Current closures
- Take care when using the off road rights of way network during and after bad weather.
- There may be unreported incidences of things like fallen trees, gullied out surfaces and bridges washed out of alignment.
- Report any safety problems you come across by email row@iow.gov.uk.
- To help us find the site please include:
- a precise location - use what3words to plot the location
- a photo if possible
Roadworks map: A map showing the Island roadworks and closures (which includes right of way closures) can be found on the Islands Roads website select Roadworks from their top blue info bar and the roadworks map can be seen from this page, you can move around the map or put in an address to find that location you want to look at.
How to temporarily close a public right of way
If you wish to apply to temporarily close a public right of way in order to undertake works on or near the path you will need to contact the Public Rights of Way service to discuss the closure. Please contact the service by email: rightsofway@iow.gov.uk or if it is an immediate emergency due to unforeseen safety reasons call 01983 821000 (9am to 5pm weekdays).
There is a process to follow which will includes:
- completing a formal application form
- payment of a fee
- you or your contractor will need to install and maintain the on site notices, closure signs and / or barriers for the duration of the works
The Tennyson Trail - Byways permanently closed to motor vehicles
This is a series of Byways that are permanently closed to vehicles from Carisbrooke to Freshwater Bay (Public Byways N123, N128, N136A, N139, BS4, BS10, BS44, S26, BS53, F33). They are permanently closed to vehicles pursuant to The Isle of Wight Council (Tennyson Trail, IW (Prohibition of Driving) Order No 1 2006.) View a map of the closed route - Tennyson Trail, Byways (PDF, 3.47MB, 1page).
Permit scheme for blue badge holders
A permit scheme is available to blue badge holders, licensed hackney carriages (taxis) and community vehicles between 1 April and 30 September annually.
Application Process
- to apply for a permit please download and complete the Tennyson Trail Permit application form (PDF, 4 pages, 33KB)
- please include a photocopy of your blue badge permit with your completed application form
- send the completed application form to: Public Rights of Way, County Hall, High Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 1UD or email a copy of the completed form to rightsofway@iow.gov.uk
For further information or guidance please contact Public Rights of Way by completing the online send a message to service form, alternatively find our contact details in the 'Contact' section.
Annual winter byway closure (motor vehicles) 2025/2026
The Isle of Wight closes its unsealed rural byway network over winter, to leisure motor vehicle, this is to try and protect the surfaces from damage.
The closure came into force from Wednesday 1 October 2025, and it is normally needed for about 6 months over the wet winter season. The closure is lifted in about April when we start to have dry weather, and the surfaces are drying out.
The closure doesn’t impact walkers, horse riders or cyclists or anyone with a lawful right to drive to their land or property accessed of one of the closed byways.
The winter byway closure locations are:
Arreton:
A25 (Great East Standen Lane) between its junctions with Burnt House Lane and Byway A28.
A28 (St George’s Down) between its junctions with Arreton Cross and approximately the entrance into Newport Golf Club off St Georges Lane.
Bembridge
BB37 (Peacock Hill) between its junction with the B3395 Sandown / Bembridge Road to a point approx 400 metres south of Hillway Road
Brading:
B13 (Galleyhorn Lane) between its junction with Byway B14 to its junction with Byway R63 (Attrills Lane)
B14 (Galleyhorn Lane) between its junction with Byway B15 / B15A to its junction with Byway B13
B21 (Ricketts Hill) between its junction with West Lane to its junction with Rowborough Lane
B33 (Kern) between its junction with Kern Lane to its junction with Brading Down Road
B35 between its junctions with Kern Lane and Byway NC45A
Brightstone:
BS76 (Hulverstone Lane) between its junction with Military Road to a point approx 110 metres south of Brighstone Road
BS86 between its junction with Byway BS89 to its junction with Dunsbury Farm Lane.
BS89 between its junction with Byway F55 to its junction with Byway BS53
BS100 (Riget Lane) between its junction with Military Road to a point approx 140 metres south of Brighstone Road
BS101 (Blind Lane) between its junction with Hoxall Lane to its junction with Brook Road
BS104 (Pitt Place Lane) between its junction with Hoxall Lane to a point approx 260 metres south of Brook Road
BS106 (Sheep Lane) between its junctions with Brook Farm Close and the Military Road.
