Isle of Wight night hike with James (24 miles)

Another summer is coming, so time for another nocturnal outing – with luck moonlit for the whole night – once again on the Isle of Wight. This time exploring the eastern side of the island, rising gently at first, then more steeply over the interior chalk downland to culminate in St. Boniface Down, the highest point on the island from which there will be views far across the English Channel as the sun rises. This is followed by a final descent into the seaside resort of Shanklin just as the town is waking up, for a hearty and well-deserved breakfast.

You will definitely need to BRING A TORCH. Bear in mind this is a longer walk than usual, so not recommended for those who are new to hiking or have doubts about their ability to go the distance. Also there will be few if any opportunities to bail out during the night. Please ensure you have enough water and snacks to get you through to the morning.
NB James is the host so direct any questions to him

TRAVEL

Walk start: 21:00 at Ryde Esplanade. The cheapest way to get there is via Portsmouth & Southsea and the hovercraft that completes the Solent crossing in under ten minutes. You can purchase a Super Off-Peak Return from London Waterloo to RYDE HOVERPORT that covers the entire journey for £48.50 with Network Railcard. In order to secure a spot on a particular hovercraft crossing, you will need to book at least 48 hours in advance and follow the instructions here: https://www.hovertravel.co.uk/connections/national-rail/. Another option is to book a similar journey to Ryde Pier Head via Portsmouth Harbour and the Wightlink ferry for £55.70. (In both cases you may be able to find cheaper deals if you're willing to commit to Advance Singles on specific trains.) The hike will end on Sunday morning at Shanklin, from where there are regular local trains back to Ryde (27 minutes, £3.25 with Railcard).

How to join?

• The walk is entirely free of charge;
• You only arrange for your own travel and pub expenses;
• Understand our terms and conditions below (the "IMPORTANT" part);

What to bring

• Plenty of water, 1-2 litres recommended
• Enough snacks and packed lunch to keep you energized along the walk
• Extra snacks and an extra packed lunch just in case
• Rainproof (ideally waterproof) clothing, sturdy shoes/boots you don't mind getting muddy
• Spare socks
• Walking poles and/or an umbrella :-)
• Yourself...
• ...and your camera!
• Cash for train ticket
• Cash for pub at the end of the walk?

IMPORTANT
Please bear in mind this is a free of charge, self-guided trip with a hobby group. It is not organized by a business nor any entity with commercial purposes.
Any trip details, travel advice, route planning, instructions and other content in our group merely represent our shared personal knowledge, research and suggestions as outdoor enthusiasts. As this is no business, there is no "product", "service" or "package" and also no "tour guide", "operator" or "walk leader".
Each participant is responsible for their own safety. Even if some of us are very experienced walking outdoors, nobody assumes responsibility for any kind of injury, damage or loss that may happen.
By participating you acknowledge and agree with this disclaimer.
Here are our tips on staying safe during outdoor trips:
https://www.meetup.com/Free-Outdoor-Trips-From-London/about/

TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION, INSURANCE
Although we provide detailed suggestions, each participant is expected to arrange their own travel - this gives everyone the freedom and choice. Anyone interested in travel or outdoor insurance should also arrange this on their own. As mentioned above we always take extreme precautions, but some people may still feel safer if covered.
As most of our trips are confirmed or postponed very close to the event date - heavily depending on the weather forecasts - we advise not to buy this until the last minute. People getting tickets from the same station are encouraged to meet early on the day to benefit from discounts such as GroupSave.