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Explore the West Wight

19 Apr 2011

Taste the View, a booklet covering three beautiful walks that explore the relationship between food and the landscape in the West Wight is now available free of charge. The circular walks from Shalfleet, Mottistone and Yarmouth also form part of the Isle of Wight Walking Festival in May taking in some of the Island’s farm shops, pubs and food producers too.

As part of their work to promote and conserve, the West Wight Landscape Partnership has released their latest publication to encourage residents and visitors to the Island to learn, enjoy and celebrate the area’s natural and cultural heritage.

Peter Fellows, of the West Wight Landscape Partnership said “Each of the walks, complete with maps and photos, have been selected to show the impact centuries of farming has had on the landscape and in turn how agriculture has created some of our most valued countryside.”

The booklets can be found at the Wightlink Ferry Terminals, Visitor Information Points (Newport, Cowes, Ryde), Made on the Isle of Wight (Ryde) and at some of our tourist attractions and libraries.

The walks also form part of this year’s Isle of Wight Walking Festival with information available in the Walking Festival Guide.

Martin Gibson of Natural Enterprise who will be leading the walks said “The Downs and Coast route is one of my favourite walks on the Island; not only is there a huge variety of landscapes but it’s also a chance to see some of the most spectacular scenery the West Wight has to offer”.

The Routes which will be covered in the Walking Festival:

Grape and Grain
Following the River Caul along a route once dotted with mills then looping back through the arable plains at Wellow.
Monday 9 May, 10am Mill Road car park, Shalfleet.

Downs and Coast
A hilly walk with fabulous views to reward your efforts. Look at how farming has shaped the landscape for centuries.
Tuesday 17 May, 10am National Trust car park, Mottistone.

Yar Estuary
A stroll around the beautiful river Yar, looking at some of the links between food and the landscape.
Friday 13 May, 10am River Road car park.

Booking for the guided walks is recommended and although the walks are free donations can be made to Gift to Nature.

For more information visit www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk or call Martin on 535885 to book your place.