lark about on.
If you want to fill more time then you might like a Treasure Trail which feature in a separate guide. I would also advise checking for current footpath closures as these are quite common in crumbly coastal locations.
Our favourite walks of about one mile on the Isle of Wight include:
Some of them include a playground, an ice cream or a beach to lark about on.
If you want to fill more time then you might like a Treasure Trail which feature in a separate guide. I would also advise checking for current footpath closures as these are quite common in crumbly coastal locations.
Our favourite walks of about one mile on the Isle of Wight include:
1. A circle round Carisbrooke Castle, Central
The main appeal of the walk round Carisbrooke Castle is that children can run into the (dry) moat. There's no entrance fee to pay, but you still get a pretty good feel for the Castle and views across Carisbrooke. Resist the temptation to turn it into an educational outing by sharing facts about the Castle's history.
It's about one mile and it's circular if you park at the official English Heritage pay and display car park. A longer version involves parking in Carisbrooke High Street and walking past a ford in Castle Street on the way up to the castle.
Search for Carisbrooke Castle on your sat nav.
If you want to visit inside the Castle, then you have to pay. It is worth considering English Heritage membership if you also place to visit Osborne House.
It's about one mile and it's circular if you park at the official English Heritage pay and display car park. A longer version involves parking in Carisbrooke High Street and walking past a ford in Castle Street on the way up to the castle.
Search for Carisbrooke Castle on your sat nav.
If you want to visit inside the Castle, then you have to pay. It is worth considering English Heritage membership if you also place to visit Osborne House.
A walk round the outside of Carisbrooke Castle is just under a mile
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You can combine the walk with a trip inside (free for English Heritage members)
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2. Gurnard to Cowes, North Wight
We love this seafront walk from Gurnard to Cowes, particularly if the sun is setting on a warm evening. There's a playground at the start of the walk, so you can offer that as a post-walk reward. Or you can just cave in and let them on the playground first.
It's not a circle so you have estimate when your children have reached 50% of their walking limit before turning round. Read the blog.
Search for The Woodvale Pub and park somewhere near there.
You can usually find somewhere free to park along the Esplanade near to the playground.
It's not a circle so you have estimate when your children have reached 50% of their walking limit before turning round. Read the blog.
Search for The Woodvale Pub and park somewhere near there.
You can usually find somewhere free to park along the Esplanade near to the playground.
Gurnard has a playground on the seafront
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The walk leads to the shingle beach at Cowes
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3. Golden Hill Country Park, West Wight
Golden Hill Fort is a hexagonal building that was built during a time of paranoia about the French. It's now posh flats but you can get the occasional glimpse of it from the country park which surrounds it.
There's a choice of circular walks around the park. We went for the shortest one which was about a mile and a bit.
The views are decent, though I wouldn't say they are as spectacular as some parts of the Isle of Wight. However, there's a nice willow sculpture in the middle which you can run around.
Search for Golden Hill Fort on your sat nav and park in the free car park.
You can print off an I-Spy sheet and map from the Gift To Nature website, if you are the sort of person who organises activities weeks in advance. The rest of us can make do with trying to read it on our phones whilst walking round.
There's a choice of circular walks around the park. We went for the shortest one which was about a mile and a bit.
The views are decent, though I wouldn't say they are as spectacular as some parts of the Isle of Wight. However, there's a nice willow sculpture in the middle which you can run around.
Search for Golden Hill Fort on your sat nav and park in the free car park.
You can print off an I-Spy sheet and map from the Gift To Nature website, if you are the sort of person who organises activities weeks in advance. The rest of us can make do with trying to read it on our phones whilst walking round.
The walk around Golden Hill Country Park includes this willow sculpture
4. Parkhurst Forest, Central
There are a few woodlands around the Isle of Wight but Parkhurst Forest is the one we usually go for.
It's near Newport and has got a squirrel hide and some signposted routes. There are also some sculptures in the woods.
Honestly, you'll be very lucky if you see a red squirrel. They're very shy and the sound of my children stomping around was enough to make them scamper away.
Read the blog about our visit to Parkhurst Forest in the rain.
There's also a woodland walk at Fort Victoria in the West Wight.
It's near Newport and has got a squirrel hide and some signposted routes. There are also some sculptures in the woods.
Honestly, you'll be very lucky if you see a red squirrel. They're very shy and the sound of my children stomping around was enough to make them scamper away.
Read the blog about our visit to Parkhurst Forest in the rain.
There's also a woodland walk at Fort Victoria in the West Wight.
Parkhurst Forest is a good place for a day out, unlike Parkhurst Prison.
5. Compton Bay at low tide, West Wight
There are many beaches which you can wander along on the Isle of Wight. Bembridge and Yaverland are both good options.
However, Compton Bay is a favourite of ours as it's got easy parking and lovely crumbly cliffs. Check the tide times first, as there is very little beach at high tide.
The biggest risk with this one is wet feet, so you might decide to wear wellies. Or you might decide that if they're wearing wellies they'll run straight into the sea and get drenched anyway. Honestly, parenting is just a series of impossible micro-decisions. Sigh.
Search for Hanover Point on your sat nav. You can't take dogs here during the warmer months. However, the adjacent beach (Brook Chine) is dog friendly all year round and offers a similar thing.
Parking is free for National Trust members. See our free and cheap parking guide for more advice.
However, Compton Bay is a favourite of ours as it's got easy parking and lovely crumbly cliffs. Check the tide times first, as there is very little beach at high tide.
