Cycling
The perfect place for a cycling holiday
Located just a few miles from the mainland and only two hours from the centre of London, the Isle of Wight is the perfect place for a cycling holiday, to relax and unwind in exhilarating clean air: Within an area of just 147 square miles you will find over 200 miles of cycle routes enticing you into the countryside or along the coast.
The Countryside on your doorstep
Over half of the Isle of Wight is designated as an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' and there are nearly 30 miles of 'Heritage Coast' -an accolade only applied to coastlines of the highest quality in England and Wales. This offers a perfect environment for the keen cyclist and a fantastic venue for a cycling holiday.
Wherever you chose to stay on the Island, you will find well sign-posted and carefully maintained routes into the countryside. In fact, the Isle of Wight has achieved recognition by the Countryside Agency for its 500 miles (827km) of Public Rights of Way. Of these, some 200 miles (300km) are bridle ways, cycle ways and byways which are accessible to cyclists.
Easy Peasy Pedalling
The Isle of Wight has long been regarded by those in-the-know as one of the best places to cycle in the UK.
'Bicycle Island', as it is often called, boasts mile upon mile of off-road tracks and quiet country lanes, many passing through Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a national classification given to more than half the Isle of Wight's varied landscape.
Some routes are decidedly challenging - with serious pedal power required to negotiate the steep gradients on the Island's high downs. Others are easy rides on level ground, through national nature reserves, past river estuaries and around the forest home of the red squirrel.
It's these easier routes that we have chosen to present as a series of leisurely bike rides in Easy Peasy Pedalling. Together with Island 2000 Trust, the conservation body dedicated to protecting - and promoting - the Isle of Wight's natural landscape, we have plotted six cycle routes covering all corners of the Isle of Wight.
For each of the six routes we flag up its length and rate its level of difficulty so that you can judge for yourself whether it is suitable for you, your friends or family. The routes are traced both pictorially on an illustrated map and with written directions. Alongside these, information is provided on parking facilities, places of interest to visit en-route and refreshment stops.
Wightlink has a long history of supporting cycling on the Isle of Wight. We sponsor the annual White Air Extreme Sports Festival, held every October and featuring mountain biking as one of the endurance tests, and we publish our own Extreme Sports guide, available free. But we also want to encourage leisure visitors to enjoy the Island's fantastic cycling opportunities so we carry bicycles free on our three ferry routes - from Portsmouth or Lymington for cars and from Portsmouth Harbour for foot passengers.
Cycling is a great outdoor activity for both friends and family - and a healthy one too - so we hope that you will enjoy trying out the six contrasting Easy Peasy Pedalling routes.
- Tertiary Navigation
Route 1 - Yarmouth to Freshwater
An easy, level ride on quiet lanes and a traffic-free cycle route
Parking: car park off River Road, Yarmouth.
Start at the car park and walk across the grass to meet the path alongside the Western Yar estuary. Turn left and follow the path, keeping the river on your right for about 1⁄4 mile until you come to a gate.
- Go through the gate and turn right. This cycle track follows the River Yar along until it meets The Causeway.
- Turn left along The Causeway until you reach the B3399 Freshwater to Newport road.
- Turn left along this road (take care – it can be busy) for about 1⁄2 mile.
- Turn left into Wilmingham Lane. Follow this quiet lane past trees and fields, ignoring the right turn to Thorley after the short climb.
- After the stone bridge, turn left along the cycle track through the marshes. Shortly after passing the old station, which is now a Youth Centre, you will recognise the wooden gate which you passed through at 1. Retrace your steps back to the car park.
For an optional diversion (dotted lines on map) to take in refreshment stops and the chalk cliffs of Freshwater Bay, go straight on at point 2 and follow the track until it meets Afton Road. Turn left here and follow this road until you reach Freshwater Bay. To return to the main route from here, retrace your steps until you reach the right turn to Newport. Take this turning and follow the road until the left turn to Wilmingham Lane, point 4.
