This trail crosses the west of the Island from North to South, starting on the low coastal plain just to the west of Newtown Creek. The first section is wooded and a home of the Island's famous Red Squirrels. The first half of this trail crosses the low open countryside of the northern plain but then, after crossing the main Newport - Freshwater road, the trail climbs onto Shalcombe, then Brook Downs. From here are spectacular views of the south west corner of the Island, from the Needles in the west to St Catherines Point at the southern tip. Look for the ancient burial mounds know as Five Barrows on the top of Brook Down. The trail then drops to the southern coast by Brook Chine
https://ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Hamstead+Trail
