Gift to Nature

an Isle of Wight conservation partnership

Cycling

Whether you haven’t been on a bike for years or you’re welded to the saddle, there is something on offer for you on the Island. There is a cycle path following the disused railway from Cowes to Newport, and then from the other side of Newport all the way to Sandown. It’s a traffic-free route and is mostly flat and well surfaced. Watch out for Trolls living under the many bridges along the route….. The Sunshine Trail is a signposted 12 mile circular route on the south of the Island, passing through beautiful countryside along bridleways, cycleways and quiet roads. These routes and 5 more can be found in Rail Rides, a guide to cycling from local railway stations. If you’re feeling more ambitious you can tackle the Round the Island route, which is clearly signposted and can be completed in a day or at a more leisurely pace in stages. For those seeking more thrills there are miles of bridleways and forest tracks offering challenging mountain biking. The annual Isle of Wight Cycling Festival is held in September, and you can enjoy a wide variety of events and guided rides.

Bikes on ferries – Bikes are carried free of charge on all ferries to the Isle of Wight (apart from the Red Jet) and also on the floating bridge between Cowes and East Cowes

Our Cycling Trails:
All the following are contained within the Rail Rides book – £2 click here to order:

Balfour Circuit – 8 mile circular ride with a mixture of on and off road cycling.

Golden Ride – 5 mile circular route from Yarmouth Ferry (for ferry connection to Lymington Pier Station), mostly off road.

Troll Trail – 14 mile railway path on well surfaced off road track (on road section through Newport) between Sandown and Cowes.

Ups and Downs – A challenging 13 mile circular ride with some steep hills. Your efforts will be rewarded with some stunning views over beautiful countryside and coast.

Harbour ride – 8 mile route from Ryde to Brading Station, including a stretch along the coast to Seaview.

Borthwood Trail – Fairly flat but with two short climbs, this 5 mile route links Sandown and Shanklin railway stations.

Sunshine Trail – This 12 mile circular route is fully signposted, and largely flat but with a few hills around Wroxall.

Gift to Nature

an Isle of Wight conservation partnership

Cycling

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