Have you ever cycled the Isle of Wight? If not, you’re missing out.
Lonely Planet listed the Isle of Wight number 1 in a list of 10 trips that should be on every cyclist’s wishlist. It said: “The Isle of Wight is a cycling paradise that is home to some of the UK’s most varied terrain: lush velvet hills rolling into the sea, narrow lanes through tidy hedgerows, deep and mysterious green gullies, and the island’s most striking feature, the ridge of white chalk cliffs stretching across its breadth.”
We couldn’t have put it better ourselves.
(In fact, we’re such fans it’s in our pick of the best places to cycle in the UK.)
Fantastic Isle of Wight cycle routes
The Isle of Wight has branded itself “the cycling island” – and that’s very fair given the 200 miles of cycling routes (on an island that’s 147 square miles) and the annual Isle of Wight Cycling Festival.
It’s most famous for the Isle of Wight randonee sportive, the annual circumnavigation of the island by bike (our guide to the route is here). But there are also lots of traffic-free cycle paths (many of which are navigable on a road bike), so it’s a great place to get the kids cycling.
Cycle around the Isle of Wight, and you’ll find quiet, varied, signposted routes, a laid-back pace of life, and great places to stay and eat. More than half the Island is an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and almost 30 miles of the seashore is Heritage Coast. It’s also one of the few places you can see red squirrels in the wild.
Below you’ll find our favourite Isle of Wight cycling routes for you to enjoy. And this is a little taster video to show you what to expect from the scenery (made by Epic Road Rides reader, Andy Allen):
Fancy cycling the Isle of Wight?
You’re in the right place. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to plan unforgettable Isle of Wight cycling holidays: detailed information on the best Isle of Wight cycle routes plus where to stay, when to visit and where to rent a bike.
Read on and plan your next cycling adventure.
Isle of Wight cycling routes
Here are some rules of thumb to help you plan your Isle of Wight cycle routes.
The links below will take you to three of our favourite routes on the Isle of WIght:
Rides
Our in-depth guide to cycle route planning may be useful if you want to find some additional routes!
Family cycling around Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight tourism office has information on short, easy Isle of Wight cycle routes that would be suitable for family bike rides. But watch out: many of these are on mixed terrain, some of which is not suitable for road bikes.
Isle of Wight cycling events: Isle of Wight sportive and festival
The Isle of Wight’s round the island cycle is in May each year. Local club Wayfarers CTC organise it and you can either do a 100km ride (with approximately 1,500 meters of climbing) clockwise around the island or a 55 km loop clockwise in the east of the island. It is free to enter (though you are encouraged to donate at the checkpoints). Book your place early.
Until 2015, the Isle of Wight Cycling Festival happened each September with a wide range of cycle-related events including plenty of additional routes suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities. Sadly funding cuts ended it, but it’s great to see the Tour of Britain making an appearance on the Isle of Wight in 2022.
And finally…
Don’t miss our top tips for cycling Isle of Wight.
Where to stay (for cyclists)
Remember to double-check accommodation bike storage arrangements (and any other services you need) before booking as policies often change.
You can find our suggestions for cycling-friendly hotels on the Isle of Wight in this article. The pointers below direct you to the most useful parts of this article, depending what you’re looking for.
Cycling round the island
When you’re thinking about where to stay, bear in mind what type of cycling you want to do. If you’re focused on cycling round the island, you’ll probably want to stay on or near the route. Our round the Island route guide should help you plan, and we think these accommodation options are particularly good:
- our suggested hotels in Ventnor;
- our suggestions in the west of the Island.
Cycling path access
Alternatively, if you want to access the traffic-free cycle paths, you’ll want to be close to those (see above). In that case, these accommodation options would suit you well:
- our suggested accommodation in Cowes; or
- our suggestions around Freshwater and Yarmouth.
Other options
Or how about hiring a holiday adventure van and doing a mini tour?!
Our quick guides to the Isle of Wight’s towns should also help you narrow down your choices!
