Newport Cliff Walk Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour
Description
Explore scenic, Newport’s historic Cliff Walk at your own pace using this self-guided, GPS-based tour. Download an easy-to-use app and set off on an attraction-packed audio tour. Learn the little-known stories behind famous families of the Gilded Age—the Vanderbilts, the Astors, and other millionaires—and see their iconic oceanside mansions. • A self-guided walking tour of Newport’s Cliff Walk • Enrich your visit with the stories behind Newport’s iconic millionaire mansions • Benefit from online support as needed and an easy-to-use downloadable app After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Embark on this scenic walk at the Cliff Walk entrance by Easton's Beach. We'll learn a little about Easton's Beach as we set off on this journey, followed immediately by a short look at the Chanler. As we continue along, we'll dive into Newport's history, the effect of the Gilded Age, and the Cliff Walk's creation. We'll also learn a little about the "old-money" families, like the Vanderbilts and Astors, whose grand summer cottages line the Cliff Walk. Note: The tour is over 4 miles long, with more than 35 audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. Your password can be used on the same number of devices as the travelers you have booked. Please enter the same password on each device.
Our first major stop comes at the iconic Forty Steps. This is an alternative starting point for the tour and a wonderful opportunity to walk down these historic steps and appreciate the wild beauty of the crashing waves in front. We'll learn about the Gilded Age elites who tried to keep access to the Cliff Walk for themselves by building a wall -- and about the lower-class residents who tore those walls down! Thanks to their battles, this beautiful pathway has remained open to the public.
Ochre Court will immediately arrest our eyes! This châteauesque mansion cost of $4.5 million... in 1892. And it certainly shows! Now the centerpiece of the Salve Regina University, this mansion isn't open for tours... but that won't stop us from learning all about it's rich and fascinating history!
Next up on our Cliff Walk tour: the manorial Vinland Estate. This Vikings-inspired mansion is now Salve Regina's McAuley Hall. As we pass this beautiful red-stone mansion, we'll learn all about it's inspiration and its unique owner.
Finally, we reach Newport's highlight: The Breakers. This Vanderbilt mansion is the biggest and the best of all of Newport's summer cottages -- and you can tell. We'll look past the gate, across the sweeping lawns, and up to the magestic and marvelous mansion's facade. We'll dive into the Vanderbilt backstory, the mansion's architectural wonders, and much more while here. We'll also explore the technological wonders at work beneath the Breakers.
Rosecliff is next on our path along the Cliff Walk. This is arguably the most beautiful of the Newport Mansions, and it contains a rotating exhibition gallery on it's top floor. You can immediately spot this mansion by it's pink-and-white awning.
As we continue, we'll pass the Astors' summer cottage: Beechwood. Mrs. Astor famously had a "300 List" - the definitive list of the 300 people she considered high society. Where did that number come from? Well, this ballroom actually! It fit 300 guests. We'll learn more about this list, the Astors, and the Gilded Age as we continue to walk down Newport's Cliff Walk.
Our journey now takes us past Marble House, one of the most opulent and magnificent of Newport's Mansions. This Gilded Age marvel is another Vanderbilt home, and actually has one of the most interesting histories of all the mansions here. We'll learn all about Marble House's powerful owner Alva and it's beautiful Chinese Tea House.
As we continue along the Cliff Walk, we can catch a glimpse of an English Manorial style home through the trees: that's Rough Point. As we pass, we'll learn all about it's eccentric (and possibly dangerous) owner: Doris Duke.
As we near the end of the Cliff Walk, we'll see one final mansion: Land's End. This was the home of Edith Wharton, the gifted author who abhorred being a Gilded Age elite. We'll learn all about Wharton and her works as we continue.
Our tour along the beautiful Cliff Walk ends near another beach: Bailey's Beach. The northeast end of the beach, where the Cliff Walk ends, is open to the public, but Bailey’s Beach itself is private, welcoming only a very exclusive club.... reminiscent of Mrs. Astor’s “400” list. Perhaps the Gilded Age lives on in Newport!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- NOTE: You can park your car at Easton's beach.
- Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
- Private tour: Follow the route on your phone without an in-person guide or crowded group.
- At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
- Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
- Multi-device access: Use the same password on one device for each traveler included in your booking.
- More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
- Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
- Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
- Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
- Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.
Reviews(89)
We were charged for passes to a walking trail that is free to everyone.
Hi, I’m sorry for the confusion. My Newport Cliff Walk listing is a separate, paid self-guided audio tour featuring route guidance, local stories, and information created with the help of local guides. Since it appears you did not use the audio tour, please reach out with your booking details, and I’ll be happy to provide a refund.
