{"id":1483,"date":"2017-12-09T01:17:40","date_gmt":"2017-12-09T00:17:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/?p=1483"},"modified":"2017-12-13T09:56:56","modified_gmt":"2017-12-13T08:56:56","slug":"yarmouth-and-the-yar-estuary-isle-of-wight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/?p=1483","title":{"rendered":"Yarmouth and the Yar Estuary, Isle of Wight"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">function popwalk(walk) {var url = \"\/Walks\/amap.php?f=\"+walk; varwalkwindow=window.open(url,\"walkwin\",\"height=840,width=1230,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes\"); if (window.focus) {walkwindow.focus()}}<\/script><br \/>\nFirst published in: The Times <a href=\"javascript:popwalk('Yarmouth.gpx');\" rel=\"nozoom\" title=\"Click here to view a map for this walk in a new window\">Click here to view a map for this walk in a new window<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4494\/37218300924_058d039b52.jpg\" title='River Yar estuary 1'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4494\/37218300924_058d039b52_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4455\/37218302354_96c92910bd.jpg\" title='River Yar estuary 2'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4455\/37218302354_96c92910bd_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4457\/37927938541_826f32fb93.jpg\" title='old railway path, River Yar estuary'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4457\/37927938541_826f32fb93_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4458\/37927949321_aaf0fe6497.jpg\" title='view from Saltern Wood over River Yar estuary'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4458\/37927949321_aaf0fe6497_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4458\/37218307234_1d500415c8.jpg\" title='donkey at King&#039;s Manor Farm'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4458\/37218307234_1d500415c8_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4483\/37927956011_0224ffc8c0.jpg\" title='River Yar estuary 3'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4483\/37927956011_0224ffc8c0_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4466\/37927961101_5b6d726ac1.jpg\" title='Yarmouth harbour'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4466\/37927961101_5b6d726ac1_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4498\/37218314214_4ab2abdd6a.jpg\" title='Yarmouth marina'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4498\/37218314214_4ab2abdd6a_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4458\/37218315994_2e364c9cd6.jpg\" title='promenade into Yarmouth'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4458\/37218315994_2e364c9cd6_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4487\/37218319814_f2dd5360c9.jpg\" title='Off the Rails - the old station at Yarmouth, now a caf\u00c3\u00a9'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4487\/37218319814_f2dd5360c9_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4455\/37218321264_5c987146a0.jpg\" title='black-tailed godwits in the Yar estuary'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4455\/37218321264_5c987146a0_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4462\/37874850316_fefecb6d15.jpg\" title='ringed plover (?) in the Yar estuary'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4462\/37874850316_fefecb6d15_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4483\/37896894772_90a6d9f080.jpg\" title='black-tailed godwit in the Yar estuary'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4483\/37896894772_90a6d9f080_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4482\/37874855256_d2dfbfc190.jpg\" title='creek of the Yar estuary'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4482\/37874855256_d2dfbfc190_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4510\/37896900352_c023284b83.jpg\" title='reedbeds and Yar estuary'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4510\/37896900352_c023284b83_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4511\/37897619572_39f1373809.jpg\" title='red squirrel on the wall'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm5.static.flickr.com\/4511\/37897619572_39f1373809_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nFacebook Link: <script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"http:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/wordpress\/?p=1483\" layout=\"button_count\" show_faces=\"true\" width=\"200\" colorscheme=\"dark\"><\/fb:like><br \/>\n<a href=\"javascript:pwindow=window.open('\/Walks\/prn.php?f=1483','pwin','height=700,width=1000,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes');\" title=\"Click for printable version\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/Walks\/print.gif\" align=\"right\"><\/a><br \/>\nThe red squirrel sat on the garden wall at The Medlars B&#038;B, nibbling nuts, his tail like a puff of ginger smoke held tightly to the curve of his back. The Isle of Wight is full of red squirrels (it has no grey intruders to out-compete and infect our native species), but I\u2019d never seen one so bold and so willing to hold a charming pose for my delight.