Refreshments:
- Yarmouth has various pubs, shops and cafes.
- The Red Lion, Freshwater is a short detour off this route, via The Causeway, and is open for food. Children over ten are welcome.
- The Apple Tree Café at Afton Park Nursery serves lunches, snacks and cream teas as well as its own apple juice. Open April to October.
- Freshwater Bay, suggested as an optional extension to this route, has various cafes, hotels and shops offering lunches, cakes and refreshments.
Points of Interest:- Yarmouth Castle
- Afton Park Nursery and Orchard
- Dimbola Lodge, Freshwater Bay
Tourist Information Centre: The Quay, YarmouthRoute 2
Newtown and Calbourne 7 miles
A fairly easy ride on quiet lanes but with some rough tracks which may be muddy.
Parking: Newtown Visitors Centre
Start at the car park in Newtown and turn right past the old Town Hall. Cross the stone bridge and follow the lane down to the T junction.
1. Turn right and follow the road until you meet the busy A3054 Yarmouth to Newport road.
2. Turn left along this road for a short while, (take care – it can be busy).
3. Take the first turning right up Elm Lane.
4. Turn left after 1 mile at the crossroads, towards Five Houses.
5. Turn right at Five Houses into Pump Lane, which has two gates along it, making it traffic free.
6. Turn left when you meet the main road and follow this road for 1⁄2 mile.
7. Turn left at the signs for Swainston Manor Hotel and follow the track, keeping straight ahead after a short time to avoid the hotel driveway. Follow this track through woods and farmland until you reach the main Yarmouth to Newport road.
8. Cross over the road and follow the track past the dairy farm and through the woods, crossing the Clamerkin Brook.
9. Turn left into Colemans Lane and turn left again at the triangle. Follow the road, crossing the brook again until the road sign to Newtown.
10. Turn right here and follow the road all the way around, past Walters Copse until you return to the car park.
Refreshments
The New Inn, Shalfleet is a short detour and is open for food. Children welcome
Shalfleet also has a village shop and there is a garage just outside Shalfleet (on the route) which sells snacks and soft drinks.
Points of Interest
Newtown Nature Reserve
Newtown Old Town Hall
Tourist Information Centre: High Street, NewportRoute 3
Newport to Cowes
An easy, level ride along a traffic-free cycle route and a seafront esplanade.
Parking: car park off Riverway Industrial Estate, Newport. Turn right just after the second roundabout and parking is available at the Medina Riverside Picnic Area.
Start at the car park entrance and turn right along the traffic free Newport to Cowes cycleway.
1. Go straight across Dodnor Lane and continue to the wooden bridge at Dodnor Creek. This is a local nature reserve which links to the Medina Estuary – an internationally important wildlife site. Keep going straight on.
2. Go straight across Stag Lane and follow the track all the way until it stops on the outskirts of Cowes
3. Turn right at the end of the track and immediately left at the mini-roundabout up Arctic Road. Follow this road past houses up to the next mini-roundabout.
4. Go straight over the roundabout along Bernard Road and cross Mill Hill Road at the end to go down Westhill Road.
5. Turn right onto Beckford Road, then dismount and turn left down Shooters Hill
6. Walk along the pedestrianised High Street until you reach The Parade. From here you may cycle in front of the Royal Yacht Squadron and along The Green, eventually meeting up with Egypt Esplanade, which you can follow all the way to Gurnard.
To return, just retrace your steps.
If you want to avoid Cowes town, the cycleway is a lovely ride in its own right with river views and wildlife to be seen along its length.
Refreshments
* Cowes has many shops, cafes and pubs. You will have to dismount and walk through the pedestrian area so there are plenty of refreshment options.
* The Woodvale Inn at Gurnard serves food all day and has a beer garden overlooking the sea. Children are welcome.
* The Waters Edge and the Bowsprit are cafes on the seafront at Gurnard serving teas and snacks.
