A new walking trail celebrating Charles Dickens’ time on the Isle of Wight officially launched on Saturday 3rd May at the Royal Hotel in Ventnor.
Ian Dickens, Great Great Grandson of Charles Dickens, introduced the event and welcomed 23 other members of the Dickens family, including their dog Boz.
An Isle of Wight Heritage blue plaque was unveiled, commemorating Dickens’ stay at The Royal in 1838.
Three-month stay in 1849 remembered
The Charles Dickens Trail was created in 2024 to mark 175 years since Dickens’ final visit to the Island, when he and his family spent three months here in the summer of 1849.
The trail highlights places connected to that visit, beginning in Shanklin, where Dickens searched for a holiday residence and sent an urgent letter to his wife Catherine in London, saying he had found the perfect place to stay.
Trail brought to life with audio and local support
Several of Charles and Catherine Dickens’ descendants have lent their voices to the project. Visitors can hear these family members reading quotes by scanning QR codes on the trail leaflet.
The historical information, images and other materials used in the trail leaflet were supplied by Bonchurch resident, Sue Lowday.
Southern Vectis kindly sponsored the leaflet, supporting the promotion of the trail leaflet – which you can see in full on the Isle of Wight Ramblers’ website.
Led by local expertise
David Howarth from the Isle of Wight Ramblers led the walk on launch day.
Those taking part explored some of the same downs and paths that Dickens himself walked.
History and humour combined
The trail also references one of Dickens’ memorable picnics, captured by cartoonist John Leech.
The image, titled ‘Awful appearance of a “wopps” at a picnic’, shows the author and friends surprised by an unwelcome visitor, believed to have happened near Cooks Castle, close to Shanklin Down.
From Portsmouth to Ventnor
From the top of Shanklin Down, walkers can see across the Island from east to west, with a view north to Portsmouth, where Dickens was born in 1812.
The trail commemorates not just the famous author, but also the friendships, family ties and personal moments he experienced during his time on the Isle of Wight.
