Cycle the Wight - The Chalk Ridge Challange
Cycle around the Isle of Wight
Saturday, 15th May 2021
The Needles Pleasure Park
Sorry, bookings for this event are now closed.
THE CHALK RIDGE CHALLENGE
Chalk Ridge Extreme is not for the faint hearted! Test those leg muscles by tackling some of the steepest hills on the Island. Pedal up and over the western coastline and witness some of the Isle of Wight's most stunning scenery. Cruise along the chalk cliffs and hear the sea lapping on the beach below.
The Chalk Ridge Extreme route is hugely challenging due to its steep gradient and the variety of track surfaces, ranging from mud to slippery chalk. Along the way there are some relatively easy sections to give your legs a bit of a rest! These are where the route intersects public byways across rural farmland.
Tennyson Trail
The Tennyson Trail in West Wight makes up a good section of the Chalk Ridge Extreme and is extremely popular with local and visiting cyclists. The Good Mountain Biking Guide describes the Tennyson Trail as ‘probably the best chalk trail in the UK’. The Tennyson Trail itself begins in Carisbrooke and ends at The Needles situated at Alum Bay.
The route passes some of the Island's most important historic landmarks including:
Carisbrooke Castle - a medieval castle where King Charles I was imprisoned in 1649
Mottistone Longstone - dated between 3000BC and 2000BC, the Mottistone Longstone is situated on Mottistone Down, approximately halfway along the route
The Needles Battery - in the care of the National Trust, the Battery is a fort that was built in the 1860s. It's open to visitors in the summer months so you can take a peek inside and see the gun barrels it still houses from war days.
More information about this event
Event terms and privacy policy
When
Starts: Saturday, May 15th 2021
Timezone:
Bookings close: May 14th 2021
Where
New Road
Totland Bay
PO39 0JD
United Kingdom
Contact details
This event is organized by Cycle The Wight.
Telephone 07389244525
Contact the event organizer
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Information
Getting Here
The Isle of Wight is closer than you might think, with ferry crossings operating (for passengers) into five different island towns, with three of these services also carrying vehicles. The main ferry links to the Island operate from Portsmouth, Southampton and Lymington. For more information on Ferry crossings, please visit the Wightlink website or the Red Funnel website.
Once on the Island, whether you happen to be travelling to The Needles by car or bus, we have some easy to follow links and advice on the best way to get here. That said, if for any reason you can’t find the information you’re looking for or would like any additional advice on making travel arrangements, then please do not hesitate to contact us directly on +44 (0) 1983 752 401.
By Car
For those of you using sat nav, our postcode is PO39 0JD and The Needles is signposted from all major routes including the A3054 via Yarmouth, the B3401 and B3399 via Freshwater and the A3055 via Freshwater Bay.
By Bus
The number 7 Southern Vectis bus from Newport serves Alum Bay regularly. For more information, please use their Customer Services number 01983 827000 (Mon-Fri) or visit the Southern Vectis Website.
An open top Breezer bus also operates up to every 30 minutes between Yarmouth and Alum Bay. After stopping at The Needles it winds its way along the cliff top to the National Trust property, The Needles Battery.
The Southern Vectis Island Coaster serves The Needles every day in the summer. Leaving from Ryde at 9.30am and 10am, the service then travels to East Wight and includes Seaview, Bembridge, Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor to collect passengers, and then on to The Needles for a full day before leaving again at 4.30pm and 5pm.
Car parking
Entry to The Needles is completely free of charge and you only pay to park your car during the main season, but if you’re visiting between April and October then our supersaver tickets are a great way to make savings on all your favourite activites. The supersavers give you a 25% saving on our great rides and attractions, including the iconic chairlift down to Alum Bay beach and back.
A car parking charge of £5.00 applies from 17th March until 28th October