Points of Interest:
* Cowes Maritime Museum
* Cowes Yacht Haven
* Gurnard Beach
Tourist Information Centre: Fountain Quay, Cowes and High Street, NewportRoute 4 - Wootton's Woodland This route is virtually all on traffic free tracks or quiet lanes but does have its fair share of hills and rough surfaces. One for the slightly more energetic!
Parking: car park off Brannon Way, signposted from Wootton High Street, the A3054 Newport to Ryde road.
Start at the car park entrance, turn left and then cycle right up Mary Rose Avenue. Climb the steep hill through the housing estate until you reach Station Road at the top
1. Turn left and immediately left again up Packsfield Lane. Follow this lane, crossing over the railway line and up the hill the other side until you reach Littletown Lane.
2. Bear left and follow the lane along until it meets the busy Briddlesford Road.
3. Turn left and follow the road, ignoring the track off to the left until you reach the next road turning.
4. Turn left and follow the road downhill until you see the entrance gateway to Combley Great Wood on the right.
5. Turn right into the woods and follow the track ahead of you until you reach a T junction.
6. Turn left until you reach the gate.
7. Turn left and follow the track until you reach the road.
8. Turn left and, after 1⁄4 mile, turn right up the bridleway. Go past Greenhills and follow the track up to Great Briddlesford Farm and beyond to a junction at Dunnage Copse.
9. Turn right up the track and follow this until you reach a gate.
10. Turn right through the gate and cross the railway line. Keep following the track through woods and fields until you reach Wootton Creek and the main road.
11. Turn left up the High Street and left again into Brannon Way to reach the car park.
Refreshments:
* Wootton has several shops and two pubs.
* The Isle of Wight Steam Railway has a shop and licensed café (March to October) and is a very short detour off this route. If you just want refreshments and do not want to buy a platform ticket, show this card at the booking office and they will waive the admission fee.
Points of Interest:
* Isle of Wight Steam Railway
Tourist Information Centre: Union Street, RydeRoute 5
Newport to Sandown
An easy, level ride on a traffic-free cycle route
Parking:
* Newport: park next to the track just off Shide Road, opposite the Barley Mow pub. This is a right turn off St George’s Way, as you are leaving Newport and heading for Sandown.
* Sandown: park at the Railway Station.
From Newport:
Follow the track, going straight on at any road crossings until you reach Sandown station – it’s as simple as that!
From Sandown:
Go out of the car park entrance and turn right down the track and right again under the subway.
Turn right along Perowne Way until you reach the shop on your right.
Turn left to join the cycleway and follow the track, going straight on at any road crossings until you reach Newport.
Refreshments:
* Newport and Sandown are major towns so have plenty of shops, cafes and pubs.
* The Barley Mow pub is right next to the Newport end of the cycleway and serves food.
* The Pointers Inn in Newchurch is a short (uphill) diversion from this route and serves food.
* Arreton village is a short diversion (north of Horringford on the main road) and has a shop.
Points of Interest:
* Newport Roman Villa
* Sandown Beach and Pier
* Dinosaur Isle
* Crazy Golf and Browns Family Golf, Sandown
Tourist Information Centre: High Street, Newport and High Street, SandownRoute 6
Parkhurst Forest
Explore the Island’s largest woodland by bicycle. Wander freely around the gravel tracks and keep an eye out for red squirrels.
Parking: Forestry Commission visitors car park in Parkhurst Forest. Look for the signpost off Forest Road, 3⁄4 mile from the roundabout in the direction of Yarmouth, along the A3054.
Start at the car park. You are free to follow any of the gravel tracks shown on the map below so go off and enjoy yourself!
Refreshments:
There are no refreshments available nearby but the forest does have a picnic site near the car park so feel free to bring your own goodies!
Points of Interest:
* Red Squirrel Viewing Hide and Safari (Walking Trail)
* Giant timber sculptures
Tourist Information Centre: High Street, Newport, Parkhurst Forest