Bike hire: Isle of Wight
Prices, services and bike brands often change. Please let us know if anything is incorrect.
Most of the cycle hire on the Isle of Wight is for leisure bikes; the Isle of Wight’s bike paths make it great for family cycling. We’ve included those bike shops in the list below as you may be on the Isle of Wight with family and so want to hire bikes for the kids.
We’ve highlighted yellow the bike rental shops that offer road bike hire.
Bike hire Cowes |
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Isle Cycle Top Gear Cycle Hire, 1 Terminus Road, Cowes, PO31 7TX |
Isle Cycle is solely focused on bike hire. No road bikes but a wide range of other bikes for hire including adult bikes, kids bikes, tag-a-longs, trailers and a tandem. Deliver across the island. Offer a one-way (branch to branch) hire (as they also have a branch in Sandown – see below). Can supply helmets, locks and tools.
Prices range from £12.50-20 for a day or £55-105 for a week. |
Ryde bike hire |
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Tav Cycles 140-140a High Street, Ryde PO33 2RE |
This bike shop in Ryde offers bike sales, hire and repairs. Hybrid bikes for hire plus trailer bikes, child seats and child trailers. Bikes come with a lock, puncture repair kit and a pump.
Hire a bike from half a day (£10) to two weeks (£99). |
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Tackt-Isle Adventures Woodnutts Yard, The Duver, St Helens PO33 1YB |
No road bikes but you can hire mountain bikes and children’s bikes. They supply a helmet, back pack, lock, and route map.
Hire a bike from one hour (£3-6) to three days (£21-42). |
Bike hire Shanklin |
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Route Fifty 7 Lower Hyde, off Landguard Manor Road, Shanklin, Isle of Wight (Next to Lidl) |
Offer bike hire, including road bikes (also electric bikes, trail bikes, mountain bikes, leisure bikes, child bikes, tandems and child trailers). Will deliver bikes to your accommodation for £2 (24-hour minimum). Offer island-wide recovery between 9 am and 5 pm should you have any problems.
You can hire from half a day (from £8 for a child bike) to two weeks (from 60 for a child bike). |
Sandown bike hire |
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Isle Cycle 1st Call Cycle Hire, 15 Marsh Close, Sandown PO36 8EU |
See details under the Cowes bikes shops listing above. |
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Sandown bike and beach Esplanade, Sandown, PO36 8JS |
Offer Raleigh hybrids, kids bikes, tagalongs and Dutch Cargo Bikes. Free helmets and locks are provided. Panniers are £2 per hire per day. £1 per day for extra days. |
Ventnor bike hire |
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Church Street Motorcycles Church Street, Ventnor, Isle of Wight PO38 1SW |
Ghost hybrid bikes. £20/day, £35 for two days, £75 for a week. Hire includes repair kit and helmet. |
Yarmouth bike hire |
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White Cycle Hire Yarmouth Station, Station Rd, Yarmouth PO41 0QT Housed in the beautifully restored Yarmouth station buildings on the Yarmouth to Freshwater cycle path. |
Offer road bike hire and repairs. Their range includes road bikes as well as hybrids, mountain, electric, tandems, children’s bikes, trailers, tagalong and child seats. Island-wide mobile support. Deliver across the island. The minimum hire fee to include the delivery and collection is £50. After that it is free. Guided rides offered.
You can hire from half a day (from £8 for a child bike) to two weeks (from 60 for a child bike). Bikes come with helmets and (on request) a puncture repair kit, pump and lock. |
Newport bike hire |
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Red Squirrel Electric Bikes The Guildhall, Newport PO30 1TY |
Electric bikes only. Island-wide delivery is available. Riders must be over 14.
A half day hire is £20, full day is £35. This is based on one bike; discounts for multiple. Hire includes a helmet and safety equipment, island-wide mobile support and a map. |
Tips:
- Book your bike in advance, particularly in peak season and if you want a road bike during the Isle of Wight cycle sportive (the round the island randonee).
