Situated north of Ventnor and surrounded by beautiful downland, the village of Wroxall makes an ideal base for a walk. Just outside the village is the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary and the impressive remains of Appuldurcombe House. Established in 1987, the sanctuary is now home to more than 100 donkeys, ponies and mules. On the verge of closure in 2012, thanks to fundraising efforts it has since gone from strength to strength, with the help of volunteers. There’s an award-winning café in a beautiful barn overlooking the valley, as well as a lovely picnic meadow and a gift shop. Open from 10am to 4.30pm seven days a week all year (except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day), the Donkey Sanctuary is very family friendly with barns, paths and trails to explore. Entry is free but donations are welcomed; you might just be tempted to adopt a donkey while you’re looking round!
Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary Appuldurcombe House was once the grandest house on the Island. Standing in grounds designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, it is now in the care of English Heritage (open April to October, except Saturdays and free entry). Even when closed, you can still get a good view of the impressive east front of the house – a masterpiece of baroque architecture – from the footpath that runs alongside the perimeter railings. Appuldurcombe began as a priory and later became the home of the Worsleys, who were responsible for the 18th century building which exists today. Damaged in the Second World War, it has been partially restored (its shell-like state is obvious from the west side) and it is now a most atmospheric place to wander round, with interesting information panels within.
The initial leg of the walk is along an old railway line (which ran between Newport and Sandown), part of the Red Squirrel Trail, a 32-mile cycle route. The walk continues through the Donkey Sanctuary and past Appuldurcombe House. Thereafter you can either return directly to Wroxall or take a longer route back over the Downs which provides wonderful views.
Appuldurcombe HouseThe walk
1. (SZ551798) Turn left out of the car park down to the B3327, right past St John’s Church and immediately right again (no vehicle access) up Castle Road for about 50 yards. Just before the old railway bridge turn left down a path soon joining the Red Squirrel Trail at a junction. Bear left signed for Shanklin. Follow the track for over ½ mile to a kissing gate adjoining a field gate on your left.
2. (SS552810) Turn left through the gate down the field edge to another kissing gate and access road. Bear left down to the main road. 30 yards along to the right on the opposite side of the road, an enclosed narrow bridleway leads to the Donkey Sanctuary, but this can be overgrown in summer and soggy in winter. The better, and safer, option is to cross the road (take care when doing so) and turn left along the grassy verge to the entrance drive to the Donkey Sanctuary. Follow the drive past the car park and Meet and Greet Hut. Continue on as it bends right, then turn left to pass the courtyard and café. Keep ahead down the grass past the picnic area and cross a wooden footbridge. Continue beside trees on your left, a wooden fence on the right, then bend left past a gate and carry on along the right-hand side of a field. Keep ahead to Redhill Lane. Turn briefly left then right through a gate and head up the bridleway to go through another gate and then a further gate at Freemantle Copse.
3. (SZ540808) Turn left up the track for a few yards to go through the imposing Freemantle Gate, a handsome neoclassical archway built around 1770 to serve as the main entrance to the Appuldurcombe estate. Freemantle Lodge on the other side of the gate was originally the gatehouse for the estate and now provides holiday accommodation. Continue on the track ignoring the bridleway that forks left across the grass. Keep ahead on joining a surfaced access road which leads to the entrance to Appuldurcombe House, the car park opposite.
Freemantle Gate, just after point 3 4. (SZ543801) In front of the entrance go left, then cross a stile and continue along the footpath initially beside a wall then railings enclosing the house’s grounds. Keep ahead along the footpath passing Great Span Farm and then Span Lodge, a former gatehouse to Appuldurcombe House.
5. (SZ545793) At the lane turn left to return directly to Wroxall. For the longer route keep ahead for 100 yards to a byway/road on the right. Head up it to a small parking area at the top of the Downs.
6. (SZ538789) Turn right along the bridleway, pass the radio station and at the junction bear right along the footpath signed for Godshill beside a fence on the left. The path bends left and becomes enclosed by fencing on either side. At the next junction cross the stile on the right and follow the footpath along the top of the open grassy downland to the obelisk ahead. It was dedicated by Sir Richard Worsley in 1774 to his ancestor Sir Robert.
7. (SZ537802) Bear to the right down the grassy hillside curving left above a wooded hollow and picking up a more defined path that leads quite steeply down to a wall. Cross the stile and turn right back to waypoint 3, going through Freemantle Gate again, this time taking the bridleway that forks left across the grass. Keep ahead along the road to the B3327. Turn briefly right, cross and climb the wooden steps to rejoin the old railway. Turn right to retrace your outward steps back to the start.
COMPASS POINTS
Start/finish: St Martins Road car park, Wroxall (SZ551798)
Map: OS Explorer OL29
Distance: 6 miles/9.3km (shorter option 3½ miles/5.4km)
Terrain: Old railway line/track, surfaced drive, field and downland paths and tracks, country roads
Time: 3 hours (or 1½ – 2 hours for shorter option). Allow extra time for looking round Donkey Sanctuary and Appuldurcombe House.
Refreshments: Donkey Sanctuary Café (01983 852693), Smokin’ Jack’s, Wroxall
Public transport: Bus service 3 between Newport and Ryde via Wroxall, Ventnor, Shanklin and Sandown, islandbuses.info.