Day 6 - Ventnor to Freshwater

It was downhill into Ventnor, so it was uphill again back up onto the downs this morning, and back inland to Godshill. Here we stopped to pray at All Saint's Church, where this Lily Cross is found painted on the wall.

Prayer was followed by lunch, at the Griffin Hotel, and we were joined by the vicar.

It was a hot day, and some couldn't wait to put the drink in a glass first.

Lunchtime, and we'd only covered a quarter of the day's walk. A further quarter, over Chillerton Down, took us to St Peter's at Shorwell, beautifully decorated with flowers, and an escape from the heat.

From Shorwell our route followed the long ridge that ultimately runs out at the Needles. But it was a long hard afternoon in the heat. From Compton Down you get a fantastic view west of Tennyson Down, though I don't think Bill caught this sunset in August.

Eventually we descended from the ridge into Freshwater Bay, a short walk from Freshwater village, where we were staying in the parish hall (with some accommodated by the Archer family). I recall that our chef, mike, served up one of his curries, a dangerous thing in a small hall with minimal toilet facilities...