Day 4 Freshwater Bay to Yarmouth 10 miles

This was the only day we had to pay on the bus as there was only a two hourly service to Freshwater Bay and we decided to go early. Well worth it though as the sun shone again although it was a bit misty and the views weren't as good as they could have been.
It was very quiet in Freshwater Bay as we set off on the track behind the HF house that is in a wonderful position on the side of the cliff.

Then up on to Tennyson Down where we came across a couple of school parties using it as a classroom......lucky people.
There were very few people about as we approached the Tennyson Monument

Looking back to Freshwater bay

They had erected a toposcope in 2009 to celebrate the bi-centenary of Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Next stop The Needles where I used my National Trust card to have a closer look at the battery.

We had a shorter walk today so plenty of time to do a few touristy things at the Needles and Alum Bay.

Alum Bay

'A' party ride

Margaret took a ride down to the beach to get a closer look at the multi-coloured sand.

Apparently they have identified 25 different colours and of course we had to buy our souvenir glass items containing many layers. There were a great many people here, more than we saw anywhere else on the walk. A pity really as they have turned it into a theme park as that's what visitors seem to want.

We turned our backs on it and headed off to Headon Warren which was covered in heather and would have been a fine sight earlier in the year. The path was diverted here due to a potential landslip that they are very concerned about.

Headon Warren

A very peaceful place for lunch before descending to Totland Bay and Colwell Bay which had a nice sandy beach so we had a paddle.

Totland Bay

Colwell Bay

The promenade between the two bays has been damaged in a storm so we had to divert to the cliff top but I believe funding has now been guaranteed to repair this which will greatly improve the coastal footpath at this point.

At the end of Colwell Bay the path enters a wooded area and we accidentally came across Fort Victoria that has been put to use as a country park. This is the nearest point to the mainland and it was just possible to see the lighthouse and the remains of Hurst Castle.

The mainland

Fort Victoria

 Next stop Yarmouth where our journey for the day ended. We arrived quite early so had time to sit on the pier before having a meal at Gossip's Cafe watching the ferries coming and going from Lymington.

Yarmouth

Yarmouth Pier

A short walk to the bus station ended a lovely relaxing and varied day on the coast path.