My first trip to the Isle of Wight covered mainly the West, and
my second the South. This time I covered the East. My GPS track is on this map, shown in orange. I have added it to the same map as the track for my previous excursions (in blue and maroon), so that over time all my rides on the island will be included on one map.
It was a bright but chilly morning (it is technically early Autumn after all) as I
once again caught an early ferry from Portsmouth to Ryde Pier Head, then followed the coast as closely as possible from Ryde round to Bembridge. I made an excursion on the road up to the summit of Culver Down to take in the 360 view, before descending to follow the sea front from Sandown to Shanklin.
I had dawdled rather, admiring the scenery, sea views and the many cafes along the way, and by then it was around 4 in the afternoon. I toyed with getting the train back to Ryde (
as last time), but the weather continued fine, so I went for it and cycled all the way back on inland routes. From Shanklin station, I followed the Red Squirrel trail to Newport, before branching off East of the Medina to follow Route 22 back to Ryde. (Since I used Route 22 for my
Six Ferries Ride, the surface past Quarr Abbey has been tarmacced and the Ladies Walk footpath across Ryde Golf Course has been officially opened to cycling and made part of the Route- great improvements.)
It was 41 miles of very enjoyable cycling, mainly traffic free. The only busy road was the mile and a half on the B3395 into Sandown (this is the only available alternative to the coastal path, which is all footpath along this stretch). Also, Route 22 from Newport uses the pavement beside the busy A3054 for a short way. But otherwise, the cycling is along sea wall, coastal roads, coastal path, quiet residential back roads, sea front promenade, bridleways and disused railway. One word of warning: there are many tempting eateries along the way: you may end up heavier than when you started, despite that climb up Culver Down!
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| Leaving Ryde Pier Head (speed limit 10mph) |
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| Ryde Beach |
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| Heading east from Ryde |
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| The path heads to Seaview |
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| Seaview has a shingly beach |
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| Seagrove Bay |
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| Path between Seagrove and Nodes Point |
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| St Helen's Bay |
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| Baywatch Cafe, The Duver |
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| Beach huts at the Duver are old railway wagons |
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| I walked round the Duver sandspit |
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| Ralvins Cafe shack at the Duver |
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| Wreck |
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Causeway from the Duver to St Helen's: I believe this was a dam for the St Helen's tide mill
(Dismount and push your bike, no cycling) |
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| Bembridge Harbour |
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| Noah is alive and well and living in Bembridge Harbour |
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| Bembridge back road (Love Lane) |
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| From lifeboat station, Bembridge |
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| Bembridge lifeboat station |
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| Bridleway behind Culver Down |
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| On Culver Down |
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| Pelham Monument, Culver Down |
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| Culver Down |
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| Road up/down Culver Down |
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| Sandown sea front |
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| Sea front promenade leaving Sandown |
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| In between Sandown and Shanklin |
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| Red Squirrel Trail (aka Sunshine Trail) through Appuldurcombe Park |
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| Freemantle Gate at the exit from Appuldurcombe Park |
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| Duck Pond |
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| On the Red Squirrel Trail near Godshill |
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| Disused railway path nr East Lane |
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| Unusual tunnel, Medina Riverside, Newport |
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| The disused railway from Newport to Whippingham is in need of repair, hence unfortunately cycle route 22 follows the main road here |
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| Route 22 leading to Fishbourne Ferry |
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| Route 22 passes Quarr Abbey |
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| Binstead Church |
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| Ladies Walk, now officially open to cycling and part of Route 22 |
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