The Walk - EP 37 - Merstone Junction To Ventnor West - Isle Of Wight

[@petemoring67]

What a smashing day out for some Father-Son bonding ?? ..... Brilliant!!! 😀

[@dragonladymusicexperience]

Amazing how quickly nature recaptures the land. Thank you for showing and documenting this bygone era. The old black and white vids/pics really give us a sense of how it used to look back then. Lovely walk.🙏❤️

[@IckeWalks]

Thank you very much!

[@PamelaLeighRichards]

🤗This is funny! Gareth you are a special being, just saying, and do a fantastic job of delivering stories of life. For those that don't know, David is my former husband and I remember David could not wait to show me around the Isle of Wight when I first arrived in circa 1998 and fell in love with it, especially the steam trains. Love them! Thank you David and Gaz for this walk about. I like the good memories. And as far as mushrooms? Well, I'll share a tidbit here ... David did mushrooms with me for the first time on the Island .. another story. I'm writing my memoirs and David played a big role in my life. No matter what .. one thing I agree on is the uncovering of our human experience and the lies we were dealt. Keep 'walking' 👣

[@JCisJD]

What a lovely comment to read. I do remember you pam , from a documentary some time back, it's lovely to read such generous, warm , heart felt comments. 🙏 I'll follow your story with interest 😊

[@triggerskull]

Yr hair’s gorgeous

[@MsSteveyGEE]

I’m from the island. These videos are amazing. Thoroughly enjoyable conversation and stories. Wonderfully beautiful visuals. Surprised there aren’t way more views and subs.

[@IckeWalks]

@@MsSteveyGEE thanks mate

[@calxtra5361]

Thanks Gareth and David

[@NewCityMedia]

Excellent episode. Informative and a lovely relaxed style. Love to hear your dad's memories of how the IoW railways used to be. Thank you.

[@freedomman06]

I first met your dad some 15-20 years ago, its so nice to see you both absolutely nerding out over steam railways, it shows people that you do indeed get a small slice of "me time" from the crap were battling through in these times. Cant wait for the next one mate nice one.

[@HM2dylanpowell]

Been following your work and your old man’s for years. Binge watching these videos Gareth just simply wonderful mate! 😉

[@IckeWalks]

Thanks a lot mate.

[@kenscrackofdoom599]

As a newbie to the island I really enjoyed that. It was lovely that you were with your dad as he is nothing less than a British icon.

[@IckeWalks]

Cheers mate. Hopefully get out for another few stomps together in the near future. Isle of Wight railways and the Great Central, are his thing.

[@hesmanification]

Love. Said hello in York. Respect 🙏

[@RichardFelstead1949]

A great video from you both.Very enjoyable.

[@angelajackson-smith3067]

This was a fantastic walk (although that tunnel was a bit creepy) and so great to see you spending time with Papa Bear doing something you’re both so passionate about - lovely ❤

[@MalcolmCarlo]

Thanks Gareth & David, I moved to Ryde a few years ago & never new of this walk

[@keithawhosoever5384]

The family resemblance between you two , is uncanny. An interesting walk and talk . I've taken my two Romanian rescue dogs , along some of the Merstone trail . We've yet to go the whole hog . There's no end of discovering good walks on the island 😊 Blessings from Newport 🐕🐕

[@IckeWalks]

Cheers mate. Can't wait to do more island walks!

[@barbarapearce3634]

Steephill castle always fascinates me. Great video

[@IckeWalks]

Cheers mate!

[@dizzy2925]

What a charming watch this is. Thoroughly enjoyed this. Thank you 😊

[@jaynegrace4541]

We had a disused railway line next to our cottage as a child. Mum would send us kids out to collect wild strawberries along the old line to then be served with Carnation Milk. A real treat! Thanks both. 💕

[@gilesestram]

No wonder most of the network was an early casualty, so rural ! Im jealous of that tunnel walk..will have to even the score out on that one, soon....😄

[@bittybottybutty9661]

Brilliant video, very informative, will see what others you have done. I remember your dad from tv sports reports and news in the midlands. He is really fit, walking and talking up those hills. Island life for you.

[@IckeWalks]

Thank you!

[@steffanmaximum]

We had a family holiday on the Isle of Wight in 1963 when I was 9 years old. My grandfather bought a rail rover ticket and we travelled the lines between Ryde Pier Head and Vetnor, and the line to Cowes. It was magic, and should never have been mutilated back in 1966. And what an insult to the island by replacing those magnificent tank locos with delapidated old London tube stock. Love to the Ickes.

[@steffanmaximum]

Sorry, Ventnor.

[@5pectron]

Aww, I especially love watching these featuring you and your dad x

[@railwaychristina3192]

I remember the massive embankment crossing a field, visible from the road.

