The plan for the day was to take the ferry to the Isle of Wight and do a circuit from Yarmouth.
We cycled across the river to the ferry terminal, tickets were £10.70 each for a day return, the bikes go free. We had a coffee in Costa’s while waiting for the ferry, the Wight Light, to doc. Bikes stowed at the forward end of the car deck we had a very smooth voyage across the Solent.
In Yarmouth we headed for The Gossips Cafe at the foot of the pier for a belated breakfast before setting of on our ride.
Leaving Yarmouth we cycled past the old tidal mill to join the rail trail to Freshwater Bay looking out for Red Squirrels on the way, we saw none. On leaving the sea we returned to Afton and took the Newport Road gradually gaining height on the way giving good views over the countryside and occasional views of the Solent. The temperature was getting quite warm so on reaching The Sun PH at Calbourne we decided to stop for liquid refreshments.
Leaving Calbourne we headed north through Five Houses before sweeping down through quiet lanes and woodland to Newtown and still we saw no Red Squirrels. Newtown is a small hamlet on the Isle of Wight, in England. The town was originally called Francheville (i.e., Freetown), and only later was it renamed Newtown and was a thriving borough .
The old Town Hall is the only remaining evidence of the former importance of Newtown. It dates from around 1699, with alterations in 1813. The red brick building stands in a grassy space that was once a wide street.
Leaving Newtown we headed to Shalfleet for lunch at the New Inn after which we cycled down the track to look out at the moorings on Newtown Creek from Shalfleet Quay.Retracing our steps we went through Shalfleet to ride through Ningwood and Thorley back to Yarmouth stopping at the former Yarmouth Station which has now been converted into a cafe Called Off The Rails which looks pretty good. The signal box is not original and houses a bike hire business below the elevated bird observatory. Leaving the station we headed through the town just in time to catch the next ferry back to the mainland.
A lovely ride but Lawrie was disappointed not spot any Red Squirrels