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ROAD ROUTE WITH SOME BIG CLIMBS

Start: West Wight Sports Centre, Freshwater.

Turn left out of the car park. (Brookside). The road follows a stream with large trees on the left and Brookside Forge Guest House on right. Continue short distance to T junction. Turn left. (Queens Road).

Up hill on tree lined road. Pass school. Pass Pound Green. Do not turn into Camp road. Continue to T junction. Turn left ~ Bedbury Lane. Pass Farringford (former home of Lord Tennyson) on your right. After Farringford, the road drops downhill to Freshwater Bay. Cafe on left.

Note: This road is narrow and frequently used by large coaches.

Through Freshwater Bay and climb the obvious hill. This is the 'Military Road'. The road follows the coast and is getting nearer every year. Climb the first hill ~ Afton Down. Descend into valley ~ Compton Chine.

Second climb. This is a newer section of road. The original slipped into the sea. Through cutting and down a long curvy descent. Car park at the bottom with ice cream van in summer.

Note: Cars parked on the verges can be a hazard.

Take next left 'Brook'. Road climbs gradually through village. Note houses on left, open fields on right. At the top of this climb there is a triangle junction (before Brook Church). Turn right. Follow this road until you get to Brighstone village. Church on left, tea shop, shops & pub on right. Your turning is a left before you get to the Church (see below).

Turn left before Church roughly opposite pub. Pass thatched Post Office. Turn left at T junction just past Post Office and museum. Continue until you meet another road on a fork. Turn right.

This road climbs the Down and is steep in places. Car park at top. Continue over hill and down a long descent through woodland. The road eventually reaches the beginnings of Calbourne village. Winkle Street, a picturesque part of the village, is on your left. Climb through village to cross-roads. Car sales and pub on junction.

Straight across. Descend, then climb to minor cross-roads. Turn right toward 'Five Houses'. The road climbs gently to a junction. Turn left and descend. Pass farm and old level crossing keeper's cottage. Continue to main 'A' road.

Turn right, then immediately left on narrow lane. Further along, the road borders oak woodland. Watch out for marauding squirrels!

The road ends at a grassy triangle. Turn right, then immediately left towards Newtown. The road continues through woodland and National Trust property. There are views over the sea further down. Bear sharp left as you enter Newtown village. Pass through village and old town hall. Descend to bridge over estuary.

Continue to T junction and turn right. Follow to junction with main road by filling station. Turn left, then first right. Elm Lane. This road climbs gently (or more steeply if you're tired). Continue to minor cross-roads. (You have been here before). Turn right on narrow lane toward Newbridge. Views to left. Lane drops to the stream below Newbridge village. Turn right at junction and up hill into village. Village stores on left. Camping and caravan site on right. (Note: The caravan site used to have its own takeaway when I last visited).

Go through village and down long descent. Ignore left turn. Continue to junction where the road bears suddenly right. Do not bear right, go straight on. A few houses and a riding stable on your left. Climb gently across hedgeless fields. Pass a few houses and a massive modern barn, cross stream in a dip and bear right down hill to T junction in Wellow village. Large bus shelter opposite,

Turn left. Leave Wellow, pass through Thorley village and eventually reach T junction. Turn right and follow the road through until you meet the north coast and a T junction. Turn left toward Yarmouth. There are several tea shops, a fish and chip shop and some pubs in Yarmouth.

Continue through Yarmouth. Pass the harbour on your right and cross swing bridge. Pass boat yard. Bear sharp left up hill. Pass holiday complexes on your right.

Note: The final part of this hill is steep and passing traffic can force you against the retaining wall. You can push your bike through the final section on the footpath.

At the top of this hill, turn left down Pixley Hill. Ignore right turn to Norton Green. Keep going until you reach the outskirts of Freshwater. Copse Lane. Stay on this road and bear right at end (Note turning to Church & pub on your left). Go down Hooke Hill to mini-roundabout by Co-op.

Turn right through village. Keep going until you reach the triangular green and car park adjacent to the Sports Centre.