(S/E) From the bus station cross South Street by the lights and continue along Cockram’s Yard and then cross Pyle Street. Continue by the war memorial and Newport Minster. Cross the High Street at the lights and go right to the Guildhall. Go left into Quay Street passing the law courts. Follow the left bend and then go right into The Quay by the Riverside Centre.
(1) Follow the path with the River Medina on your left, passing the Jubilee Stores and Studio. Follow the marked footpath, which passes the boat museum on your left and then a pub “Medina Quay” and Premier Inn hotel also on your left. Follow the path across a recreation ground.
(2) At the far side of the recreation ground and when the path turns sharp right, go left to follow the wide gravel path adjacent to the river, and follow this through trees. This winding path takes you over footbridges and eventually leads you to a marina. Here, on the right, you will see the rusting hulk of the paddle ship Ryde Queen, once used as a ferry and a minesweeper.
(3) At the marina, there is an octagonal white building. Here turn right along the main entrance road and follow these past houses and farm buildings. Carefully cross the main road onto a track by a collection of post boxes.
(4) Go under the old railway bridge and after 30yds go right onto a footpath in the woods. Keep to the right hand side of this wood and follow the path uphill to a double stile. Follow the enclosed path to another double stile. Continue on into a field. Follow the right hand edge of the field to a stile and continue through more fields. Follow a fenced path and through another field to a junction of paths near a farm.
(5) Go right passing New Fairlee Farm. Just after the farm buildings continue on a track to reach a footpath going left around the farmhouse. At a stile, turn right and follow the top of the field edge to a stile near houses. Follow the pathway past houses into a road — this is Cooper Road. Follow Cooper Road to a T-junction. Cross the road into a wooden fenced pathway. This leads onto Halberry Lane.
(:6) Turn left and carefully cross the road and turn right into Victoria Road. Follow this road as it swings left and at the far end of the road keep on the right pathway to find a tunnel crossing. Take this path under Fairlee Road and on into a car park. Continue through the car park to the front of the Riverside Centre and go left along The Quay. Retrace your steps to the bus station.(S/E)
