🧭 Club Trip #2: Isle of Wight🗺️

UCL Hiking Club is proud to bring to you TWO club trips this February 2026!! We're going all-out this winter to host TWO trips during reading week that you can get involved in:

You can register your interest for both trips, or just choose one. Places on each trip will be allocated randomly, and applying for one will not affect your chances for the other. However, you will only be able to attend one of the two trips, so we will use the preference you specify in the form to try to allocate you to your preferred choice. Stay on this page to read about the Isle of Wight trip, or go to this page to read about the Snowdonia trip.

1/7 - AT A GLANCE

2/7 - ABOUT THE TRIP

For our second UCL Hiking Club trip of the year, we’re heading to the Isle of Wight for three nights, giving us two full days to explore this coastal escape from London. It’s the perfect chance to step away from academic pressures, slow things down, and spend time outdoors in a truly unique landscape. During the day, we’ll split into groups and hike along a variety of routes across the island, before returning each evening to our warm, cosy hostel for home-cooked hot dinners, games, and relaxed socials. Overall, the trip will include two travel days, two full days of hiking, and three evenings of fun and good company.

The Isle of Wight is known for its stunning and diverse landscapes, from dramatic chalk cliffs and sweeping coastal paths to quiet beaches and rolling countryside. In winter (February), the island takes on a quieter, almost magical charm — crisp sea air, cosy villages, historic landmarks, and wide-open views across the English Channel. We’ll explore some of the island’s most iconic scenery, including the famous Needles viewpoint with its breath-taking views over the Isle’s striking peninsula, while also discovering its rich natural history, from rare red squirrels to Jurassic-era fossils.

3/7 - HIKING & DIFFICULTY

ROUTES & DIFFICULTY

In order to give you a little more insight into what to expect, we have plotted a few hiking routes that we might end up following. We don't know exactly which routes we'll end up choosing on each day of the trip, and we may end up plotting and using additional routes. This depends on the weather and local conditions — be prepared for a bit of adventure!

For each day of hiking on the trip, we will typically split into different groups, based on desired hike difficulty. Some groups will follow the moderate routes below, whilst others will be able to do the challenging routes if they choose. We will always ensure that there are enough Walk Leaders in all groups.

Route Difficulty Breakdown (🟢🔵🔴⚫)

The following is our club's difficulty scale that we use to evaluate all our hikes. This is only intended as an approximate guide, since everyone has a different standard what what they consider easy and difficult.

🟢 Green – Beginner
 Short, gentle walks on easy terrain (5–15 km, low elevation). Perfect for first-timers and anyone wanting a relaxed introduction to hiking. 

🔵 Blue – Moderate
 Moderate distance or slightly more uneven ground (15–25 km, rolling hills, varied terrain). Great for those who’ve done a couple of hikes and are ready for the next step. 

🔴 Red – Challenging
 Challenging routes with longer distances (20–30 km), bigger climbs, or sustained hills. Best suited to hikers with good fitness and some prior experience. 

⚫ Black – Difficult
 Demanding residential hikes with mountain terrain, technical sections, or long days (30–40 km). Previous hiking experience is essential. 

⚫⚫ Double Black – Extreme
 Rare, “epic” challenges such as marathon-length days, exposed mountain ridges, or multi-day treks with tough conditions. Only suitable for highly experienced and well-prepared hikers. 

Moderate (🔵) Hike Routes

Route A - Totland Circular (Shorter)

This shorter Totland Circular packs in the very best of the west Isle of Wight 🏝️🥾, blending coastal paths, chalk downs, and quiet inland stretches. You’ll enjoy dramatic views around Alum Bay and the Needles 🌊⛰️, before looping back through charming villages and rolling countryside 🌿✨—a perfect balance of scenery and challenge without committing to a full day.

• 📐 DISTANCE: 18km
• 🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 344m
• ⚖️ DIFFICULTY: 🔵 Moderate 🔵
• 🔗 ROUTE: Mapy / Hiiker / OSMaps / GPX

Recommended for: Anyone who wants to spend a relaxed day hiking along the coast and cliffs with a bit of time to spare at the end of the day.

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Route B - Totland Circular (longer)

This Totland Circular is a classic west Isle of Wight loop 🏝️🥾, combining dramatic coastal paths, open downs, and quieter inland lanes. You’ll trace the coastline past Totland Bay and Alum Bay, soak up big sea views 🌊, and enjoy a satisfying mix of cliffs, countryside, and charming villages along the way 🌿✨.

