Blackgang, Isle of Wight

Distance 19.8km (12.3 miles) Climbing 510m (1,673ft) Time 1hr 30mins to 2hrs

Route summary Not too technical, but includes some short, steep hills and quiet trails, enabling you to explore and ind wonderful views to the south of the island. It’s exposed to the elements, though! Start/ inish Blackgang viewpoint car park on the A3055 (postcode PO38 2JB, grid ref SZ 491/767)

1

Go right on the A3055, then left soon after on a wide bridleway, uphill. Head right, between the fields. Descend and rejoin the road into Niton, following the one-way system left and over the crossroads. After 250m go right on Town End (dead-end road) and follow it to the left. 2

Keep ahead when the track bears right, on a bridleway. Join the track to the left at the end. Descend and cross a road (left then right). Go down through some gates and up through some trees, to, and over, a track on a grassy bridleway. 3

Pass the fishing ponds and go right in the parking area, through a gate. Follow the bridleway uphill and left. Pass through some gates, then turn left on another bridleway, uphill, through another gate. Keep ahead, on a grassy climb, bearing left to/through a gate and joining the access track towards the radio masts. 4

Past the mast, go left through a gate. Descend steeply, keeping right, through a gate and into the trees. Continue ahead through another gate, across a field, then bear right to a fenced junction back in the trees. 5

Go right then immediately left, up a bridleway, on an undulating trail to a track crossing, with a large gate on the right. Turn left here (Stenbury Trail), descend and keep ahead to a road. Head left on this. 6

Bear left in Godshill, on a road past the model village. Climb and turn left at the T-junction, then go right on a bridleway, by the last house. Cross a road and keep left at the fork, to another road. Go left on this, then right at the T-junction. Follow this road over two sets of crossroads and past a third (with a dirt track on the right), before taking a bridleway (GL60) on the left (Upper Appleford Lane). 7

Climb, fork left, continue to a monument and go right on the ridgetop, keeping right and looking for a narrow trail that heads steeply downhill by a marker post after 800m. Follow this past a farm, then go left on the B3399. Head left on the A3055 then very quickly right on The Terrace. 8

Shortly after, head left on the coastal track between a house and a driveway, before rejoining the A3055, right. Follow this past Blackgang and back to the car park to finish.

LOCATION DETAILS

The Isle of Wight is only accessible by ferry, but provides a great break from the mainland, with a real holiday feel to it. It’s home to some well-signed bridleways that weave across the rolling hills, to provide some excellent riding and stunning coastal views.

GETTING THERE

WightLink ferries (0870 5827744, www.wightlink.co.uk) or Hovertravel (01983 811000, www.hovertravel.co.uk) can take you to the island. Once there, follow signs to Newport and then on to Godshill along the A3020.

MAPS & BOOKS

Ordance Survey Explorer 29: Isle of Wight. UK Breaks with Bikes by Max Darkins (Rough

Ride Guide).

FACILITIES

For accommodation, see www.visitisleof

wight.co.uk. The Old World Tea Rooms in Godshill (01983 840637) makes for a great mid-ride stop, and there are other pubs and shops here, too. There’s often an ice cream van in the Blackgang car park. The Wight Mouse Inn, in Chale just before the end, is very nice (01983 730431, www.wightmouse.

co.uk) and they have accommodation. Wight Mountain bike shop in Newport is very good, too (01983 520530, www.wightmountain.com).