Travellers' Tales: Cycling the Isle of Wight

The isle of Wight’s well-signposted cycle route is a staple day-ride for cyclists living in the Solent area. It’s also a great night ride!

Seven of us took the evening ferry, arriving in Fishbourne at 11pm. It was a warm and muggy night with thunderstorms forecast. Near Bembridge, we could see lightning at the other end of the island. A text message from a friend informed us of tropical rainstorms in Yarmouth.

It was a warm and muggy night with thunderstorms forecast."

Phil Beed

By 1am, the storm had passed to the west and the risk of a wet ride was over.

In Upper Ventnor, the group spread out as we headed towards our support campervan and our first brew stop. Looking back to check that John was still following me, I heard him shouting, a clatter, and then swearing. As we picked him up, he told us a badger had run across his path and knocked him off his bike.

Blackgang was our first real climb and descent. Then we followed the route inland, meandering through the island’s lanes and villages. As it got lighter, we could see that we were heading west, and we soon emerged back on the coast near Brook for our second brew stop.

It was every man for himself over the route’s two biggest hills to Freshwater. We then regrouped and rode to Yarmouth for an early breakfast.

Suitably fortified, we tackled the last 20 hilly miles to Fishbourne and got the 8.30am ferry.

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