We need your help! The Giant of Chale, notorious chaos merchant of myth and legend, has returned to West Wight threatening to spoil its beauty unless we show our love for this landscape’s past. The Giant challenges you to investigate and find as many historic locations on our Trail as you can, take a photograph of yourself acting out a past story from each place, and post them on Instagram with the hashtag #iwbiosphere
Between us all, hopefully we can calm the Giant of Chale and keep this landscape beautiful for future generations!
A fun way for families and active adventurers young-at-heart to explore the heritage beauty of West Wight during the Isle of Wight Biosphere Festival and beyond!
Discover the digital trail here!
You can complete all or part of this trail by car, bike, a combination of bus and walking, or even from the comfort of your own home! You will need a smartphone device with 4G/5G roaming data to follow this trail, or download the PDF version.
Practical Information
Designed for families and active adventurers who are young at heart!
You can complete all or part of this trail.
There is a 20-minute uphill walk to the Longstone at Mottistone.
We recommend you plan your route in advance in the comfort of your home, before setting out!
We provide some practical hints below which are correct at time of publication but please research them independently before departure.
By Car or Bike
This trail will take about 3 hours to complete if following by car and 4 hours by bike if powered by electric/ a good cyclist.
Distance: 34.5 miles return to Yarmouth. Cyclists please note there is a steep hill out of Yarmouth and a climb up Compton Down on route (return journey to Yarmouth can avoid this climb if preferred).
Allow a full day if you spend time visiting a selection of attractions including Dimbola Lodge Museum and Gallery, the Needles and Mottistone Gardens on route.
Car parking costs: up to c. £12 if all locations visited
Bus and Walk
If you prefer to follow part of this trail by a combination of bus and walking, you will find guidance for each location on the map itself. (NB Timetable accurate at time of publication but please check live timetable and plan before you set out).
In summary you will need to start the trail in Yarmouth by 0945 and your route will involve:
Catching the No. 7 from Yarmouth to stop at Golden Hill Fort, Totland Bay and Alum Bay.
Catching the No. 12 from Alum Bay to stop at Freshwater Bay.
Option of returning to Yarmouth via a walk and the No. 7 bus at Freshwater, or picking up the Island Coaster for a scenic circular route around the Island to Ryde; and returning to Yarmouth via the No. 9 and No. 7 buses from Ryde.
We recommend you purchase a Vectis Day Rover Ticket providing unlimited travel over 24 hours
USING THE MAP
Zoom in and out of the map using the + and – arrows so you can see your blue location spot and the orange trail points (don’t use your fingers to zoom in and out). If you lose the map at any point, then just reload.
Use the clue and next orange dot location/ picture to help you navigate to the next waypoint.
Open individual story waypoint information by clicking on pin, and then on right hand arrow to open up window.
When driving, your passenger should navigate and may find it useful to change the basemap to streets view from satellite view for navigation purposes.
TRAIL CARBON FOOTPRINT
By car: average 3.5kg per car
Consider offsetting your carbon footprint
Help lock up carbon with a donation to the Woodland Trust
Disclaimer: The Trail is being prepared with great care and checked at the time of publication. However, changes to the landscape and the environment can happen over time, weather conditions, construction projects, closures or other events may cause directions to differ from advice given. We cannot accept any responsibility for any inaccuracies that result from any such changes.
When following the trail by foot and by road you are entirely responsible for your own safety and that of any accompanying children and/or pets. Always exercise common sense, judgement and caution. We accept no responsibility for any personal accident , injury or public liability while following this trail.
While following the trail using a map or a phone, care should always be taken that you look where you are going, we accept no responsibility for any accident that results from you being unaware of your surroundings.