Chale:
C32A (Ashbridge Lane) between its junctions with Appleford Road and Byway SW41.
Godshill:
GL30 (Bobbestone Farm) between its junctions with Lessland Lane and Byway NC33.
GL48 (Part) between its junction with Byway V57 until its junction with Bridleway GL51 (at car parking area)
Freshwater
F55 between a point approx 530 metres east of its junction with Military Road to its junction with Byway BS89.
Newchurch:
NC33 (Bobberstone Farm) between its junctions with Canteen Road and Byway GL30.
NC45A (Lower Knighton Lane) between its junctions with Byway B35 and its junction with Knighton Shute / Knighton Lane.
Ryde
R63 (Attrills Lane) between its junction with Byway B13 for a distance of approx 200 metres.
Shanklin:
SS17 (Lower Hyde Estate) between its junction with Byway SS87 (Upper Hyde Lane) to its junction with Bridleways SS18A / SS89 at New Barn Lane
SS18 between its junction with Bridleways SS18A / SS89 at New Barn Lane to its junction with A3056 Newport Road, Lake
SS87 (Upper Hyde Lane) between its junction with Cliff Bridge, on the A3020 Godshill Road / Victoria Avenue to its junction with Byway SS17
Shorwell:
SW41 (Ashbridge Lane) between its junctions with Emmett Hill and Byway C32A.
SW56 (Dungewood Lane) between its junctions with Kingston Road and its junction with Atherfield Road.
Ventnor:
V57 between its junction with Byway V62 and itsn junction with Byway GL48
V62 between its junction with Byway V60 at Week Farm Lane to its junction with Byway V57
Footpaths and Bridleways - pedestrians, equestrians and cyclist closures
Bembridge
- Part of Public Footpath BB10 (Coastal Path) has been closed 20 November 2024 between
Forelands Field Road and Footpath BB14. This is because of concerns for
land movement. During the closure the alternative route will be Forelands
Field Road, Howgate Road and Path BB14.
Between What3 words speeds situates mashing and What3words unscathed zoos glaze - Part of Coastal Public Footpaths BB10 and BB16 at Whitecliff Bay will be closed from Monday 6 October to Friday 24 October 2025. The closure is necessary because of path improvement work. The alternative pedestrian routes will be public footpath BB15, Hillway Road, Peacock Hill and public footpath BB27 / BB10
The closed section is approximately between what3words.com/playing.coverings.inflating and what3words.com/steam.valid.snoring
Blackgang
- Coastal Path / Public Footpaths C11 and C11a – for a few hours on the evenings of Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 November 2025 the public footpath through the Blackgang firework firing and fall out zone will be closed to the public.
Staff at Blackgang Chine will escort walkers through the site up to the start of the firework display when access will be stopped for around 15 minutes until firework firing is over.- This is the field on top of the cliff at Blackgang. Approximate Blackgang field diversion location - what3words: ///windmill.relaxing.finally
- This is the field on top of the cliff at Blackgang. Approximate Blackgang field diversion location - what3words: ///windmill.relaxing.finally
Brighstone
- Public Footpath BS59/BS69 coastal path rear of the Brighstone Holiday Centre remains closed due to landslips. The alternative route will be either the Military Road verge or the footpaths BS61/62, Chilton Lane and footpath BS68 on the opposite side of the Military Road.
- BS1 Coastal Path
part of the footpath (including the beach access steps) at Shepards
Chine / east of the old Atherfield Bay holiday camp (now called Sandy Lanes
Resort) has been closed due to landslips in the chine and damage to the wooden
beach steps. To safely bypass the closed area and rejoin the coastal path, please use the grass verge next to the Military Road.
- what3words - start of the diversion: ///bake.boring.homelands
- what3words - end of the diversion: ///motoring.consoles.stiff
- what3words - start of the diversion: ///bake.boring.homelands
Chale
- Public Footpath C34 (path/steps in Whale Chine to the beach) is permanently closed pursuant to a Traffic Regulation Order due to ongoing landslips. No alternative route. Download a map of the closed section (Chale) Public Footpath C34 (PDF, 98.8MB)
Freshwater
- Part of Public Footpath F35 at Afton Down part of the coastal path has been closed because of a void that has opened up next to the path at a very narrow steep point. The diversion will be on the opposite side of the Military Road using byway F33 and bridleway F34
If you decide to walk on the Military Road and its verges take extreme care and be aware at all times of oncoming traffic and traffic approaching from behind you.
