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2025's Holiday on the Isle of Wight proved to be a bit different.
2025's Holiday on the Isle of Wight proved to be a bit different.
Following 3 successful holidays based from the YMCA in Lake we were faced with a challenge to find a new venue due its closure.
We hit upon the Island Riding Centre, based on the outskirts of Newport it presented an opportunity to ride on routes we could not reach from the East end of the Island. It has multiple houses and a Restaurant facility. It proved to be just perfect for our needs !
Twenty Six intrepid riders signed up and we organised 4 groups, one off road the other 3 doing road rides with varying distances and undulations (the IOW can be a tad hilly).
This years report will largely be a selection of photo carousels highlighting the areas travelled. Its always a risk with the weather in late September but you will see from the Blue sky's the fabulous conditions particularly on the main ride on Thursday.
Getting started !
Getting started !
Prior to the start of the holiday the organsiers were beset with a string of 'challenges'. The Island has a reputation for having multiple road closures and it was dicovered during one of the Recy's that the cycle route from Newport to Cowes (a route to be used by all groups) was due to close for bridge repairs. Other alternative road routes also had closures or were not suitable. The Road past a strategic Café was also due to close. The Catamaran had a loading problem and could not take bikes, and to top it all the Floating Bridge at Cowes was taken out of service.
So last minute changes to plans were instigated, new routes and diversions explored, Catamaran changed to Ferry and some groups avoided the small boat option to cross the river Medina at Cowes. It all adds to the Fun !
The location of the Accommodation allowed us just a short ride and the ability to drop bags before a medium length day ride. Three groups heading toward Gurnard and West Cowes. Two groups braving the small ferry over the river the other looping back due to a very unusual mechanical problem, the front wheel almost fell off ! Luckily no harm was done to bike or rider and after repairs proved fine for the rest of the holiday.
Some images from the either side of the Medina and from Chillerton Down with the off-roaders.
Day 2 the Big one
Day 2 the Big one
It was clear the day 2 rides would potentially challenge us, they all were targeting between 30 and 40 miles with some significant climbs. The payback being both the satisfaction of the achievement and the spectacular scenery and views. The day offered excellent visibility, scattered clouds in a deep blue skys and a pleasant 19 deg temperatures.
The Off-Roaders visited the rear battlements of Carrisbrooke castle before ascending to Brighstone Down and forest, some high speed down hills on gravel and grass add to the thrills and the fabulous cakes at Chessell Pottery Café even more so. Another climb onto Afton Down providing a truly spectacular ride through the cliff top golf course with views down to Freshwater bay backed by Tennyson down. We were so enthused we decided to extend the long ride even further to visit the Needles at Alum Bay.
After lunch by the pier in Yarmouth we followed a similar path to Team 2 and 3 back toward Newport with a couple of diversions along tracks (with Lama or Alpaca ?) and cutting through the tracks of Parkhurst forest.
Three groups visited Newtown, a quaint hamlet, very old Town Hall (it had aspirations) and lovely Nature reserve. Some into Yarmouth.
The climb on the Military road out of Freshwater is challenging ! But the rewards are well worth it ! Two groups took it on and were well rewarded.
The fourth group took a different route, heading south through Newport and Shorwell to Brighstone where the Tandem tea rooms delivered the necessary coffee. On through the lovely lanes to Chale and the Wight Mouse Inn for Lunch with great views along the south of the islands. With a couple more challenging hills and quie lanes on their return through Gatcombe.
On Day 3 the temperature had dropped so it was not so great, some members took an early ferry after the previous days exertions, 2 groups taking the Red Squirrel off road trail to the East, with coffee at the ever popular Pedallers café and lunch taken at the Duver in St Helens or in SeaView. The offroaders did a short circular gravel ride with another couple of quick descents and our second visit to Bluebells café.
I believe its true to say this was a VERY successful Holiday with excelent accomodation, food and rides and most importantly a fantastic group of people !
Some reports from each of the Ride leaders follow.
Team 2
On arrival at Fishbourne Ferry Port, Team 2 were raring to go! We made it up the ramp with all of our luggage and then on to Quarr Abbey, a short ride away, for some caffeine and sustenance, to get us to the Riding Centre, four miles away. Some of us had been up early, so a caffeine shot was definitely needed.
Once our luggage had been dropped off, we were on our way. First, we negotiated Newport then, leaving its hustle and bustle behind we enjoyed the quiet, car-free pleasures of the Medina cycleway. Here we caught glimpses of blue skies and the river, with many swans and other birdlife, particularly when we had to take a detour by the water to avoid a bridge closure.
Leaving the cycleway, we rode on to Gurnard, where we spotted our lunch destination - Gurnard Press, a former print works. We hadn’t booked (just in case we were rained off) but not to worry, we were welcomed with open arms. The food was delicious and this gave us time to bond and get to know one another better, important as we welcomed Miranda, a recent new recruit to PBB.
