Self catering holiday on the Isle of Wight for great cycling

The Isle of Wight boasts one of the most popular cycling holidays in the world!

With 200 miles of cycle tracks, byways and bridleways for you to investigate, Kingates Farm is a great South Coast starting point, with bike storage too (bike chain/locks on request). Cycle to the Isle of Wight by crossing the Solent on a combined rail and Hovercraft ticket to Southsea or ferries from Portsmouth, Southampton or Lymington but we suggest getting a train connection before any busy city traffic. 

Regardless of whether you’re an enthusist cyclist or not, there are a lot of routes for you to explore on the Isle of Wight. Private use of the swimming pool and steam room will help ease tired muscles afterwards and there's a warm outdoor hose to wash you and the bike down too!

The full Round the Island cycle course is famous with the experienced cyclists at 65 miles long. This can be achieved over a couple of days, looping back to Kingates Farm and/or we are here to help if you need a lift... so be ready for a challenge!

Visit Isle of Wight cyclist Tim Wiggins great "Life In The Saddle" blogs on family routes, mountain biking, best places to stop off and so much more!

Round the Island Cycle

Ensured to give ocean sees, slope starts and wide open scenery. Cyclists will appreciate the test of the full course yet the characteristic breaks at towns make it ideal to part into smaller areas whenever wanted. There are a couple of varieties of the course so you can tailor it to your challenging level. It is a bumpy Island however, so whatever you pick, ensure you plan to buckle down!

You can begin from any place it’s helpful for you, however the nearest ship terminals to get the course are Yarmouth and Cowes. In case you’re showing up on the Island through Ryde, you could get the path from Wootton or Nettlestone relying upon your course of movement.

There are blue and white signs to guide you on your route. Blue signs with a white Island shape go hostile to clockwise, and white signs with a blue island shape take you clockwise.
Visit myviewranger.com to discover the route

Sandown and Brading Circular Cycle Route
IOW Zoo to see some of our more lively inhabitants. This route will take you through Adgestone which is a good chance to stop and visit the Vineyard and try some locally grown wine before heading over to Brading to explore the Town, Roman Villas and Railway Station (there are also some great walks to explore in this area) it is also a great place to stop for a drink and some lunch, there are a number of great places including the Forum Cafe.

Red Squirrel Trail
A well known cycling trails on the Isle of Wight and ideal for all cycling abilities.

With the option to separate into smaller stretches, the full course starts and completes in East Cowes. The good news about this course is that it has next to no traffic. There are a couple of little areas where you’ll have to go across a street however by far most of the path is rough terrain. You’ll cycle close by the River Medina, old railroad lines and you’ll even appreciate a stretch of seafront when you get to Sandown and Shanklin. See how many Island native red squirrels you can spot!
Red Squirrel Trail maps

Cowes to Newport Circular Route
This cycle route will give you some fantastic views of the Medina river and surrounding countryside.

The route takes you past Osborne House so if you are not in a hurry it is worth a stop on for a tour round the house and gardens, continue on the Whippingham where you will see the pretty St Mildred’s Church. Carry on up into Newport and take a visit to St Thomas Church  where you can see the Princess Elizabeth monument . There are a number of great pubs and cafes restaurants in Newport to stop for a drink or bite to eat before heading back to Cowes and for those who fancy a little traditional treat. We now take the cycle route back to Cowes with more beautiful views of the river before you arrive in the main town. The ride is classed as easy and is 9 miles.

Havenstreet Cycle
This course incorporates heaps of spots to investigate, from Arreton Barns where you’ll be astounded at the interesting specialties on offer to the popular Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

Cycling along St Georges Downs and through farms, you will experience an energetic route with some road along the way.
Visit visitisleofwight to discover the route

Carisbrooke circular cycle route
This cycle route takes you through country lanes and Gatcombe to the pretty Parish Church of St Olave’s which is one of the Island’s oldest churches. Following on past lovely Chillerton and Chillerton downs and through the picture-postcard village of Shorwell before heading through Bowcombe and back to the Castle. There are a number of places to stop on route for a drink and some beautiful churches and villages to explore on route. The cycle route is approximately 12 miles and rates as easy.