Day 6: Freshwater Bay to Yarmouth.

We caught the no: 7 bus outside our hotel in Carisbrooke and travelled to Yarmouth. On the way, at one stop, we were overtaken by a large group of cyclists. As they did not travel in single file we were then behind them all the way to Yarmouth. In Yarmouth we then took the 'Needles Breezer' bus to Freshwater Bay, from where we had walked on Friday. The Breezer bus has a recorded audio commentary with lots of interesting background on the area. We arrived at Freshwater Bay around 10:20 am. After a quick look at the sea we set off up Tennyson Downs to the Tennyson monument. It is a very pleasant uphill walk but don't forget to look back from time to time as the view behind is sometimes better than the one ahead.

We then continued on to The Needles, passing a cyclist heading the other way. There are clear 'no cycling' signs on the gates to the downs.

At The Needles we paused to have our photograph taken before going into The Cold War rocketry establishment with a genuine cardboard replica of the control room. Here the rockets for Britain's one and only self launched space satellite were tested.

We then headed down behind Alum Bay to The Needles Park before heading back onto the cliffs at Headon Warren. There were good views back to The Needles and ahead over heather covered Warren. We then walked down a path to the sea atTotland surrounded by  brambles, heather, gorse and bracken. Some of the blackberries were ready to eat.

We were able to walk a short way along the promenade at Totland before the way was blocked by repairs being carried out because of storm damage.There followed a depressing series of diversions onto roads and through holiday camp areas. The final diversion finished at a horrendous extended modern coastal development just south of Fort Albert. The view across the Solent from Fort Albert towards Hurst Castle and Keyhaven was very  nostalgic for us as it is where we used to sail our Lark sailing dinghy more than 40 years ago! From Fort Albert onwards the way was through a very pleasant woodland area which led down to the promenade leading into Yarmouth.