Coast Path Survey Stretch 09 Shalfleet Mill to Thorness Bay Overview Map of stretch Introduction This stretch of Island coast covers several salt marsh creeks backed by grazing land and woodland on the east side of the Newtown Harbour national nature reserve. Then from the harbour mouth a soil and clay cliff rises to 47m high along the Solent shoreline until it drops down to Thorness Bay. The National Trust own tracts of land around Newtown, along the west side of Clamerkin Creek and on the Brickfield Farm promontory. The MOD own a large triangle of land from Locks Green to the Brickfields boundary and east to include the open access area of Burnt wood with its adjoining meadow. A Holiday Park overlooks Thorness Bay. The lack of suitable PROW paths in this area means that the existing 'Coastal Path' runs inland for 5km mostly following busy narrow twisting roads. The Reserve Forces MOD 'Danger Area' comprises a light arms firing range adjacent to the Jersey Camp building, plus tracts of grazing land managed by tenant farmers. It is used around 12 times a year mainly by Army Cadet units for rifle training and field exercises. There are many more intensively used MOD areas around the country that successfully accommodate PROW paths within their boundaries. The typical arrangement is for public access to be allowed as the norm and for suitable diversion routes to be used when military operations are taking place. We would be surprised if Natural England could not agree similar arrangements with the MOD on the east side of Newtown Harbour.
06 Shalfleet Mill to Clamerkin Bridge (Stretch 09) 07 05 08 09 11 10 04 12 03 02 01 Key map references- 1 SZ 4156 8962 2 SZ 4194 8998 3 SZ 4229 9018 4 SZ 4234 9038 5 SZ 4189 9077 6 SZ 4190 9113 7 SZ 4213 9096 8 SZ 4269 9096 9 SZ 4296 9083 10 SZ 4335 9076 11 SZ 4279 9087 12 SZ 4409 9032 09.1 1-2 Starting on the current coast path at Shalfleet Mill footbridge (1) the route leads into a copse where a steel field gate should be the start of a new path leading north alongside Shalfleet Lake and then east along the boundary of Corf Scout camping ground to a narrow crossing of the stream (2) feeding Corf Lake. There are several potential alternatives for this new path including skirting the shore line of Corf Camp blue dotted line). Footbridge Shalfleet Mill
09.3 2-3 From the waypoint (2) the new path should follow the grazing field edge to the west of Fleetlands Farm and then along the shore of Causeway Lake and round the edge of an orchard to join Town Lane over an access bridge to the farm (3). The Farm house gardens appear to block access to this bridge on the south side of the farm. The route could be extended NWest over the headland (blue dotted line) Stone bridge to Fleetlands Farm with orchard far right. 04 03 02
09.3 3-5 From Fleetland Farm bridge (3) the route runs north along Town Lane to cross the causeway (4) and then turn west along CB16a. The start of this path crosses marshy ground, hence its line should be relocated a few meters north onto firmer ground. The route follows CB16a into historic Newtown and then west along a NT path to waypoint (5). Alternatively the route could follow a new path along the shore of Causeway Lake to (5). (Dotted blue lines). Marshy stretch of CB16a North shore of Causeway Lake Lane through Newtown 09.4 5-7 The route continues along the NT path around a raised embankment to meet CB9 at newtown Quay (06). It then follow CB9 across across a long wooden bridge then east along CB15a to the New NT Bird Hide (7). Newtown Quay Newtown Bridge CB9 to new bird hide NT New Bird Hide
09.5 7-9 From the NT bird hide (7) the route should follow a new path running east along the northern fence line of a series of grazing fields to meet CB9 which provides access to the Old NT Bird Hide (8). The route then follows CB9 through a Ramblers gate into Walters Copse (9) where CB9 heads south to join Town Lane. New path route along tree line Fenceline new path route CB9 west/east section Gate into Walters Copse 9.6 9-11 The route should leave CB9 at waypoint (9) to follow a non definitive path along the north edge of Walters Copse to reach a ditch and hedgeline at (10). This path will need to be upgraded to National Trail standards. A new path then needs to be established to cross the northern edge of two rough graze fields to reach the Clamerkin Farm NT access area and a third bird hide set in a copse of decidious trees overlooking Clamerkin Lake. Walters Copse 1 Walters Copse 2 Walters Copse 3 Rough grazing field
09.7 11-12 Good NT trust paths run through the copse (11) next to Clammerkin Lake then south along the lake bank to the start of a band of trees. A new path should be established through these trees along the bank to reach the road bridge crossing Clamerkin Brook (12). The road crossing this narrow bridge is a busy link between West Wight and Cowes. The hazard is magnified by poor sight lines due to trees, humps and a sweeping bend. A foot bridge attached to the north side of the road bridge should be considered to eliminate this hazard for walkers. NT path 1 NT path 2 Road bridge hazard Position for parallel footbridge