Really great app, well worth the money! So easy to use, engaging, lots of great info and kept me engaged on the long walk. Highly recommend
Hi there, thank you for taking my GPS Newport Cliff Walk tour! I’m so glad the app was easy to use, engaging, and full of helpful information for the long walk. I really appreciate your recommendation. I hope you’ll try my Newport bundle or another of my convenient audio tours soon. Happy exploring!
great sense of peace come and go as you want
Michael, thank you for taking my Newport Cliff Walk GPS audio walking tour. I’m so glad it gave you a peaceful way to explore at your own pace, with the flexibility to come and go as you liked. I hope you’ll try my Newport bundle or another of my convenient audio tours soon. Happy exploring!
It doesn’t mention your progress in miles along the route and it shud, so u know how close u are to the end.
Nancy, thank you for taking my GPS Newport Cliff Walk audio tour. I appreciate your feedback about showing progress along the route; the tour is over 4 miles long, includes more than 35 audio stories, and usually takes about 1–2 hours to complete. I’ll keep your suggestion in mind, and I hope you try the Newport Bundle audio tour with me soon. Happy exploring!
I found using the app easy. The information provided was interesting and helped make the walk enjoyable.
Holly, I’m glad you enjoyed the Newport Cliff Walk GPS Audio Tour. Knowing the app was easy to use and that the background info enhanced your walk makes me happy. I’m glad the narration added context and brought the experience to life. Next time, try my Ultimate Newport Self-Guided Audio Tour Bundle: Walk & Drive, which combines the Cliff Walk with Newport’s scenic tour for a deeper look at the city’s history, mansions, and coast. Happy travels!
The audio tour made the cliff walk much more enjoyable and interesting. Loved hearing all about the mansions and the people who owned them from the gilded age. Highly recommend.
Judy, I’m glad you enjoyed my Newport Cliff Walk GPS Tour. It’s great the audio made it more fun and added stories about the Gilded Age mansions and owners. On your next visit, try my Ultimate Newport Self-Guided Audio Tour Bundle: Walk & Drive, which combines the Cliff Walk with Newport’s scenic driving tour for a deeper look at the city’s history, mansions, and coastal views. Happy Travels!
I think for a self guided tour it was good! I don’t think I knew I had to walk so many rock areas. But we did it and made it without falling!!
Ann, I’m so glad to hear you completed my Newport Cliff Walk Audio Tour. It’s a great example of how a self-guided tour lets you explore at your own pace while enjoying the scenery and history. On your next visit, I’d highly recommend my Ultimate Newport Self-Guided Audio Tour Bundle: Walk & Drive, which pairs the famous Cliff Walk with Newport’s scenic driving tour for an even deeper look at the city’s history, mansions, and coastal beauty. Happy Travels!
Very glad I paid for the audio narration. Lots of interesting information. When you get to the end of the walk there is a free bus/trolley that takes you back.
Kelly, I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed my Newport Cliff Walk GPS Walking Audio Tour. It’s wonderful to know the audio narration added interesting context to your walk, and I’m happy it made the experience even more informative. On your next visit, I’d highly recommend trying my Ultimate Newport Self-Guided Audio Tour Bundle: Walk & Drive, which combines the famous Cliff Walk with Newport’s scenic driving tour for an even deeper look at the city’s history, mansions, and coastal beauty. Happy Travels!
seriously it’s 40 steps down and 40 steps back up. good photo opportunity.
I’m glad you enjoyed the photo opportunity on my Newport Cliff Walk GPS Walking Tour. The Newport Cliff Walk includes some steps along the route, and I’m glad you found it a good photo opportunity. Since your review focused mainly on the steps, I’d love to know whether you enjoyed my self-guided audio tour itself, including the stories, route, and the flexibility to explore at your own pace. I’m available daily from 9 AM to 6 PM EST and happy to help.
What a frustrating experience. When I booked I expected to receive head phones and be on my way. Quite the opposite. I had to download an app, get a password that kept disappearing; it was horrible. Fortunately we set everything up, as instructed, before we left. While on the walk, I had to restart every time I took a picture.
Stephen, my tour is a self-guided audio experience, so you'll need to download the app and redeem the password before starting. I’d really like to understand what made the setup and walk so challenging for you. When you mentioned the password kept disappearing, was that during setup in the app, or were you asked for it again later? Also, while on the walk, did the tour stop every time you opened your camera, or did the audio just stop playing afterward? Additionally, were you using an iPhone or an Android device? These details would really help me understand what happened and relay it to my team. If you’re open to it, please reach out to me directly. I’d love to learn more, and I’m available daily from 9 AM to 6 PM EST.
