Enjoying a Rural Route Across the Water FACTS EE Starting Point: Fishbourne Ferry Terminal, Lsle of Wight

Enjoying a rural route across the water FACTS EE Starting point: Fishbourne Ferry Terminal, lsle of Wight. Ordnance Survey map 196 (The Solent), grid reference 557550. r.1 Distance: 24 miles rr-rr i!* Refreshments: Buffets at ferry terminal and Haven- Einstead street Steam Railway Centre, choice of restaurants at lz Godshill, plus pubs at Fishbourne, Havenstreet, r 1^ + DownenC, Godshill and Binstead. ,dffite lsle of Wight is a Wight Steam Railway - to :l 111 mecca for cyclists Downend. \ -'.iii seeking quiet country We've now ridden five- *o1#' *rr%* roads in beautiful scenery - and-a-half miles to nearly and this introductory circuit, 350ft and, though we'll be with an option of shortening a little higher when we the route by nearly three miles, return over this should leave you wanting to escarpment on the second go back for more. half of our circuit, that will The island scenery makes a be the last hiil we meet. rnagnificent backdrop to the Continuing southwards, view across the Solent. Yes it we join the 43056 has hills, but they add to the NewporVSandown road cyciing experience. for less than a mile before No cyclist, however fit and turning left into enthusiastic, ean claim that unsiqnposted Merstone riding uphili is nct hard $/ork at Lane to freewheel through times. But the effort of the village of the same q @ reaching the top, on foot if name and across the Newchurch necessary is rewarded by the soon-to-be-completed view and the pleasure of cycle trail. freewheeling down ihe other It offers a shoft cut and ,tr side. very flat alternative to our Coming off the 40-minute route, but misses Godshill car feny to Fishbourne, the a mile further on and the road goes uphill straighi away. Iogical halfway stop on our S/e join one of the island's ride if only because the - *#. pretty viliage offers a wide range of refreshments. te^ Leaving in the direction of Shanklin, we follow the codshil! @iA main road eastwards for a sandlord mile to Sandford where a blue-and-white cycle direction sign encourages us to turn left into narrow Leasland Lane. We follow it across the NewporVSandown road into encompassing almost the yards before turning a little Watery Lane for a further 500 whole of the island's norlh- abrupily left on to a bridleway yards before continuing east quafter as we begin a which takes us past Quarr straight on past a width more gradual descent. Abbey, the red brick spire of restriction sign where the I can't promise its downhill which is clearly visible above lsle of Wight steam railway island cycle route bears right. all the remaining three-and-a- the trees from the car ferry as Our route takes us to half miles back to Fishbourne, it approaches and leaves its busiest roads, from Ryde to Newchurch and the steepest but we come within 200 yards Fishbourne terminal. Newporl, at the top, but traffic hill, just beyond the church. of our outward route near Even more striking is the lights enable us to turn right This one goes down to cross Havenstreet as we follow sudden view of the Solent safely. the cycle trail mentioned directions for Binstead and which appears between the We leave this road within a earlier, and the start of a rnile- Ryde. trees, beyond the site of the mile, by turning left into long haul to the top of Hersley The former lies on the original abbey, built in the 12th Firestone Copse Road as we Down, by way of Lime Kiln western outskirts of the latter, century and dissolved by start dropping down Kite Hill. I Shute, passing Newchurch and on reaching the main road Henry Vlll in 1536. can't promise you won't see Garlic Farm on the way. ihere we iEnore directions for An orchard forms the another car from this point Emerging out of dense the car ferry by going straight boundary of our route as we onwards, but traffic wlll be woodland nearing the top, we on at the mini-roundabout, continue to the Fishbourne very iiEht over the next four get a panoramic view of into Church Road. lnn, offering good food and an miles throuEh l-lavenstreet - Sandown Bay to our right and We follow this residential attractive garden overlooking headquaders for the lsle of then a breathtaking view road downhill for some 500 the ferry terminal. € Chris Davies, 66, is cycling correspondent of fhe rYews and a member of the Cyclists'Touring Club. 5ince 1950 he has ridden more than - 000 miles - believed to be the highest recorded cycling mileage in the world. 4 1iiLt i.

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