There have been several reports recently about landowners or their agents confronting people walking along Island beaches adjacent to shoreline property.
Priory Bay and Ryde Roads shorelines have been mentioned as problem areas. Walkers often believe that when the tide is out, they have free access to the King’s beaches. The reality is not as simple.
Privately owned stretches of IW coast
The foreshore between low tide and hightide is privately owned along many stretches of the Island Coast and some landowners do try to deter public access.
There are also access restrictions along parts of the coast for safety or conservation reasons.
Land Registry Online Map Search
The Land Registry Online Map Search tool will show property boundaries that stretch to the low tide line.
However, many stretches of shoreline are owned by organisations like the Crown Estate, IW Council, and the National Trust where access is generally permitted.
Beware of land being leased
A useful open-source online map is available which shows Crown Estate owned foreshore.
Be warned though, some Crown Estate foreshore like the Barton Estate coastline is leased to private occupiers.
King Charles III England Coast Path
Fortunately, the King Charles III England Coast Path is being progressively set up around the Isle of Wight Coast.
This project will establish open access ‘Spreading Room’ to areas of both land and foreshore along the seaward side of the path. Natural England’s 2013 England Coast Path Scheme provides details of where this will be appropriate.
IW Coast Path Route
The existing IW Coast Path Route between East Cowes and Wootton follows four miles of busy inland roads.
Clearly this is not fit for a King’s National Trail. Unfortunately, since 2017, Natural England discussions with English Heritage, Norris Castle, and Barton Manor Estates have so far failed to achieve agreement on a suitable coastal route.
East Cowes to Wootton anomaly
The KC3 Coast Path has 67 stretches around the English coast. East Cowes to Wootton on the Isle of Wight is the only stretch where there is no existing or proposed coastal access.
How much longer do we need to wait before the East Cowes community can enjoy its first public path, a shoreline trail providing access to explore their nearby coast and countryside?
News shared by Mike on behalf of Isle of Wight Ramblers. Ed
