The Best of Both: Cycling Highlights from the Isle of Wight and the New Forest

The Isle of Wight and the New Forest are separated by just a narrow stretch of water, crossed in just 40 minutes using the Lymington-Yarmouth Wightlink ferry. Yet, these two landscapes, one an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the other a protected National Park, offer two beautifully contrasting destinations for cyclists.

Whether you are road cycling, gravel riding, family touring or mountain biking, the variety and contrast offered by these two neighbouring landscapes is one you cannot afford to miss.

In this post, we lay out ten of the highlights of cycling on the Isle of Wight and in the New Forest. Five must-experience moments from both areas that will show you the diversity and interest that are on offer for two-wheeled adventures…

• Road Cycle the Military Road – This is the one road on the Isle of Wight that is unmissable for a road cyclist. The famous stretch of asphalt offers the thrill of blasting along a ten mile straight, while taking in unbroken views of the English Channel.
• Mountain Bike the Tennyson Trail – The Tennyson Trail is the chalk backbone of the West Wight, best enjoyed from the seat of a mountain bike. The undulating mix of singletrack and wide open path takes you past castles, through forests, and eventually finishes with a refreshing dip in the sea at Freshwater Bay.

• Gravel Ride the East Wight – The East Wight is laced with dismantled railway lines turned bike paths, wide byways through forests and farmland, and technical singletrack to lung-busting clifftops. Enjoy a challenging day out on the gravel bike – check out some of the Wightlink routes for inspiration!

• Family Adventure on The Red Squirrel Trail – This low traffic or traffic-free cycle route is a beautiful way to gently explore parts of the Island. Taking in coastal resorts and rolling bike paths, it is a great offroad family cycling adventure.

• Stop for Coffee and Cake – There are some fantastic independent cafes on the Isle of Wight that will serve up some of the best coffee and cake a cyclist could dream of. Chessell Pottery Café in the West Wight, Café Isola in Newport, and The Garlic Farm in the East Wight are three highlights to visit.

• Gravel Trails for Miles – There are few places that offer the same intricate network of gravel cycle paths as the New Forest. The wide open forest tracks take you on undulating hills and from deep forest to open heathland, it is a gravel cyclist’s dream.
• The Wide Open Road – The open heathland of the New Forest creates a beautiful backdrop to road cycle in; with far reaching views, sweeping bends, and wind-exposed straights. There are many road cycling events held here throughout the year.

• Family Mountain Bike Adventures – While the New Forest is much flatter than the Isle of Wight, and a gravel bike will often be enough for the demands of the terrain, there is no reason why you cannot explore the 140 miles of off-road tracks by mountain bike, especially if you are looking for routes perfect for all abilities.

• A Wildlife Safari in Pennington Marshes – Where the New Forest borders the sea there is a unique landscape of wetlands, offering incredible birdlife and wildlife activity. From Lymington you can head down to Keyhaven along traffic-free gravel paths, and enjoy the beauty of the seaside nature.

• Grab a Coffee at The Woods Cyclery – In Lyndhurst you will find The Woods Cyclery and their excellent café ‘Bikes and Brews’. This is a great destination for any cyclist in the New Forest, and even offers bike hire and route guidance, so everyone can get involved.

Ready to experience the best of both worlds on two wheels? Whether you’re planning a weekend escape or a longer cycling adventure, combining the Isle of Wight with the New Forest offers endless variety, scenery and ride styles. Start mapping out your routes, book the ferry, and let these neighbouring landscapes show you just how diverse cycling on the South Coast can be.