- Remember to bring your pedals and shoes. This packing list may help!
Undecided on whether to hire a bike or bring your own? Read this.
Other Isle of Wight bike shops
You won’t find bike hire in the shops listed below, but they could be useful to know about if you have a mechanical while you’re on the island. Remember also that some of the hire shops listed above also do repairs.
Bike hire shops Isle of Wight
Bike shops Cowes |
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| Spy Velo, Isle of Wight Ferry Office, Medina Rd, Cowes PO31 7BX |
A bike shop in Cowes with a workshop and coffee house. They offer a comprehensive range of bike servicing. |
Bike shops Sandown |
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| Al’s Bikes Sandown Senator Trading EstateCollege Close, Sandown |
Sales and repairs. Offer three levels of serving. |
| Pedallers Café Langbridge, Newchurch (PO36 0NP) (on the Red Squirrel Trail) |
Ample cycle parking and a cycle repair station for free cycle maintenance. |
Bike shops Newport |
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| Island Bikeworks Great Whitcombe Cottage, Whitcombe Road, Newport, PO30 3DY |
Mobile cycle mechanic offering island-wide repairs. |
| Halfords 5, East Retail Park, 28 Docks Way, Newport NP20 2NW |
Bike repair and bike build available. |
| Wight Bike eco-solutions Perreton Farm East Lane Merstone PO30 3DL Arreton |
Bike sales and repairs. |
Bike shops Yarmouth |
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| Adrian’s Bike Shop The Coach House, 131A School Green Road, PO40 9BB Freshwater |
Bike servicing, bike fitting and bike builds. New bikes for sale. |
| Wight Cycle Hire Yarmouth Station, Station Rd, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, PO41 0QT |
Island-wide servicing and repairs. |
| Wight Cycle Works (sister company to Wight Cycle Hire) The Old Works, Station RdYarmouth |
Sales and repairs with a full workshop. |
When to go
It is well known that the Isle of Wight (and particularly the southeast of the island) has a milder climate and is sunnier than other areas of the UK. Towns such as Ventnor also have favourable microclimates due to their sheltered position under cliffs.
That said, don’t expect Mediterranean weather; this is still the UK, after all.
So, the big question. When to go cycling on the Isle of Wight.
It comes down to your priorities. We hope this colour-coded chart will help you decide.
| January |
Winter. You’ll be cycling in full winter kit, but the roads will be quiet so you can appreciate the splendid scenery without being disturbed by tourist traffic. Ferry crossings and accommodation will also be significantly cheaper than in high season. If you’re planning to spend much time off the bike, note that many attractions and restaurants shut between November and March. |
| February | |
| March | |
| April |
Spring and early summer. Out of school holidays, you can appreciate the quiet roads and lower ferry/accommodation prices while not feeling like the whole Island is shut up for winter. Attractions and restaurants will certainly be open by Easter, and the weather should be picking up. Rain stays relatively low between May and August, and temperatures start to creep up as Spring progresses into Summer. The festival season starts in May – don’t miss the Isle of Wight Randonnee – and two major events, the Isle of Wight Festival and Round the Island Race, takes place in early to mid-June. |
| May | |
| June | |
| July |
Peak season. The weather should be warm and rainfall low. But as soon as schools break up in late July, ferry and accommodation prices shoot up, and roads and cycleways get busier. Popular attractions start to burst at the seams. There are also loads of carnivals and events in August: from the National Trust sandcastle building competitions to town carnivals, the Garlic Festival and of course Cowes Week in early August. |
| August | |
| September |
Autumn. Similar to Spring and early summer – but with statistically more chance of rain in October. |
| October | |
| November |
Winter. You’ll be cycling in full winter kit, but the roads will be quiet so you can appreciate the splendid scenery without being disturbed by tourist traffic. Ferry crossings and accommodation will also be significantly cheaper than in high season. If you’re planning to spend much time off the bike, note that many attractions and restaurants shut between November and March. |
| December |
Tips and articles
For practical advice on visiting the Isle of Wight, try:
- Dorset, New Forest and the Isle of Wight with Kids (Footprint Travel Guides)
- The Rough Guide to Dorset, Hampshire & the Isle of Wight
For history and quirky facts about the Island, The Little Book of the Isle of Wight by Jan Toms is a good bet.
