St Boniface Down and Bonchurch from Ventnor

From Pound Lane car park in Ventnor the walk climbs on paths and steps to the National Trust's Ventnor Downs and follows the grassy ridge to the top of St Boniface Down, the highest point on the Island, with wide views over Ventnor and the English Channel. A path drops down the south-west side of the down to St Boniface Road, and roads lead east to Bonchurch, with its pond and St Boniface Old Church. The way back follows the sea front past Wheelers Bay and along the Esplanade into Ventnor.

It is 7.4 km round with 244 m of ascent; allow about 2½ hours. The grade is Easy. About a third is on roads.

The downs have steep slopes with loose stones, stiles, kissing gates and steps, and are slippery and muddy in parts when wet. The National Trust asks for dogs to be kept on a short lead around livestock, and the law requires a lead where ground-nesting birds are signed, from 1 March to 31 July.

Pound Lane is a pay car park in Ventnor; the National Trust has several free car parks off Down Lane, on the downs. The nearest station is Shanklin, about 5 km away, and buses run to Ventnor.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.