Godshill
Part of Public Footpath GL62 - (Bats Wing path) between the steps to the Church and Church Hill (the part between the garden hedges) has been closed because of a damaged retaining wall. The alternative route will be via Church Hollow& Church Hill or the Church
Gurnard and Thorness
- Public Footpaths CB24 / CS17 / CS16 (part of the coastal path) have been closed, November 2023, between its junction with Rew Street and its junction with path CB29 due to landslips. During the period of closure the alternative route will be Rew Street and then Public Footpaths CS3, CB23, CB1.
Nettlestone and Seaview
- Public Footpath R89 in Priory Woods has been closed 24/09/24 due to landslips. During the closure, please use paths R74, R84 and R85 to bypass.
Niton and Whitwell
- The following Footpaths NT47, 48, 49, 50 and 51 are permanently closed under a Traffic Regulation Order because they are unsafe to use because of land slippage. The paths will remain on the definitive map and will be periodically inspected in case of any changes to the land which would allow reinstatement.
- Public Footpath NT47 (Reeth Bay): closed between its junctions with Public Footpath NT42 and NT49. No alternative route. Please view a map of the closed section - NT47 (Reeth Bay) (PDF, 2.43MB, 1 page).
- Public Footpath NT48 (Puckaster): closed from a point 233 metres south of St. Catherine’s Road to its junction with Public Footpath NT49. No alternative route. Please view a map of the closed section - NT48 (Puckaster) (PDF, 2.43MB, 1 page).
- Public Footpath NT49 (Puckaster): closed between its junctions with Public Footpaths NT47 and NT50. No alternative route. Please view a map of the closed section - NT47 and NT50 .(PDF, 2.35MB, 1 page).
- Public Footpath NT50 (Puckaster): closed between its junctions with A3055 Undercliff Drive and Public Footpath NT51. No alternative route. Please view a map of the closed section - NT50 .(PDF, 2.35MB, 1 page).
- Public Footpath NT51 (Binnel Bay): closed between its junctions with Public Footpaths V99 and NT49. No alternative route. Please view a map of the closed section - NT51 .(PDF, 2.27MB, 1 page).
- Part of Public Footpath NT46 at Castlehaven has been closed on 3 May 2024 because of an unsafe structure immediately adjacent to the path. The location of the closure is between the southwest corner of the village green and the end of the seawall behind Beach Cottage. There is no alternative route.
Shalfleet
- Public Footpath S3 (part of the coastal path) has been closed due to damage to the wooden boardwalks. During the closure the alternative route will be Lower Hamstead / S28, Hamstead Drive / S27 and paths S30 & S32
Shanklin and Luccombe
- Part of Public Footpath SS2 (Coastal Path) has been closed in January 2023 due to a landslip near the Luccombe Village end. During the closure the alternative route will be Footpath SS88 (part), signposted route over national Trust land and Footpath SS4.
- Public Footpath SS3 (Luccombe Chine) is permanently closed pursuant to a Traffic Regulation Order from its junction with Public Footpath SS2 to the beach. This is because of land slippage. The path will remain on the definitive map and will be periodically inspected in case of any changes to the land which would allow reinstatement. Please view a map of the closed section - SS3 .(PDF, 2.07MB, 1 page)
Ventnor and Wroxall
- Public Footpath V124 has been closed between its junctions with Undercliff Drive and Public Footpaths NT51 and V99 at Binnel Bay because of a landslip. Please view a map of the closed section - Public Footpath V124; (PDF, 1.91MB, 1 page).
- Public Footpath V65c (Devils Chimney) has been closed March 2023 due to landslip. No diversion available.
- Public Footpath V75 has been closed due to damage to the pedestrian handrailings – the alternative route will be Bridleway V73, Inglewood Park and Footpath V76.
- Part of Coastal Footpath V93 between Orchard Bay and Sir Richards Cove has been closed 29 September 2025 for improvement works, it is anticipated that the path will be reopened by Friday 10 October 2025. The alternative route will be Footpath V91, Undercliff Drive, Woolverton Road and Footpath V95
Yarmouth
- No current closures