<\/p>\n<p>We could have crouched all morning at the window watching the squirrel, but the early morning held the promise of a walk inland from the salty old port of Yarmouth. First, though, a wander along the sandy narrows of Norton Spit among prickly leaves of sea holly and fleshy spears of glasswort, out to the harbour pontoon where moored yachts bobbed. <\/p>\n<p>The Yar estuary curves north through tremendous reedbeds to Yarmouth, a brackish tideway that all but isolates Wight\u2019s western tip into an island of its own. Isle of Wight footpaths are beautifully waymarked and maintained, an exemplary network. The Freshwater Way carried us unerringly south through Saltern Wood and up to a wonderful view, east across reedbeds and river to folded downlands muted by the wintry light to shades of apricot and grey.<\/p>\n<p>Along the margins of thick clay ploughland, oak leaves were beginning to turn brown and crisp. At King\u2019s Manor Farm a donkey grazed the paddocks, gulping and chewing with noisy relish. Birds were forming the flocks that herald winter \u2013 pigeons busily pecking in the newly sprung wheat, crows reducing the farmers\u2019 insect enemies as fast as they could gobble them.<\/p>\n<p>In All Saints Church at Freshwater, morning service had just come to an end. \u2018Ah, walkers! Come in, welcome! A cup of coffee? Yes, the church is a bit of a Saxon-Norman mishmash, but we love it!\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Beyond All Saints we crossed a broad bridge over the River Yar and followed an old railway path as it curved back to Yarmouth. Black-tailed godwit and ringed plover stalked the river shallows above their own rippled reflections.<\/p>\n<p>Back on the north coast we made our way down to the shore and followed a sea-stained promenade back into town. A Lymington-bound ferry rumbled away out of Yarmouth, red and white sails scudded in the Solent, and the mainland lay grey and misty on the horizon, no more than a cloudy dream on the edge of sight.<\/p>\n<p>Start: River Road car park, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight PO41 0RA (SZ 354895)<br \/>\nGetting there: Red Funnel Ferries (<a href=\"http:\/\/redfunnel.co.uk\">redfunnel.co.uk<\/a>), Southampton-East Cowes. Bus 5, Cowes-Newport; bus 7, Newport-Yarmouth.<br \/>\nRoad \u2013 A3021, A3054 to Newport and Yarmouth.<br \/>\nWalk: (6 miles, easy, OS Explorer OL29): From car park, A3054 to cross bridge. On left bend, right (347896, \u2018Coastal Path, Fort Victoria\u2019). At seafront, right along Norton Spit, then along pontoons to end. Return to coast road; left towards bridge; in 50m, right and follow \u2018Freshwater Way\/FW\u2019. In 400m bear right (348892) through Saltern Wood. In another 1\u00bc miles, left at All Saints Church (347873) along road. Cross River Yar; left (349871) along railway path. In 1\u00bd miles pass \u2018Off the Rails\u2019 caf\u00e9 (358894); in another \u00bd mile, left (364896) along B3401 to cross A3054 (363898). Down steps (\u2018Yarmouth\u2019 fingerpost) to shore; left into Yarmouth.<br \/>\nLunch: Off the Rails Caf\u00e9, Yarmouth PO41 0QX (01983-761600, <a href=\"http:\/\/offtherailsyarmouth.co.uk\">offtherailsyarmouth.co.uk<\/a>) &#8211; bright and quirky; or Red Lion Inn, Freshwater PO40 9BP (01983-754925; <a href=\"http:\/\/redlion-freshwater.co.uk\">redlion-freshwater.co.uk<\/a>)<br \/>\nAccommodation: Medlars B&#038;B, Halletts Shute, Yarmouth PO41 0RH (01983-761541, <a href=\"http:\/\/medlars-bnb.com\">medlars-bnb.com<\/a>) \u2013 immaculate B&#038;B<br \/>\nInfo: <a href=\"http:\/\/visitisleofwight.co.uk\">visitisleofwight.co.uk<\/a><br \/>\nIsle of Wight Walking Festival 2018: 28 April \u2013 13 May<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/visitengland.com\">visitengland.com<\/a>; <a href=\"http:\/\/satmap.com\">satmap.com<\/a>; <a href=\"http:\/\/ramblers.org.uk\">ramblers.org.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The red squirrel sat on the garden wall at The Medlars B&#038;B, nibbling nuts, his tail like a puff of ginger smoke held tightly to the curve of his back.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1485,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-walks","category-3-id","post-seq-1","post-parity-odd","meta-position-corners","fix"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1483","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1483"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1483\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}