A Climb To The Common at Mottistone

This 6.1 km circular walk climbs from the pretty village of Mottistone up onto the open chalk downland that runs along the south-west of the Isle of Wight. With 218 metres of ascent packed into a compact loop, it is a moderate outing best tackled at a steady pace, rewarding the effort with wide views across the countryside and out towards the Channel.

The route threads together an impressive set of waypoints, beginning near an Iron Age enclosure and passing the restored Mottistone Down Lime Kiln before rising over Westover Down and onto the crest of Mottistone Down itself. A Bronze Age barrow marks the high ground, and the walk drops back down past The Longstone, a pair of ancient sarsen stones long associated with the area.

Nearby, there is plenty to extend the day: Mottistone Manor and its gardens sit just below the down, the little church of St. Peter and St. Paul stands in the village, and quieter corners such as Brook Hill, Buddlehole Spring and Grammar's Common lie within easy reach.