[@tam8718]

Loved this ❤

[@callumtew2693]

Hello Gareth it is great to see you with your dad I love The Isle of Wight I used to go every year to The of Wight with my family really good place I am loving the content keep up the good work take care peace and love xx

[@matthewburrows4359]

This is a really lovely walk.

[@sherriepalmer7089]

Loved that.

[@IckeWalks]

Thank you!

[@dryliner65]

Good video . When I’m on the island I like to walk the disused railway lines , I cycled Sandown to Cowes a few years back when I was fitter and last year we went to the former station at Yarmouth . Well done for doing the long walk here , I hope you had a nice comfortable ride back !

[@IckeWalks]

Yarmouth is lovely! Thank you!

[@cunningman]

Have Dad Will Travel down very long spooky train tunnels! You guys faced the mushroomy darkness with joy and historic candor. Loved it! Thanks for the walk!

[@IckeWalks]

Thanks mate

[@trainadventuresuk]

Just subbed. Really nice to see you out and about with your dad. So good to see you both doing something you are both so enthusiastic about. I do simular with my son on our channel. Love trains and exploring. I have respected your dad for decades. Keep it up.

[@IckeWalks]

Thanks mate. Will do likewise!

[@trainadventuresuk]

@@IckeWalks Thanka Gareth. Be well.

[@CheckFred]

I remember in the 60's going on holiday to the Isle of Wight with a liad of other yoofs .. We had the old weekly Rover tickets and used thrm to death on the old Steam Trains which went a whole lot further than they do now ...... Those were the days 👍🤠

[@robinterkzer8128]

The great outdoors , wonderful , love the old trains !

[@yesimkaymakcan]

I like this so much i like Train i saw this is great and very nice area and green and walking.Thank you ❤

[@IckeWalks]

Thank you!

[@JCisJD]

Beautiful walk and so well delivered. THANK YOU . I was brought up on the isle of wight in the 70s early 80s; Appuldurcome camp site. (which my father managed), Bonchurch ( right on the sea front) and gunvile, carisbrooke , where the Newport to freshwater line went through. Many wonderful memories came flooding back of walking the lines including the tunnel with my father and brother. Thank you both for the reliving. I akso remember stories/ myth's;) from school ("ventor middle") of what some people from ventnor, including the many influential / high powered, vistors use to endulge in

[@davidmontague9125]

I don’t think it’s been mentioned elsewhere that for most (all?) of its life, hardly any trains ran through from Newport to Ventnor West. Passengers had to change at Merstone, the island platform being very useful for this purpose. Lovely video.

[@IckeWalks]

Is that so? Just the Newport to sandown line and Ventnor merston as a shuttle?

[@arthurreeder8451]

Here is a thought for you. Why was there such a large station in Whitwell? A large structure with 2 platforms and a passing loop. Not only that, a large hotel just outside, for 1 man and a cow?

[@bondosan]

This is great, thanks for putting together

[@LadySophieofHougunManor7325]

Awesome video fascinating to get history from your dad again like in the Leicestershire video you did a bit back always had interest in Isle of Wight as was one of places my late Nan and grandad went to numerous times after the war hope everyone well 😊another epic video

[@robgibson6884]

Superb video walk Keep it up

[@IckeWalks]

Thanks Rob.

[@xfosda]

Very enjoyable. Looking forward to more walks on the island.

[@smokyalpha]

♥️

[@Christopher125]

great video, there's a nice section of trackbed between St Lawrence and Ventnor West (above Inglewood Park road, ending at Pelham Road) which can still be walked, not obvious unless your local though.

[@IckeWalks]

Ah really? That's annoying! Ha.

[@IckeWalks]

Just found on google maps. Not sure how I missed that! Tiredness probably!

[@Christopher125]

@@IckeWalks it must be one of the least walked sections of trackbed but worth a look if your in the area again

[@susanrhodes9327]

We’ve just watched your video, ❤ and my husband recognises your dad, but we have no idea where from? 😂

[@IckeWalks]

Used to be on the telly!

[@scrunts666]

David is your father ? He lives just round the corner from me, not seen him in a while though.

[@IckeWalks]

Yeah. Still on the Isle.

[@railwaychristina3192]

A friend of mine used to live in converted stabled near Ventnor West.

[@IckeWalks]

It's a lovely place.

[@rusmel103]

❤️👍

[@phantom_not_chopper]

Maybe the chalk geology manifests the Wights. Stone Tape style

[@phantom_not_chopper]

Dock leaves - undeniable proof of God

[@IZingari]

Many investigators are now saying these structures were built by a previous civilisation and repurposed as railways .

[@railwaychristina3192]

Economic or not, now the Island is paying big time, with narrow lanes clogged with traffic.