This is a lovely 3 mile walk takes you along the River Yar to the low-lying tidal dune landscape of St Helens Duver. This walk is packed with wildlife, history and a dynamic water-crafted landscape. St Helens Duver is a unique environment, visually two different places depending on the tide. The Duver has plenty of paths that wind around bushes and over grassy dunes. You can also continue to walk towards Bembridge across The Causeway Bridge, or follow the beach North and head towards Ryde via Nodes Point, Horseshoe Point and Priory Bay Beach. But the walk here is definitely one worth enjoying - not only to make the the final destination even more appreciated, but also walk a route through several nature reserves, that is largely unknown to most who come/live on the Island.
The walk is best to start at Brading train station, convenient for public transport and parking. You can then head to Brading marshes by going down to Lower Furlongs via a path with two bollards, then further down cut throuth a path that takes you across the train tracks and to the gates of the marsh. The path takes you beside reed beds and a lily-pad covered River Yar, bordered by over hanging trees filled. Then through the gate out of fatting marsh you reach the bridge, instead of crossing this bridge (unless you want to check out the amazing views from it, looking down the river) follow the elevated path away from the bridge. Once out the marsh, take the path to your right - the old St Helens railway track.
For more walks on Brading Marshes check out: Brading Marsh Circular and Brading Marsh to Gander Down
This stoney path takes you through sections of woodland, past a tree-enclosed lake, and provides brilliant views across the areas of the RSPB nature reserve that are off-limits to the public. As such, views from this path tend to provide the best bird watching spots, hence the few benches dotted along the way. This path then leads out past some warehouses, residential homes and a private lake, then finishes at Carpenters Road. Follow this road up the hill, which takes you into St Helens and past the many greens. There's also a small shop here.
Continue following this road round until you get to the end which meets a bend in Eddington Road. Cross this and follow the hill down to Duver Road, until on your right you get to a bench, a path and a National Trust sign for the Duver. The path then leads down through woodland, providing brilliant views over the Duver and the beach. Once at the bottom, theres a bridge that crosses either a flowing river, or a smelly channel at low tide. The Duver is then free to roam around it's many paths over its sandy dunes and river relics. There's an abundance of wildlife and unique plant life across this landscape.
This walk then finishes at the beach - reachable by crossing the road that runs through the Duver, then through some large sandy dunes. The beach here is stoney but at low tide makes a great place to go rockpooling - marine life are in abundance here. This beach is great for dogs too as they are welcome all year round. There's also the Baywatch Cafe which serves great food and drinks with plenty of outside seating to enjoy the views.
Good for dogs
Mostly flat
Shop and Cafe at destination
Lots of wildlife (birds and sealife)
