The Warrior Trail

The Warrior Trail is a new 6 mile circular trail on the Isle of Wight, which can be tackled on foot, by bike and even on horseback. It has been created in celebration of one of the Isle of Wight’s most prominent First World War stories; that of General Jack Seely and his horse Warrior - a real-life War Horse.

Warrior was dubbed the “Horse the Germans Could Not Kill” by the newspapers of his era having survived some of the First World War’s most famous conflicts. He was first led into battle in 1914 by General Jack Seely, who was a great friend of Winston Churchill. He was raised and trained on the Isle of Wight, and upon his return to the Island in 1918 he became a local hero – even going on to win The Lightweight Race at the Isle of Wight Point to Point in 1922.

The trail follows much of the route on which Warrior was once exercised, which ran all the way from Carisbrooke Castle to the beach at Brook Bay, where he was trained to confront the dangers of battle in the surf. It also winds around the pretty villages of Mottistone and Brook, where Jack Seely once lived, up onto Mottistone Down past the Neolithic Long Stone, and along a section of the Isle of Wight’s coastal path. 

The alternate sections for cyclists explore the nearby villages of Brighstone and Yafford, where Warrior was born.

If you’d like to learn more on the story of Warrior there is an exhibition at Carisbrooke Castle Museum, where there is also a bronze statue of Warrior with General Jack Seely in the gardens at the castle.

You can also read more of Warrior's amazing story online at www.warriorwarhorse.com

*Warrior is not to be confused with the fictitious “War Horse” - the children’s story which has recently been adapted for both screen and stage.