"The Colonial Parkway is a twenty-three mile scenic roadway stretching from the York River at Yorktown to the James River at Jamestown. It connects Virginia's historic triangle: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. Several million travelers a year use this route to enjoy the natural and cultural beauty of Virginia.

The trail follows the course of the Eastern Yar, the island's longest river, that flows from Niton, not far from the south coast, to Bembridge harbour on the eastern edge of the island; the Isle's other Yar, the Western Yar, meets the sea at Yarmouth. The Trail is waymarked and also features 20 stone-carved milestones and five, originally six, sculptures by local artist Paul Mason. It uses a variety of surfaces - mainly paths and the course of a dismantled railway. Alverstone, Newchurch, Godshill and Whitwell are passed en route.