We approached West Cowes and its promenade via a very steep hill, giving us a spectacular view of the sea and the many yachts in the Solent. Once in town, we walked along the pedestrianised High Street, enjoying a spot of light window-shopping. The short trip across the Medina to East Cowes was enlivened by having to use a stand-in small boat instead of the usual ferry, space on which we had to share with numerous blazered schoolchildren heading for home. Once safely across, we trundled up the hill, turning off onto mostly quiet lanes to complete our circular trip from and to the Riding Centre.
On the second day, a gloriously sunny one, we had a much longer ride in the west of the island. The first highpoint was a stop at the town hall of the former 'rotten borough' of Newtown, together with a brief detour to walk along the edge of Newtown Creek’s calm waters. Riding on to the West Wight Alpaca farm cafe, we caught up with Team 3, who had already snaffled the best of the baked goods, so it was scones all round, whether we liked it or not. We then rode briskly along the old railway line near Yarmouth, admiring the former railway station (now a railway-themed cafe), before girding our loins for the next challenge - riding up out of Freshwater Bay along the Military Road. This stretched our legs to the limit, but what views!
On the final day, with luggage again on board, we enjoyed the mostly flat, but somewhat bumpy, Squirrel Trail. We spotted Team 3 behind us, determined to catch us up. We managed to get to Peddllars Cafe first for a coffee break, then graciously allowed Team 3 to leave first, before following them onto country roads, which led us past Adgestone Vineyard, the UK’s oldest continuously operating vineyard. A quick descent into Brading followed, then on for a bracing al fresco lunch on the seafront at Seaview.
We whizzed through Ryde, passed Quarr Abbey and made it to the ferry port in good time for our return voyage to the mainland.
Team 3
An eclectic group of bikes and riders (seven of each), both in terms of age and other qualities. In all, four rides took place, including the first six mile (mostly) uphill trip to the riding centre above Newport, where luggage was gratefully stowed. Feeling much relieved, we set off for our main ride of the day, a loop round Newport, Gurnard and Cowes (both West and East). Happily, the stand-in launch across the River Medina was able to carry our bikes (as were we, on and off the launch) thus ensuring a successful circular trip. The second day’s ride was a more formidable affair, at 37 miles long, but the sunny weather and the several stops in beautiful places (Newtown Creek, Yarmouth and Freshwater Bay) almost made up for the hilly rigours of the Military Road. With a late lunch taken in Brighstone, we greatly enjoyed the long downhill ride from the ridge above Shorwell to Carisbrooke, and then home. The final day saw us explore yet more inner suburbs of Newport, before a long stretch on the (off-road) Squirrel Trail. A visit to the beach at St Helens was followed by a quick lunch by the water at the marina and an even quicker dash through Ryde to Fishbourne, right on time for the ferry back to Portsmouth.
Eighty miles across three days of riding were free of punctures, rain, getting lost or other problems, and a splendid time was had by all.
Team 4
Went over by the car ferry to Fishbourne, stopped at Quarr Abbey for coffee and cake and went on to GG!s to leave extraneous luggage/clothes/etc.
The road from Wooton Bridge to the riding centre was pretty hairy but adopting this month’s mantra of ‘keep in a pod of 2 to 3’s’ the busy road was negotiated safely and also the route down Staplers Road and the housing estate into Newport.
After a light lunch at the ‘Quay Arts Centre’, overlooking the Newport Quay Basin we travelled along the Red Squirrel Trail towards West Cowes but unfortunately ,on the way through Parkhurst Forest one the rider’s front wheel wobbled and nearly came off! After using an Allen key said wheel and other nuts were retightened and rider proceeded back to base and safely cycled the roads on Thursday and Friday.
Thursday was designated the main event so we left at 0945,down to Newport,along to Carisbrooke, up to Shorwell, along to Brightstone and café stop. We took Malcolm’s advice and took a winding narrow road and observed speeding cars on the ‘Military Road’ to the south but gazing wistfully at the lovely scenery to the north, eventually leading up to the radio mast. We joined the MR on the way to Chale, but only for 200 yards. ‘The Wight Mouse’ at Chale proved to be a great place for a light lunch besides admiring the view from the sunny patio over Compton Bay and onwards to Tennyson Down and the Needles.
The rest partially prepared us for the 2 big hills to come; Gatcombe Park Vineyard and Whitecroft Hospital. I for one would have gladly gone into former sanitorium for some R&R but our dear leader intimated that if we kept going we could be home by 1600 for some refreshments as there was no cafes on the homestretch,which we did and returned by 1600. It was only 27 miles, short in comparison with the other 3 groups but it turned out a lovely sunny day, beautiful scenery and great company.
Two of the group transferred to group 3 on Friday (3rd day) and had a longer ride to St. Helens and back to Fishbourne for the ferry. The remaining 5 of us went straight to Quarr Abbey for coffee and more cake, Fishbourne for ferry and back home by 1300 hours.
The 7 members of 4 would like to express our thanks to the R/L’s who arranged, booked, recce’d the routes and provided a ‘running commentary’ for all of the routes. Accommodation,food and location were more than adequate for a company (or should that be a peloton?) this size.
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