A linear ride from Cowes to Newport

© Automobile Association 2008. © Crown Copyright Licence number 100021153

Getting to the start

On the island, take the A3020 from Newport to West Cowes and follow signs to the floating bridge. Passengers arriving with their bikes on the Red Funnel car ferry from Southampton should follow the one-way system around to the right, and cross the floating bridge to begin the ride in Medina Road, West Cowes.

1 From Medina Road turn into Bridge Road, signposted 'Newport via cycleway'. Follow the road all the way to the mini-roundabout at the top of the hill and turn left into Arctic Road, still following the signposted cycle route. Pass the UK Sailing Academy on your left and continue to the very end of the road.

2 Zig-zag right and left as the cycle route joins the old railway line, which edges its way clear of industrial Cowes through a tunnel of oak, birch and ash trees. Pass the signposted footpath to Northwood on your right and, a little further on, look out for the broken remains of an old iron and timber bridge.

3 Beyond the bridge, look out for a distinctive spire and pinnacles poking above the trees across the river. Standing little more than 0.5 mile (800m) from the gates of Osborne House, St Mildred's church at Whippingham was remodelled in the mid-18th century for use by the royal family. Queen Victoria gave many of the furnishings, and a permanent exhibition in the churchyard recounts the story of this extraordinary building. Continue ahead along the track.

4 Now the views begin to open up, and between Pinkmead and Stag Lane you'll spot the old Ryde paddle steamer slowly rusting in her mud berth at Island Harbour Marina on the opposite bank. This is a good area for wildlife - the hedges are thick with blackthorn, dog rose and crab apple, and in summer you'll see dragonflies and red admiral butterflies fluttering above the path. Listen, too, for the plaintive call of curlews, which use their long curved beaks to probe the mudflats for worms.

5 Now the trail crosses the old trestle viaduct that once carried the railway over Dodnor Creek. This area of open water, marsh and woodland was created in the 1790s when the creek was dammed to provide power for a proposed tide mill. The creek is protected as a local nature reserve and you may see reed warblers, coots, moorhens and grey herons. Beyond the creek the cycleway climbs briefly across Dodnor Lane and approaches the modern industrial buildings on the outskirts of Newport. Look out, here, for a pair of concrete tracks that cross the trail and lead to a pair of slim concrete jetties built out into the river. NEG Micon is one of the world's leading manufacturers of wind turbines, and here a huge rolling gantry loads their products onto waiting barges. The facility was specially designed to minimise disturbance to the birds that feed on the mudflats of this internationally protected wildlife site. Soon, reach the white gate at the end of the traffic-free route. Stop here, then continue straight ahead as far as the post-box on the corner of Hurstake Road. Turn left, signed to The Bargeman's Rest, and bear right at the bottom of the hill for the final 300yds (274m) to the pub.

6 Here you can take a well-earned break before retracing your outward route back to Cowes.