• 📐 DISTANCE: 23km
• 🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 387m
• ⚖️ DIFFICULTY: 🔵 Moderate 🔵
• 🔗 ROUTE: Mapy / Hiiker / OSMaps / GPX

Recommended for: Anyone who wants to spend a full day hiking along the coast and cliffs.

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Route C - Newport to Totland (with bus)

This adventurous ridge walk cuts across the heart of the Isle of Wight 🏞️🥾, linking Newport to the west coast via rolling downs and high, exposed ridgelines. Expect sustained climbs, long miles, and wide-open views 🌬️🌿, with a rewarding mix of inland countryside and dramatic coastal scenery as you near the finish 🌊✨.

• 📐 DISTANCE: 22km
• 🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 496m
• ⚖️ DIFFICULTY: 🔵 Moderate 🔵
• 🔗 ROUTE: Mapy / Hiiker / OSMaps / GPX

Recommended for: Anyone who wants a long, challenging day on the hills with sustained climbs, exposed ridgelines, and big island-wide views.

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Challenging (🔴) Hike Routes

Route D - Cowes to Totland

This is a long, varied Isle of Wight traverse from Cowes to Totland 🏝️🥾, packing in woodland trails, rolling downs, and stretches of exposed coast. Expect a proper day out with notable climbs and sustained elevation 💪, rewarded by wide views across the Solent, historic villages, and a satisfying finish near the west coast 🌊🌿.

• 📐 DISTANCE: 25.61km
• 🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 311m
• ⚖️ DIFFICULTY: Moderate 🔵 / Challenging 🔴
• 🔗 ROUTE: Mapy / Hiiker / OSMaps / GPX

Recommended for: Anyone who wants a solid full-day hike combining coastal scenery with inland hills and varied terrain.

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Route E - Brighstone Circular

This Brighstone Circular is a big, rewarding challenge across the south-west hills of the Isle of Wight 🏞️🥾, featuring sustained climbs, rolling ridgelines, and long inland stretches. Expect punchy ascents, expansive views over farmland and coast 🌬️🌊, and a real sense of achievement as you loop through some of the island’s most rugged countryside 🌿✨.

• 📐 DISTANCE: 29km
• 🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 638m
• ⚖️ DIFFICULTY: Challenging 🔴
• 🔗 ROUTE: Mapy / Hiiker / OSMaps / GPX

Recommended for: Anyone who is up for a tough full-day hike with lots of elevation, rolling hills, and a strong sense of achievement.

Route F - Sandown to Totland

This is a big, demanding cross-island adventure on the Isle of Wight 🏝️, taking you from Sandown on the east coast to Totland in the west. Expect a long day on your feet with significant elevation gain 💪, climbing rolling hills, chalk downs, and exposed ridgelines, balanced by sweeping coastal views, historic villages, and varied island landscapes 🌊🌿. A rewarding challenge for those keen to push their endurance and enjoy a proper journey across the island 🥾.

• 📐 DISTANCE: 33 km
• 🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 582m
• ⚖️ DIFFICULTY: Challenging 🔴
• 🔗 ROUTE: Mapy / Hiiker / OSMaps / GPX

Recommended for: Anyone who wants a big, demanding coast-to-coast hike with long distance, significant elevation, and a full day of varied Isle of Wight scenery.

SAFETY & CONDUCT

Walk Leaders & Safety Equipment

All hikes on this trip are led by our trained UCL Hiking Club Walk Leaders. Walk Leaders are volunteer members who have received navigation training, first aid training, and experience leading groups in outdoor environments. Their role is to plan and lead routes, monitor the group’s pace and wellbeing, and ensure that everyone completes the hike safely.

At least one Walk Leader will be positioned at the front and one at the back of each group, with others distributed throughout as appropriate. Walk Leaders are equipped with:

• First aid kits
• Radios for communication between leaders and groups
• Maps and digital navigation tools
• Emergency contact details and procedures

Walk Leaders are there to support you. If you are struggling physically, feeling unwell, or have any concerns at any point during a hike, please speak to a Walk Leader as soon as possible.

Participant Responsibilities & Group Conduct

To ensure everyone’s safety and enjoyment, all attendees are expected to follow these basic rules while hiking:

• Stay with your assigned group at all times
• Follow instructions from Walk Leaders, particularly in poor weather or difficult terrain
• Do not walk ahead of the group or wander off alone, even if you are familiar with the area
• Inform a Walk Leader immediately if you are struggling, injured, or need to stop

These expectations are essential to prevent people becoming separated, lost, or unsupported — especially in winter conditions. We ask all participants to look out for one another and help maintain a supportive, inclusive, and cooperative group environment throughout the trip.

