Carisbrooke Castle

On a spur of chalk downland, 150ft (46m) above the village, the site of a Roman fort, Carisbrook Castle, a grand medieval ruin, commands a perfect military location, overlooking the Bowcombe Valley and the approaches to the heart of the island. You can walk the battlements, experience the majestic location and admire the countryside below, much of the view encompassing the walk ahead.

The castle is probably of Saxon origin, but it was the Normans who strengthened the site, building the stone walls, the gatehouse and the keep, on a mound within the walls. The outer bastions were built to guard against the 16th-century threat of Spanish invasion. It was said that ‘He who held Carisbrooke held the Isle of Wight.’ For centuries the castle went hand-in-hand with the lordship of the island, before the Crown retained the lordship in the 16th century and appointed a ‘Governor of the Island’, a title that continues to be held today. The Great Hall, which was the official residence of the governor until 1944, now houses the Isle of Wight Museum. At the Carisbrooke Castle Story in the gatehouse, you’ll learn more about the two occasions when it experienced military action, and find many exhibits about the castle’s most famous royal visitor, King Charles I. He sought refuge here during the Civil War in November 1647, but was imprisoned by the governor until September 1648 before being taken to London for trial and execution. The king made two unsuccessful attempts to escape – you can see the window where he cut the bars before being thwarted. His children, the future Charles II, Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and 14-year-old Elizabeth (who died of pneumonia) were also detained here in 1650.

Leaving the castle, you’ll walk through the Bowcombe Valley, beside the Lukely Brook, to the isolated village of Gatcombe, nestling in a valley. Quarries here provided stone for the building of Carisbrooke Castle. Each stone, it is said, was passed along a human chain to the site 2 miles (3.2km) away. Take a little time to explore the 13th-century church before joining the Shepherds Trail back to Carisbrooke.

From the car park, and facing Carisbrooke Priory, turn left and walk along the road. Take the footpath (N193) left and go ahead past a gate, soon sloping through the trees. At the ruins of Carisbrooke Castle, bear left and follow the path along the castle walls. Turn left through a gate at the car park and follow the public footpath sign (N88) for Millers Lane, descending into a shady gully.

Turn right on reaching the road, pass the end of Millers Lane and walk to a kissing gate and path (N104) on the left, signposted ‘Bowcombe’. Cross a plank bridge and turn left along the marshy field to a stile and cross the pastures. Cross two more stiles and keep ahead to meet a track, beyond Plaish Farm.

Turn right here and follow the enclosed path, bending left where the path splits after 150yds (137m). Turn left on reaching the track at Bowcombe Farm. Pass an unmarked footpath on the left, and soon turn right onto a track heading towards a belt of woodland. Veer left at the corner of Frogland Copse, signed ‘Chillerton Down’, and follow the field edge to a bridleway sign (N146 Gatcombe).

Bear right through the trees and continue ahead up the slope, skirting the field boundary. Go through a gate into the next field, enjoy the views east, then pass through the bridle gate and into the conifer-rich woodland of Dukem Copse. Follow the track inside the woodland edge as far as the signposted turning towards Gatcombe (G22) on your left.

Turn left through a gate and continue along the field edge. On reaching a path to Garstons, ignore the gate on the left but descend to the right and then swing left to a gate. Follow the bridleway down and turn right just before Newbarn Farm. Bear right at the entrance and, where the lane hooks left, keep right ahead along the bridleway (G6 to Chilerton). At the edge of Tolt Copse ignore the path right and bear left, soon to leave the Shepherds Trail, keeping ahead along a bridleway (G8 to Brook Lane) continuing towards Sheat Manor.

Before the manor, at a junction of paths, turn left, following the path past three cottages, then bear left again and keep to the winding path as it ascends to woodland. Proceed through the wood and descend to a lane beside St Olave’s Church. Turn right to explore it.

On leaving the church, go straight ahead to walk along Gatcombe Road, pass Rectory Lane, then turn right on the bridleway (G6 to Gatcombe) at a driveway signed to Copsewood House, rejoining the Shepherds Trail. Pass between properties on a concrete track and then Copsewood House at the top. Ascend the narrow path and climb quite steeply through trees. Pass over a track, then go through a gate and follow the path round the left-hand field edge, the tall clock tower of Gatcombe Manor below and to your right.

Go through another gate and keep beside the field boundary. Rise up to another field and keep ahead on the public bridleway (N108 to Whitcombe Cross) and then into a shady gully which widens. Arrive at the junction of Froglands Lane and Whitcombe Road and turn left to reach the car park.