The Isle of Wight has woodlands and forests, ponds and rivers, hedgerows and verges, downs and marshes, chalk cliffs and sand shores, mud, rocks and grassland. Each environment is home to a different group of birds and these contain some rarities in addition to the vast majority of those species more prevalent on the mainland.

You can meander freely around most of the public footpaths all year round and there are also several organised walks and guided tours to choose from. The Isle of Wight Walking Festival takes place in May, including the gruelling 'Walk the Wight' that spans the breadth of the Island in two stages, the complete journey being 26.5 miles. The Isle of Wight Ornithological Group also organises walks and outings through the year and you can find further details on-line.

This guide looks in detail at the most popular and accessible sites on the Island, giving you an introduction to what you might find on a visit and suggestions of the best ways to explore each area.

The estuaries at Yarmouth, Medina and Bembridge are particularly good for waders and wildfowl as is the creek at Newtown. The south coast offers breathtaking cliff-top walks with stunning views of the Island's signature 'Needles' and downs. There are plenty of different areas to explore, each with their own character, all you have to do is decide what you would like to see.

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