wightdogs.com ISLE of WIGHT DOGS and OWNERS

As we have the Isle of Wight Walking Festival coming up again soon I feel compelled to warn unsuspecting walkers of the dangerous situation that exists on a small, but unavoidable, section of the Nunwell Trail where it runs along Smallbrook Lane in Ryde.

The Nunwell Trail runs between Sandown and Ryde and is widely promoted as "easy walking", however, although it may not be physically demanding this short section of the Trail is very dangerous as it runs along the narrow Smallbrook lane which has no pavements and sections of it also have no verge whatsoever due to the hedgerows.

Anybody who lives in Ryde will be well aware of the speed that people drive along this section of the lane and as I have nearly been killed here myself on two occasions I stopped using this route to access the footpaths beyond Smallbrook Stadium several years ago.

If you are considering walking the Nunwell Trail please be very vigilant here especially if you are considering taking children or dogs with you, as you will present a wider target.  On leaving the footpath at picture (A) you are immediately confronted with no safe way to avoid the oncoming traffic, until you reach the point shown in picture (D).

Although you are, of course, fully entitled to walk along the carriageway towards the oncoming traffic they will be coming at you at considerable speed and passing very close to you, please bear in mind that if you are hit it will be of very little consolation that were fully within your rights.

There is a verge running from here alongside the Rosemary Lane vineyard setion, photo (E), so please use it.

However, from photo (F) until the far side of the railway bridge, photo (I), after which you thankfully leave the lane, you are once again running the gauntlet with speeding cars coming straight at you after they have negotiated the narrow bridge. Beware as they don't slow down and wont be aware that you are there until almost upon you.