12–13 April 2025
Route: Guildford – Portsmouth – Ryde – St.Catherine's point – Carisbrooke castle – The Needles – Ryde
The cycling route across Hampshire is very scenic, lots of forests (unusual for England in general) and beautiful views
Small ferry from Hayling to Portsmouth mostly used by cyclists
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard (needs a whole day to see all its exhibits, which we didn't have! need to return another time to see the rest)
A hovercraft (full of eels) ferry across Solent
Isle of Wight is quite mountaneous, 2000m elevation gain in the whole day!
The views from the shore cliffs are, predictably, spectacular. Especially the section closer to the Needles, riding on gently sloping hills covered with velvet grass..
