A walk and a pub

We took a train to Shanklin this morning. It was relatively quiet. We planned to do a bit of a walk as we haven’t done one for a while and the day promised to be dry.   When we got to Shanklin we stopped for a coffee at Don Santos.  We’d not been here before and it looks quite new.  I grabbed a Flat White and PY added a brownie. It was nice to sit in before we headed out.

Our walk took us down to the seafront at Shanklin, near the Chine, and then on towards Sandown.  It was nice to see some of the sea-facing cafes along the cliff-foot open, but few people using any of the beach huts. There was quite a spray from the water.  At Sandown we detoured to the Co-op so that we had a snack to sustain us through the next bit of the walk; although in the end I didn’t eat mine.  Through Sandown, past the animal sanctuary, and we started climbing.

Bembridge Down is a site of special scientific interest and we climbed for quite some time. Although it’s quite steep, there was only one part - about three-quarters of the way up - where I found myself out of breath and wondering how much further.  Looking back towards Sandown there were some stunning views and blue skies appeared to chase of the grey clouds.

At the top, we stopped at The Culver Haven Inn.  I ordered a wine, but PY was healthy with a Diet Coke (although he did order a ploughman), The place seemed popular and, initially, we had to sit outside.  It was quite windy out and we were delighted when they came for us to tell us a table had come free. We shared the ploughman’s before attempting a very steep decent towards a bus stop for the hour’s bus ride back to Ryde.

It was an exhausting, almost 7 mile, walk but thoroughly enjoyable and part of the reason why we love coming here so much.