The biggest risk with this one is wet feet, so you might decide to wear wellies. Or you might decide that if they're wearing wellies they'll run straight into the sea and get drenched anyway. Honestly, parenting is just a series of impossible micro-decisions. Sigh.
Search for Hanover Point on your sat nav. You can't take dogs here during the warmer months. However, the adjacent beach (Brook Chine) is dog friendly all year round and offers a similar thing.
Parking is free for National Trust members. See our free and cheap parking guide for more advice.
A visit to Compton Bay/Hanover Point will definitely end with someone getting wet feet
6. Ventnor to Bonchurch, South Wight
Note: this walk has been suffering from landslides recently, so it's particularly wise to check current footpath closures.
Ventnor to Bonchurch is an old favourite which you can manage with pushchairs and wheelchairs.
It's got crashing waves and dramatic cliffs, but the major caveat is that there are no railings. It's a bit nervy with younger children. I wouldn't attempt it with scooters or rollerskates.
You can take a detour to the Seabreeze playground near to Ventnor Winter Gardens by climbing up the steps near the entrance to the Ventnor Eastern Esplanade Car Park. Again, it's not circular so you just turn round when your children have used up 50% of their energy.
There are also signs along the route to show you how far apart the planets are.
You will pay to park at either end of the walk but there are a couple of free parking options for canny visitors. See our free and cheap parking guide.
It's got crashing waves and dramatic cliffs, but the major caveat is that there are no railings. It's a bit nervy with younger children. I wouldn't attempt it with scooters or rollerskates.
You can take a detour to the Seabreeze playground near to Ventnor Winter Gardens by climbing up the steps near the entrance to the Ventnor Eastern Esplanade Car Park. Again, it's not circular so you just turn round when your children have used up 50% of their energy.
There are also signs along the route to show you how far apart the planets are.
You will pay to park at either end of the walk but there are a couple of free parking options for canny visitors. See our free and cheap parking guide.
This is low tide on the Ventnor to Bonchurch walk - at high tide the waves crash against the wall
7. Totland to Colwell, West Wight
Totland to Colwell (or vice versa) is an unambitious walk between two beaches. I would estimate that it's just over a mile as a round trip.
Again, the problem is that there are no railings so it's not good for wobbly young children. Colwell has a couple of places to buy an ice cream and there are restaurants or cafes at both ends. There is parking at both ends. It's mostly pay and display but Colwell has some free on street parking on quieter days.
The main feature is the site of a whopping great landslide which demolished a big chunk of the sea wall. The council decided to put a new path over the top of the landslide rather than attempting to repair it.
Again, the problem is that there are no railings so it's not good for wobbly young children. Colwell has a couple of places to buy an ice cream and there are restaurants or cafes at both ends. There is parking at both ends. It's mostly pay and display but Colwell has some free on street parking on quieter days.
The main feature is the site of a whopping great landslide which demolished a big chunk of the sea wall. The council decided to put a new path over the top of the landslide rather than attempting to repair it.
Colwell Bay has a seawall which goes round to Totland Bay - but there are no railings
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This aerial shot shows how a new path (the grey bit through the middle) was laid over the Colwell to Totland landslide
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8. The Pepperpot/St Catherine's Oratory, South Wight
If you don't mind a steep climb, then we love the short walk up to the Pepperpot near to Blackgang Chine.
It's just under half a mile up the hill, but it will test out your buttock muscles. Small children will ask to be carried after six paces.
The views from the top are very good but take care as you cross the road from the car park.
Park at Blackgang Viewpoint Car Park. See our video of the Pepperpot.
It's just under half a mile up the hill, but it will test out your buttock muscles. Small children will ask to be carried after six paces.
The views from the top are very good but take care as you cross the road from the car park.
Park at Blackgang Viewpoint Car Park. See our video of the Pepperpot.
You might end up carrying children up to The Pepperpot
9. Quarr Abbey Woodland Trail, East Wight
The woodland trail at Quarr Abbey is very close to the Wightlink ferry from Fishbourne.
Honestly, it's been a few years since we did this one but Google suggests it is about a mile. That sounds about right, as I don't remember anyone crying or being carried.
Quarr Abbey also has a cafe and some pigs. Last time I visited, you could buy food to feed the pigs.
Honestly, it's been a few years since we did this one but Google suggests it is about a mile. That sounds about right, as I don't remember anyone crying or being carried.
Quarr Abbey also has a cafe and some pigs. Last time I visited, you could buy food to feed the pigs.
Quarr Abbey is free to visit and it has a woodland trail
10. Appley Esplanade, East Wight
A stroll along the esplanade at Ryde/Appley is a safe bet with young children.
Parking is easy, although it's not free unless you park miles away (my mother's favourite money-saving trick). Read our guide to free and cheap parking on the Isle of Wight.
There are three playgrounds en route including one at the pier end, one overlooking the beach and another in Puckpool Park that can be reached via a path next to the Dell Café.
Park at Appley Park Car Park or at the far end car park near to The Old Barracks in Puckpool Park. We like the Puckpool playground best as there's more for older children.
Parking is easy, although it's not free unless you park miles away (my mother's favourite money-saving trick). Read our guide to free and cheap parking on the Isle of Wight.
There are three playgrounds en route including one at the pier end, one overlooking the beach and another in Puckpool Park that can be reached via a path next to the Dell Café.
Park at Appley Park Car Park or at the far end car park near to The Old Barracks in Puckpool Park. We like the Puckpool playground best as there's more for older children.
There are three playgrounds near to the seafront in Ryde/Appley
