About 4 miles (6.2km) from Ventnor Esplanade to Shanklin Esplanade, which takes 2 to 2.5 hours either way. It is short but not easy, with rough woodland paths and stone steps through Bonchurch and Luccombe that are slippery when wet.
The route changed after the December 2023 Bonchurch landslip, which took away the old path through the Landslip woods from Luccombe to above Bonchurch beach. The new line, King Charles III England Coast Path section IOW3 (opened 14 January 2026), climbs to the main road for a short stretch and comes down through Bonchurch. Follow the signs on the ground rather than old maps or GPX files.
Holiday park · Wroxall · 1.5 miles off the path
Near the start, Ventnor · Tents and tourers at Wroxall, about 2 miles inland, on route 3 between Ventnor and Shanklin.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, static caravans, lodges
from £23.65/night
ViewHoliday park · Shanklin · 0.6 miles off the path
Near the end, Shanklin · Edge of Shanklin, under a mile from the end of the stage.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, static caravans, lodges
from £16/night
ViewHoliday park · Shanklin · 0.6 miles off the path
Near the end, Shanklin · Woodland park on the edge of Shanklin, about a kilometre from the Esplanade.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes, static caravans, lodges
from £16/night
ViewCampsite · Shanklin · 1 miles off the path
Near the end, Shanklin · Farm campsite above Shanklin, about a mile from the path.
Tents, caravans, motorhomes
from £10/night
ViewNo campsites match all of those.
Leave Ventnor east along the Esplanade and Wheelers Bay to Bonchurch, 1.2 miles in, past Horseshoe Bay and Monk's Bay, with a short detour to the little Old St Boniface Church. Then follow the signed route up to the main road and on to Luccombe at about 2 miles, on woodland paths and steps.
At the Shanklin end a cliff fall beyond Shanklin Chine means the path now goes inland through Shanklin Old Village before dropping to the Esplanade. You can still detour down to the beach at the foot of the chine, where the Fisherman's Cottage pub opens 10am to 10pm daily until 2 November 2026.
Wheelers Bay promenade, from the Shore Road entrance to the gate before the Sea Pot Cafe, is closed from 5 to 16 October 2026 for drainage work. The Devil's Chimney path (V65c) has been closed since March 2023, with no diversion.
Near Luccombe village part of footpath SS2 (Coastal Path) has been closed since January 2023 after a landslip. The alternative is part of footpath SS88, a signed route over National Trust land and footpath SS4. The path down Luccombe Chine (SS3) is permanently closed.
Route 3 links Ventnor (Boots stop) and Shanklin bus station about every 30 minutes. From Shanklin, Island Line trains run to Sandown and Ryde. There is nowhere to buy food or drink between Ventnor and Shanklin. The Smugglers Haven cafe at Bonchurch has not reopened since the landslip. Toilets are at Ventnor Eastern Esplanade and Shore Road, and at Shanklin's Rylstone Gardens, Chine Bluff and Esplanade Gardens.
Yes, on the new route opened in January 2026 after the Bonchurch landslip. When we checked on 16 October 2026 there was a signed diversion near Luccombe and short promenade works at Wheelers Bay ending that day.
About 2 to 2.5 hours for 4 miles (6.2km). Route 3 buses run back about every 30 minutes, so you can walk one way and ride back.
No. The Devil's Chimney path (V65c) at Bonchurch has been closed since March 2023 because of a landslip, and there is no diversion.