Emergencies, Navigation & Route Information

If something goes wrong during a hike — such as an injury, illness, navigation issue, or safety concern — you should find a Walk Leader immediately and explain the situation. Walk Leaders will assess the issue and decide on the safest course of action, which may include adjusting the route, slowing the pace, splitting groups, or arranging alternative transport if required. Raising concerns early is always the safest option.

All attendees will be asked to install the what3words app on their phone before the trip. This app allows precise locations to be shared quickly and is commonly used by UK emergency services. Walk Leaders may use what3words to share meeting points or locations, and it may be used if emergency services need to be contacted.

Shortly before the trip, all planned hiking routes and digital maps will be shared with attendees so you can familiarise yourself with the terrain and distances in advance. Final route choices will always be made by Walk Leaders on the day, based on weather conditions, daylight hours, and group ability. Safety will always take priority over completing a planned route.

Whilst at the hostel, multiple committee member will always be available in the evenings for welfare or safety concerns.

4/7 - HOSTEL, FOOD, & TRAVEL

ACCOMODATION (HOSTEL)

Address: YHA Isle of Wight Totland, Hurst Hill, Totland Bay, Isle Of Wight PO39 0HD

For all three nights of the trip, we’ll be staying at YHA Isle of Wight – Totland (GMaps, W3W), located on the west coast of the Isle of Wight, England. The hostel sits just outside the village of Totland, surrounded by open countryside and coastline, making it an ideal base for a winter hiking residential.

We have exclusively hired the entire hostel for our stay, meaning it will be UCL Hiking Club only throughout the trip. From the hostel, we have direct access to the hiking routes we’ll be covering, including sections of the Isle of Wight Coastal Path and nearby downland trails, so there’s no need for daily travel to reach the start of our walks.

Type of Accommodation

YHA Totland is a purpose-built youth hostel with 10 dorm-style rooms in total.

• Accommodation will be in shared rooms.
• We will reserve a mix of single-gender and mixed-gender rooms, depending on preferences.
• You’ll be able to indicate your room preference on the sign-up form, and we’ll allocate rooms accordingly where possible.
• Beds are typically bunk-style.

Facilities & Amenities

The hostel is fully equipped for a winter residential and includes:

• Heated bedrooms and communal areas
• Hot showers and indoor bathrooms
• Free Wi-Fi (note: signal may be patchy in some areas)
• A large shared self-catering kitchen
• Communal dining and social spaces
• A dedicated drying room for wet clothes and shoes

Sleeping Arrangements & What to Bring

• Bedding and linen are provided by the hostel.
• Towels are not provided, so please bring your own.
• You should also bring your own toiletries and any personal items you’ll need for the trip.

Please see the full kit list for more details.

Cooking, Cleaning & Responsibilities

This is a fully catered residential. All food will be provided by the club, and meals will be prepared, cooked, and cleaned up as a group.

• We’ll be using one large shared kitchen.
• Everyone will be assigned a simple cooking and cleaning rota during the trip.
• No cooking experience is needed - tasks will be shared and kept straightforward.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

The official meeting point is the hostel, rather than London. The recommended way to travel is by train and ferry from London Waterloo to Yarmouth (Isle of Wight). The total cost is typically £45–50 return with a 16–25 Railcard (prices may vary).

Once you have a confirmed place on the trip, you’ll be added to a trip group chat, and we strongly encourage everyone to coordinate and travel together where possible. This is a great way to meet people before the trip properly begins.

Journey Details & Arrival

The recommended route from London is to travel by train and ferry to Yarmouth, a town on the west of the island.  This will take you to the town closest to the hostel!

London to Yarmouth takes 3h 10m on the fastest services, requiring two changes. First, catch a train from London Waterloo to Brockenhurst. At Brockenhurst, change on to a service to Lymington Pier. From here, you can catch a 40-minute ferry to Yarmouth. Wightlink also operate ferries on the Lymington-Yarmouth route and your ferry ticket is included in your Trainline booking (if you book via Trainline).

Please see the following for example journey options: Trainline (London to Yarmouth)

Trains from London Waterloo run frequently (roughly hourly), with example departures at 11:35, 12:35, 13:25, etc.

• Total journey time (train → train → ferry): ~3 hours 10 minutes
• Arrival point on the island: Yarmouth Harbour

From Yarmouth Harbour:

• Take the Number 7 bus towards Totland
• Buses run every 30 minutes (e.g. 15:18, 15:48, 16:18)
• Get off at “Christ Church” bus stop, Totland
• Walk ~5 minutes to YHA Totland.
• Bus journey time: ~21 minutes

You should aim to arrive at the hostel between 16:00 and 18:00. If you arrive to the area earlier, you’re welcome to explore the local area before heading to the hostel. Arriving within this window ensures you have time to settle in and join the group for our first evening meal, which we’ll cook together.

