Isle of Wight Geocaching: Fort Victoria

Afton Marsh map
Fort Victoria cache
Size: small
Hidden: 28 April 2008
Terrain: mostly level, steps up to cache
Difficulty: easy
Grid Ref: SZ 338 897
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Getting There
Fort Victoria Country Park is near Yarmouth. The woodland walk can be accessed from the west. There is plenty of free parking at Fort Victoria. The number 7 bus stops at Fort Victoria. For information on bus times see Island Buses or phone 0871 200 2233.

Wildlife
The diverse woodlands, cliffs and foreshore are home to many different species of plants and animals. Look out for red squirrels in the woods, see breeding newts in the pond during spring and summer, and watch out for adders and rare orchids on the landslip.

Fort Victoria

What makes Fort Victoria so special?
Built on the north shore of the Isle of Wight to guard the Solent, the remains of Fort Victoria now house a Marine Aquarium, a Sea Bed Archaeology Exhibition, a Planetarium and a Model Railway.
Ironstone with fossil shellsThe surrounding Country Park has an area of coastal woodland and a rocky shoreline of extraordinary diversity for you to discover. The site is one of the best vantage points for watching the Solent boats and shipping; stunning views of Hurst Castle across the Solent are only occasionally interrupted by the graceful cruise liners such as the QE2 passing by. This is one of the best places to see the Round the Island Yacht Race held every June.

The beach at Fort Victoria is a fascinating place, with sandy stretches and rocky pools. On the beach you might find cuttlefish bones, discarded crab shells, the egg cases of dogfish and rays (known as mermaids purse), whelk egg cases and many different shells.

There are also fossils to be found on the beach; the cliffs contain bands of clay and ironstone packed with fossil shells. There are also pieces of fossilised turtle shell which is recognisable by its honeycomb texture, as well as crocodile and shark's teeth. The rocks and fossils are around 35-45 million years old and were formed at a time when the environment was swampy and tropical.

Be aware, swimming is not allowed at this part of the coast due to dangerous tidal currents.