20 18 Clamerkin Bridge to Brickfields (Stretch 09) 16 14 13 12 Key map references- 12 SZ 4409 9032 13 SZ 4436 9086 14 SZ 4400 9116 16 SZ 4360 9163 18 SZ 4371 9219 20 SZ 4251 9212 MOD Area from Shepherds Hill 09.8 12 to 20 The lightly utilised reserve forces MOD area (Jersey Camp) on the east side of Newtown Harbour currently prevents access to 5 km of coastline. It also means that the current Coastal Path follows a busy narrow inland road through Locksgreen and Porchfield. We recognise that for MOD 'Excepted' land the coastal path can only be established by agreement between the MOD and Natural England. We are
suggesting a route from a recreational user perspective that could be used when no military exercises are taking place. Operational practicalities may of course require an alternative route across this area of a firing range and grazing land. Occasionally Jersey Camp have hosted walks around this beautiful conservation area, this has helped us to gain an understanding of the lie of the land. 09.9 12-14 From Clamerkin bridge (12) we suggest that a new path passes through a wooded area then across the open meadow south of the firing range and around the perimeter of the main Jersey Camp building to join a surfaced access road. The route follows this access road to the Locks Farm building (13) and then along the S.West side of Locks Copse to reach a bridge crossing Roger Creek (14). Bridge over Roger Creek Wooded Area south of Jersey Camp Buildings Alongside Locks Copse 09.10 14-16 From the bridge (14) an existing path climbs the hill behind the firing range butts into pasture land managed by a tenant farmer. A farm track running west provides the start of a new path following fence lines west, north and then east to cross Spur Lake Brook at (16). Field edge route to the west
Footbridge to Spur Lake brook route 16 14 9.11 16-20 From Spur Lake brook (16) the proposed route runs N.West to reach NT Brickfields (20) where a derelict house and a clay pit pond mark the site of an old brick works. This promontory overlooks Newtown Harbour mouth towards Hamstead Dover. To the east inland Shepherds Hill (18) could be part of an alternative route offering fine views over Newtown Harbour. View of route to Brickfields Route N.East of Newtown Harbour
Brickfields to Thorness Bay (Stretch 09) 26 25 24 22 23 20 Key map references- 20 SZ 4251 9212 22 SZ 43919287 23 SZ 4434 9288 24 SZ 4466 9300 25 SZ 4487 9315 26 SZ 4548 9338 09.12 20-22 From Brickfields (20) the proposed route follows the cliff eastwards along the Solent shoreline to meet CB10a at the start of Burnt Wood open Access area (22). Cliff Top West of Burnt Wood Field above cliff top
09.13 22-24 Burnt Wood and the meadows adjoining it to the east form an open access area owned by the MOD but not used for military exercises. The route should follow a rough track through the wood above a landslip area from (22) to enter the meadow at (23) to reach woods at the rear of properties at waypoint (24). This path will need to be upgraded Track through Burnt Wood Route across meadows View over landslip from Burnt Wood 09.14 24-26 From (24) the route follows existing paths through woodland between holiday chalets and the landslip (25). The route exits the woods to cross an area of heath land leading to a parking area overlooking Thorness Bay (26). Woodland Path north of holiday park Thorness Bay parking area Heathland to Thorness Bay
22 Jersey camp to Burnt Wood Diversion (Stretch 09) 21 19 17 15 13 Key map references- 13 SZ 4436 9086 15 SZ 4433 9120 17 SZ 4458 9131 19 SZ 4440 9209 21 SZ 4445 9223 22 SZ 43919287 09.15 13-22 The dotted blue line proposes a route to be used when military exercises result in the normal coast path being closed. At 13 the route diverts around an MOD Admin building (Locks Farm) and through Locks Copse. It then runs north alongside Locks Copse to Rodge Brook (15). Then east alongside the Brook to join Elmsworth Lane CB10a. The diverson route continues along CB10a through Elmsworth Farm (19) and then N.East alongside Burnt Wood(21) to join the coast at (22). The last part of CB10a near the coast needs clearing and upgrading. Elmsworth Farm to Burnt Wood
Overgrown part of CB10a CB10a alongside Burnt Wood Section 09 Summary of Opportunities and Access Issues a) Establish an off road route from Shalfleet Mill through to Fleetlands Farm on Town Lane (01-03). b) Realign and upgrade the first section of CB16a footpath. c) Establish an off road route from Newtown Quay through to Clamerkin Bridge, Locks Green (07-12). d) Build a parallel footbridge alongside the busy narrow Clamerkin road bridge (12). e) Agree a suitable route across Jersey Camp MOD area and along the Solent coast from Brickfields Farm to Burnt Wood (12-22). f) Establish a new route along the coastline from Burnt Wood to Thorness bay (22-26). g) Agree a suitable off road diversion from Jersey Camp to Burnt Wood suitable to use when military exercises are taking place.