Alternative / Independent Travel

While we strongly recommend the route above, you’re very welcome to travel independently or via alternative routes — particularly if you’re travelling from a different starting location.

If you do choose to travel independently:

• The official meeting point remains the hostel
• Please still aim to arrive between 16:00 and 18:00
• You should be in time for dinner and the first evening’s plans

Return Journey

The return journey is simply the reverse of the outbound route (bus → ferry → train).

• We will check out by 10:00 on Tuesday 17th February
• After check-out, you’re free to travel back on your own schedule

There should be plenty of free time on the final day to explore nearby towns or visit the beach before heading home (weather permitting - it will be chilly!).

Luggage & Practical Information

• You’ll have space to store your bags in your rooms at the hostel.
• You can travel with as much luggage as you reasonably need.

We recommend bringing:

• One small rucksack for day hikes
• One larger bag / rucksack / suitcase for everything else

Please see the full kit list for more details.

What is a 16-25 Railcard and should I get one?

A 16-25 Railcard can be purchased online and gives you 1/3 off UK train and TFL fares. You’re eligible if you’re aged 16-25, or over 25 and still in full time education. It costs only £35 per year, or £80 for 3 years. It pays off within 3-4 trips, so it’s perfect if you’re joining us on our walks/hikes! 

FOOD & COOKING

All food for the trip is fully provided by the club. You won’t need to bring any essential food with you, unless you’d like additional snacks of your own. Groceries will be delivered directly to the hostel at the start of the trip, and used to make:

• Breakfasts
• Packed lunches
• Snacks
• Dinners

How meals work day-to-day

• Breakfast is self-serve, with cereals, toast, jams, etc. Breakfast will usually be around 6–8am to allow for an early hike start.
• Lunches are packed lunches, with sandwiches, fruits, snack bars, etc.
• Dinners are cooked fresh each evening after returning from the day’s hike (around 5-8pm).
• Lots of extra snacks, sweets, and drinks will be provided that everyone can help themselves to throughout the evenings at the hostel.

Note: On the first day of the trip, dinner will be the only meal provided. On the last day of the trip, breakfast and packed lunch materials will be provided.

Cooking, responsibilities & rota

Dinners are self-cooked as a group, with a simple cooking and cleaning rota to make sure responsibilities are shared fairly.

Each evening:

• A small group helps with food prep and cooking
• Others may help with cleaning and washing up
• Teams rotate so no one is doing the same job every night

While a small group is cooking, others will have time to shower, relax, and socialise before dinner is served.

On the sign-up form, you’ll be asked what duties you’re happy to help with. The final rota will be shared shortly before the trip.

Dietary requirements & extras

If you have any dietary requirements, you must list these clearly on the sign-up form.

We always provide:

• Meat and vegetarian options
• And have previously catered for vegan, halal, gluten-free, and other dietary needs

Please be as detailed as possible. If we need clarification, we’ll get in touch before the trip.

Following feedback from our last trip, we’re placing extra emphasis on making sure meals are filling, nutritious, and suitable for everyone. Once dinner menus are finalised, we’ll share them in advance and adapt where possible.

You’re also welcome to:

• Bring your own snacks or extra food
• Bring your own alcohol, to be consumed responsibly at the hostel

5/7 - ITINERARY OVERVIEW

6/7 - TICKETS & SIGN-UPS

TICKET INFORMATION

Isle of Wight Trip - £75

• There are 40 spots available for the Isle of Wight trip.
• Cost: £75.00
• Included in price:
  • 🏠 Hostel accommodation (all 3 nights)
  • 🍽️ All food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks).
  • 🗺️ Guided routes and trained walk leaders
• Not included in price:
  • 🚂 Transport to/from the hostel
  • 🚌Local buses/transport (if needed)
• This trip is designed to be 🔵 moderate 🔵 difficulty and above. If you have not completed a hike at this difficulty before, this trip may not be suitable for you. Please see the grade difficulties above.
• Spots are allocated using a lottery (random selection), NOT first-come-first-serve!
• You MUST have a £10 Discoverer or £15 Explorer membership in order to be eligible for this lottery. You must get this before signing up for a spot!

Snowdonia Trip - £125

• There are 47 spots available for the Snowdonia trip.
• Cost: £125.00
• Included in price:
  • 🏠 Hostel accommodation (all 3 nights)
  • 🚍 Transport to/from the hostel
  • 🍽️ All food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks).
  • 🗺️ Guided routes and trained walk leaders
• Not included in price:
  • 🚌 Local buses/transport (if needed)
• This trip is designed to include both  🔵 moderate 🔵 and 🔴 challenging 🔴 routes. If you have not completed a hike at this difficulty before, this trip may not be suitable for you. Please see the grade difficulties above.
• Members will be asked to describe their hiking experience when signing up. Members with more experience will be prioritised for selection due to the advanced difficulty of the routes on this trip. Remaining spots will be allocated using a lottery (random selection), NOT first-come-first-serve!
• Note: we are not asking for extensive applications about your entire history of hiking or anything similar. We simply need to hear enough to know that you can confidently hike in challenging terrain and weather and that you will not be a danger to yourself or to others in the group due to inexperience. If you have been on lots of hikes with the club in the South East UK, you are most likely experienced enough to step things up and join this trip.
• You MUST have a £15 Explorer membership in order to be eligible for this lottery. You must get this before signing up for a spot!

Both Trips:

HOW TO APPLY

• You can register your interest for one or both February 2026 trips using this single form. The form will remain open until 12:00 (midday) on Friday 16th January.
• You may indicate your preference for which trip you would most like to attend. We will do our best to place you on your preferred trip, but if that trip is full, you may be allocated to your second-choice trip.
• Submitting the form does not guarantee a spot. Please see the details below for how places will be allocated.
• Registering your interest via the form is NOT confirmation of a spot on the trip. Please see below.
• Unfortunately, it is impossible to approximate your chances of getting a spot on one of our club trips, as this depends entirely on how many people register their interest. However, on our November trip to the Yorkshire Dales, there were ~150 people competing for 60 spots. Having said that, we are offering TWO trips this time, with a total of 87 spots available!

Note: In the event that not all spots are initially filled (for either trip), the sign-up deadline will be extended and converted into first-come-first-serve (all eligibility criteria still apply).

HOW TO CONFIRM YOUR SPOT

• The results of the lottery selection will be released between Friday 16th Jan and  Wed 21st Jan.
• Everyone who signed up will receive an email. This email will either confirm that you were successful in getting a spot on the residential trip, or that you have been unsuccessful and automatically added to the waiting list.
• If you are added to the waiting list, please watch your emails carefully in the following few days, as many spots usually open up (due to people not buying their ticket on time). On previous trips, 1 in 3 of the final attendees were people who were initially on the waitlist.
• If you were successful in getting a spot on the residential trip, the email will contain a password and you will have 24 hours to purchase your ticket on this webpage. If you do not purchase your ticket in time, your place will be given away to someone on the waiting list. Please keep an eye out for this email.
• Once you have purchased your ticket, your spot on the trip is confirmed.

CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY

Once payment for a trip has been made, refunds are not guaranteed. Trip costs (including accommodation, transport, and bookings) are typically committed in advance, meaning we are often unable to recover costs after payment.

If you are no longer able to attend a trip, you must inform the club as soon as possible in writing to [email protected] and please clearly state "I wish to no longer attend this trip" in the email. This will be treated as a formal withdrawal from the trip.

If there is a waiting list, we will attempt to offer your place to another member up to 24 hours before departure. If a replacement is found and confirmed within this timeframe, we will issue a refund. If no replacement is found, we are unfortunately unable to offer a refund. The more advanced notice you provide us, the higher the likelihood of finding a replacement for your spot.

 If we are unable to find a replacement, you will still be considered withdrawn, and it may not be possible to re-join the trip at a later date. This is because we are required to confirm final attendee lists with the Students’ Union and external providers in advance, and last-minute changes cannot always be accommodated.

This policy applies to all trips and all members and is in place to ensure fairness, financial stability for the club, and the smooth running of trips for everyone involved.

7/7 - FAQS

What should I pack?

Please see this full kit list for details on what to pack.

Do I need hiking boots?

Yes. Hiking boots provide essential support for your feet, ankles, and legs on uneven terrain and help prevent serious accidents. This residential will have rocky and uneven terrain and therefore is only suitable for those with hiking boots.

Can I travel there/back separately?

For the Isle of Wight trip, everyone is already travelling independently to the Isle of Wight, and our official meeting point is YHA Totland. Please arrive between 16:00 and 18:00.

Address: YHA Isle of Wight Totland, Hurst Hill, Totland Bay, Isle Of Wight PO39 0HD

For further questions, please ask these in our members-only WhatsApp chat, which can be accessed here. If your question is more sensitive, please email us at [email protected]. Please refrain from directly texting committee members without their prior consent.