If you are looking for a novel set on the Isle of Wight, these are a good starting point:
Want to watch a film before you cycle Isle of Wight?
The 1997 film Mrs Brown starring Judi Dench and Billy Connolly was partially filmed at Osborne House.
Victoria And Abdul, also starring Judy Dench, was filmed on the island.
Isle of Wight cycle map
Bicycle Island map, featuring:
- Over 500 miles of cycle paths, byways & bridleways
- Routes – uncover the Island roads of the Isle of Wight with the Taste Round the Island Route, Red Squirrel Trail and Chalk Ridge Extreme
- Services such as bike hire, repair, bike buses and electric charge points
Try Outdoor Leisure 29 for a highly detailed 1:25,000 scale, or OS Landranger Map sheet 196 The Solent and Isle of Wight at 1:50,000. These are particularly worth buying if you want to find alternative routes/take diversions from the round island route
Good to know
Practical advice
- Just in case you were wondering… You don’t need a passport to get to the Island; it is a county in the same way that Surrey is a county!
- It’s Isle of Wight, not Isle of White!
- Join Facebook group Isle of Wight Cycling for up-to-date information about events as well as people posting to see if anyone wants to do a ride.
- If you want to know which island roads on the Isle of Wight are currently being resurfaced or are restricted/shut, check out this useful website: http://www.islandroads.com
Fun facts
- The Isle of Wight is the twelfth biggest British island by size and fourth by population.
- The National Trust owns more than a tenth of the island.
- Almost half the island has been designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty.
- There are no motorways.
- An estimated 25,000 people visit the island’s annual garlic festival.
- Around 3,000 Cyclists take part in the Round the Island Randonee each year.
- The Isle of Wight is the dinosaur capital of the UK. Over 25 different species have been discovered including the UK’s largest dinosaur the Sauropod. The remains of a little dinosaur, Yaverlandia, found on the Island, is the only specimen in the world and is displayed at the Geology Museum at Sandown. In 2009, 5-year old Daisy Morris discovered the fossils of a previously undiscovered species on Atherfield Beach, which has since been named after her.
Famous people
- Charles I was held at Carisbrooke Castle from 1647-1648 before his execution in London.
- Bob Dylan played at the Isle of Wight music festival in 1969 (to a crowd of 150,000). The next year, the festival attracted 600,000 people and included Jimi Hendrix in the line up.
- Island-born celebrities include Oscar-winning film director, Anthony Minghella, Mark King, lead singer/bassist in pop/funk band Level 42, Jeremy Irons, an actor born in Cowes, Bear Grylls, the adventurer, writer and television presenter, yacht designer, Uffa Fox, and actress Sheila Hancock.
The eight wonders of the Isle of Wight
(There are various versions of this!)
- Cowes you cannot milk
- Freshwater you cannot drink
- Lake you can walk through and stay dry
- Needles you cannot thread
- Newport you cannot bottle
- Newtown which is old
- Ryde where you walk
- Winkle Street where there are no winkles
Enjoyed our guide?
We’d love to hear from you – comment below or drop us a line.
Want more? Don’t miss our guides to the best Isle of Wight cycling routes and other articles on the Isle of Wight, below.
Want to check out some other destinations? For our UK guides, click here – or search by the month you want to travel or cycling destination you want to visit, here.
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Clare Dewey is a cyclist with a passion for travel. She set up epicroadrides.com in 2018 to help make it easy for cyclists to explore the world by bike. Today her mission is still inspiring cyclists to discover new places on two wheels - and doing what she can to make sure they have the best possible time while they're there. Clare has visited 50+ destinations around the world, many of them by bike.
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