The Wroxall Stream Trail offers two different walking options: the full route is 8 miles long and connects Ventnor with Merstone; for a shorter, flatter walk, you can start the route in Wroxall. This lets you plan according to the distance you want to cover, without treating the two options as equivalent.

Walking and Landscape

The Downs around Wroxall also offer walks towards Shanklin, Ventnor and Luccombe. You can therefore choose between the named route from Ventnor to Merstone and walks in the direction of these three places. Which option shapes your stay depends on whether you prefer a longer route or a walk in a particular direction.

The Wroxall Stream is a tributary of the Eastern Yar. It runs from the southern hills of the Isle of Wight to its confluence at Merstone. This describes the watercourse; walks in the Downs and the Wroxall Stream Trail are separate aspects of the landscape.

Building History and Monuments

Appuldurcombe brings together architectural and landscape history. Construction of Appuldurcombe House as the seat of the Worsley family began in the early 18th century. The grounds at Appuldurcombe were laid out to a design by Lancelot “Capability” Brown. The house and grounds therefore offer two different starting points for exploring cultural history.

Several building phases can be distinguished at the Church of St John: the nave and chancel date from 1876–1877, while the tower was built in 1911. The original furnishings include stained-glass windows by Heaton, Butler and Bayne. Those interested in architectural details can look at both the different construction dates and the surviving furnishings.

Wroxall War Memorial was unveiled in October 1920. Around 1945, a later addition was added and the memorial was altered; it is also Grade II listed. These details make both its date of origin and subsequent changes important parts of its history.

The railway through the Downs between Wroxall and Ventnor is also part of the area’s history. It closed in 1966 after nearly a hundred years of operation. Alongside the history of buildings and monuments, this offers another perspective: the former railway connection between the two places.

Another Thing to Visit

The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary is in Wroxall Valley, on a 55-acre site, and offers peaceful walks through the enclosures. This is a different focus from walking in the Downs or exploring church architecture and the history of monuments. As you plan, you can first decide which of these themes you would most like to shape your stay; the places and activities mentioned offer different starting points.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Shalfleet, Bembridge, Freshwater, Ventnor, Cowes, Sandown, Nettlestone, Calbourne

For the main travel overview: Isle Of Wight.