Brighstone Forest and Brighstone Down Circular
Isle of Wight
Brighstone Forest is the largest forest on the Isle of Wight, around 482 hectares with its Shalcombe Down outlier, spread along the chalk spine of the island across Chessell, Westover, Brighstone and Idlecombe Downs. Much of it is beech plantation on the southern slopes, managed by the Forestry Commission, and it is one of the island's red squirrel areas where dogs get broad, shaded rides underfoot. This 7.3km circuit starts from Jubilee car park on Lynch Lane, picks up the Worsley Trail east to the toposcope on Limerstone Down, then turns into the trees and climbs to Brighstone Down, at 214 metres one of the highest points on the island, before returning west along the Tennyson Trail and woodland tracks through Calbourne Bottom. There is roughly 150 metres of climbing on broad forest tracks and chalky paths that turn slippery after rain.
This dog friendly walk is mostly under the trees, which makes it one of the better island options for a dog on a warm day. The wide forest rides give high off-lead potential for a dog with good recall, as livestock is rarely met inside the woodland, though the Tennyson Trail is a bridleway shared with horses and mountain bikers, so call your dog in when you hear them coming. There are no streams, so carry water for your dog. Jubilee car park is small and fills on sunny weekends, and there are no toilets or cafe on route: the nearest are in Brighstone.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 7.3 km (4.5 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 2 hr 15 min
- Walk Type
- Forest, Woodland
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- High
- Livestock Risk
- Low
- Facilities
- None on route; shop, cafe and pubs in Brighstone village.
- Parking
- Jubilee car park on Lynch Lane, small forest car park with limited spaces.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Brighstone Forest and Brighstone Down Circular, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
Strawberry Cottage - Brighstone
Sleeps 4 · 1 dog · Enclosed garden
from £452 / 7 nights
Dairy Cottage - Carisbrooke
Sleeps 6 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £583 / 7 nights
The Hayloft Cottage - Godshill
Sleeps 3 · 2 dogs · Enclosed garden
from £594 / 7 nights
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All dog friendly stays in Isle of WightFrequently Asked Questions
Is Brighstone Forest and Brighstone Down Circular dog friendly?
Brighstone Forest and Brighstone Down Circular earns a solid 8 out of 10 for dog friendliness. The wide, shaded forest rides make it a particularly good choice on warmer days, and livestock is rarely encountered inside the woodland, which takes a lot of the stress out of walking here with a dog.
Can dogs be off lead at Brighstone Forest and Brighstone Down Circular?
The broad forest rides offer high off-lead potential for dogs with reliable recall, as the woodland sections are largely free of livestock. The one thing to be mindful of is the Tennyson Trail, a bridleway that's shared with horses and mountain bikers — it's worth calling your dog back in when you hear either approaching.
What should I know before visiting Brighstone Forest and Brighstone Down Circular with my dog?
There are no streams along this 7.3km route, so bring enough water for your dog, especially on a warm day. The chalky paths can get slippery after rain, and the small Jubilee car park on Lynch Lane fills quickly on sunny weekends, so an early start is a good idea. There are no toilets or cafe on route, but Brighstone village has a shop, cafe and pubs if you need them before or after.
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