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.

This route starts at the South trailhead, must include a summit tag (off trail) of Green Mountain, and ends at the North trailhead. An out-and-back would include a second summit tag on the way back to make the route symmetrical. 
 

The USFS describes the trail as such: