Part of the Warrior Trail begins at Mottistone Gardens (National Trust) on Saturday 3 October. 11:00 marks the start, with the event due to finish at 13:30 after 2 and a half hours.
This three-mile circular walk follows part of the landscape where the war horse Warrior lived with General Jack Seely. Bob Seely, the general's great-great-nephew, leads the route from Mottistone Gardens; some sections are hilly, with steep gradients, stiles and uneven ground. The family connection gives Bob Seely a personal route into the story. Mottistone’s slopes then supply the physical setting for a partnership remembered far beyond west Wight. Mottistone sits between cultivated garden and west Wight downland, giving walkers a clear change of texture within a small area. The estate’s history remains close to the paths beyond it.
The free walk needs advance booking and lasts two and a half hours from 11:00. Treat the published terrain notes as central to the decision: the route includes hills, steep gradients, stiles and uneven ground. This is one of the more demanding walking events in the autumn programme, despite its three-mile distance. Wear footwear with grip and bring what you need for the full circular route from Mottistone Gardens. Anyone unsure about the obstacles should choose a gentler festival walk.