Newport, Bembridge Trail, St George's Down and Arreton Manor

The return route is quite different. It rambles along quiet lanes and passes through some of the little inland valleys and oak woods that make up the heart of the island. Here you will find bluebells, wood sorrel and the red squirrel in one of its last southern outposts.

Queen Victoria loved the Isle of Wight and Newport retains much of its old world Victorian charm. You will still find streets of small bow-fronted shops and dignified villas standing in spacious grounds. The Church of St Thomas the Apostle was rebuilt in Victorian times. It contains a beautiful monument of Charles I's second daughter, Elizabeth, who died at just fifteen years old during her imprisonment in Carisbrooke Castle.

The Roman Villa is small and compact, and it is possible for you to imagine just what life was like for the inhabitants. The villa faced south towards the downs, with a central suite of reception rooms approached across a verandah. This gave access to flanking wings, one housing a bath suite - each room survives - and the other the private family rooms with a separate bathing area.

The view from the high point on St George's Down, which is along the Bembridge Trail, is superb. Across the Arreton Valley runs the curving sweep of the seaward facing downs, with the stark white outline of Culver Cliff to the right. What appears to be inland rivers and lakes are acres of glasshouses where the early flowers and vegetables, for which the island is well known, are raised. The country craft village of Arreton is the island's oldest established working craft centre. The Church of St George in the village was probably built in the 11th century, but retains features from an earlier Saxon church, including a beautiful Saxon doorway and window.

Arreton Manor, listed as a building of special architectural and historic merit, is built of golden stone in the typical 'E' shape of late Elizabethan houses. The rooms are small, richly panelled and appropriately furnished. This beautiful house is home to several collections of bygones. The Museum of Childhood contains a wonderful collection of toys and dolls from many periods, and in a barn you will find the famous Pomeroy Regency doll's house. There is also a fine collection of lace.