Skip to content
Two visitors find a suitable fallen log to sit on in Borthwood Copse
Taking a break in Borthwood Copse | © National Trust Images / John Millar
Isle of Wight

Borthwood Copse red squirrel walk

This short atmospheric walk in a secluded part of the island takes you through woods that are home to a special resident of the Isle of Wight, the red squirrel. It is a particularly beautiful place to be when the trees take on their autumn colours in October and early November. In spring the woodland floor is carpeted with bluebells.

Total steps: 5

Total steps: 5

Start point

Parish Council car park, off Alverstone Rd on Winford to Alverstone road, grid ref: SZ566843

Step 1

Enter the wood and start to descend. The path soon reaches a cathedral-like clearing of beech trees with fallen logs offering good places to sit.

Step 2

Bear left immediately on entering the clearing and take a rising path, the left-most of two paths leaving the clearing at the same point. Pass through a holly thicket on the way to the top where it begins to open out near the edge of the wood. Bear right to descend again just before some house gardens. Bear left at a junction, following the line of the boundary of the gardens and soon the path broadens out in a clearing by an oak tree. Follow this track onwards and downwards, bearing right at a junction to meet an even wider crossing track 25yds (25m) further on.

A mass of bluebells carpet the ground in Borthwood Copse
A mass of spring bluebells in Borthwood Copse | © National Trust / Chuck Eccleston ARPS

Step 3

Turn right and follow this main track almost to the edge of the wood, ignoring all side paths. Over its length, the path rises gently through a gully, then falls, and rises again.

Secretive inhabitants of Borthwood: the red squirrel and the dormouse
There is a good chance of seeing red squirrels in Borthwood, but dormice keep well hidden | © National Trust Images / Chris Lacey (squirrel) and Ross Hoddinott (dormouse)

Step 4

Eventually you will see a field through the trees to the left. Just before a right bend that leads to a stile 90yds (80 m) away and out of the wood, turn right along a narrow westerly path which follows the line of the edge of the wood. It rises gently, emerging shortly after another holly thicket close to a fence into a field on the left. Turn sharp right here and follow the path downwards, past yet more holly, to a crossing track.

Step 5

Cross the track and continue ahead into the beech wood clearing. Bear left along the edge of the clearing and rejoin the original path. Turn left back to the car park.

End point

Parish Council car park, off Alverstone Rd on Winford to Alverstone road, grid ref: SZ566843

Trail map

Borthwood Copse Red Squirrel walk map
Borthwood Copse Red Squirrel walk map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey

You made it

Share your experience

More near here

The footpath sign ahead beckons to the chalk cliffs of Freshwater Bay
Trail
Trail

Compton Bay and Downs walk 

A 7.5 mile walk around Compton Bay and Afton Ridge, taking in far-reaching views and the dinosaur fossil beach.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 7.5 (km: 12)
Dusk over Mottistone Common and the sea at Mottistone Estate, Isle of Wight
Trail
Trail

A climb to the common at Mottistone 

The views from the heather-covered Mottistone Common are the highlight of this walk, which also takes in a mysterious ancient monument.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 3.9 (km: 6.24)
A wheat field with Compton Bay and the white cliffs of Tennyson Down behind
Trail
Trail

A Mottistone meander: south to the sea 

A circular walking route that takes you south from Mottistone Gardens to the coastal cliffs at Sudmoor Point.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 2.8 (km: 4.48)

Get in touch

near Winford, Isle of Wight, PO36 0LD

Our partners

Cotswold Outdoor

We’ve partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to help everyone make the most of their time outdoors in the places we care for.

Visit website 

Related articles

PDF
PDF

Borthwood Copse walk GPX file 

Right-click and 'Save Link As' or ‘Save Target As’ or ‘Download Linked File As’ (depending on your browser) to download this Borthwood Copse walk GPX file to your device, then open with your GPS program.

Visitor crossing water via stepping stones with their dog on an autumnal walk at Wallington

Walking 

Explore some of the finest landscapes in our care on coastal paths, accessible trails, woodland walks and everything in between. Find the best places to walk near you.

A man and a woman enjoy the view whilst walking in the Peak District
Article
Article

Cotswold Outdoor: our exclusive walking partner 

Learn about the National Trust’s ongoing partnership with Cotswold Outdoor. Find out how they help us care for precious places and the exclusive discount available for National Trust supporters.

A visitor carrying a backpack and walking along a footpath at Divis and the Black Mountain with stone walls either side, the countryside visible in the background.
Article
Article

Follow the Countryside Code 

Help to look after National Trust places by observing a few simple guidelines during your visit and following the Countryside Code.

An aerial view of an adult and baby walking a dog along a path at Baggy Point, Devon
Article
Article

Staying safe at National Trust places 

The special places in National Trust care sometimes come with a few risks for visitors, be it coastline or countryside. Find out how to keep safe throughout your visits.

Red squirrel sitting on a tree branch on Brownsea Island, Dorset
Article
Article

Things to see and do at Borthwood Copse 

Stroll through Borthwood Copse’s dappled woodland and look out for a host of wildlife – including butterflies and the rare native red squirrel.

Walkers looking out over the sea towards Tennyson Down, Isle of Wight

Walking on the Isle of Wight 

From discovering dinosaur fossils on a walk at Compton Bay and Downs to the secluded creeks and waterways of Newtown National Nature Reserve, find out where to go for the best walks on the Isle of Wight.