The Red Squirrel Trail
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Bicycle Island Visit Isle of Wight
Bicycle Island Visit Isle of Wight
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Photo: Bicycle Island Visit Isle of Wight, Bicycle Island Visit Isle of Wight
The Red Squirrel Trail is the new name for the re-branded and combined Sustrans route 23 and the Sunshine Trail.
Route length- 23.23 M from E Cowes to the end of the "Sunshine Loop" section at Merstone. 9 M return to East Cowes from Merstone.
Total route length E Cowes to E Cowes = 32.23 Miles
Route length- 23.23 M from E Cowes to the end of the "Sunshine Loop" section at Merstone. 9 M return to East Cowes from Merstone.
Total route length E Cowes to E Cowes = 32.23 Miles
easy
Distance 51.5 km
3:34 h
104 m
103 m
104 m
1 m
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The Red Squirrel Trail combines Sustrans route 23 and the Sunshine Trail and it can be cycled in shorter sections to vary the distance. The route starts at East Cowes and goes to Sandown, along the seawall to Shanklin station. From here, the "Sunshine Loop" of the Red Squirrel Trail takes you back to the main trail near Merstone via Wroxall and Godshill. When back on the main trail, you can either turn left back to Newport and Cowes, or right to get back to Sandown.
The route is mostly on old railway lines surfaced with tarmac or hard gravel. There sre short road sections in Cowes, Newport, Sandown, Shanklin and Wroxall.
One short section from Wroxall to Freemantle gate is across a field with no track surfacing so it can be muddy in winter. If so, it is advised to push bikes across this field. It is also fairly rough surfacing from Freemantle gate back to Merstone. The Freemantle Gate sections (Wroxall-Merstone) are the "active/mountain bike" sections of the route, whereas the rest is mostly flat/easy riding. You do gain some great countryside views here though!
The Red Squirrel Trail combines Sustrans route 23 and the Sunshine Trail and it can be cycled in shorter sections to vary the distance. The route starts at East Cowes and goes to Sandown, along the seawall to Shanklin station. From here, the "Sunshine Loop" of the Red Squirrel Trail takes you back to the main trail near Merstone via Wroxall and Godshill. When back on the main trail, you can either turn left back to Newport and Cowes, or right to get back to Sandown.
The route is mostly on old railway lines surfaced with tarmac or hard gravel. There sre short road sections in Cowes, Newport, Sandown, Shanklin and Wroxall.
One short section from Wroxall to Freemantle gate is across a field with no track surfacing so it can be muddy in winter. If so, it is advised to push bikes across this field. It is also fairly rough surfacing from Freemantle gate back to Merstone. The Freemantle Gate sections (Wroxall-Merstone) are the "active/mountain bike" sections of the route, whereas the rest is mostly flat/easy riding. You do gain some great countryside views here though!
Author
Bicycle Island Visit Isle of Wight
Update: October 22, 2018
Difficulty
easy
Technique
Stamina
Highest point
104 m
Lowest point
1 m
Start
Coordinates:
OS Grid
SZ 50141 95751
DD
50.759201, -1.290483
DMS
50°45'33.1"N 1°17'25.7"W
UTM
30U 620572 5624441
w3w
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Note
all notes on protected areas
Coordinates
OS Grid
SZ 50141 95751
DD
50.759201, -1.290483
DMS
50°45'33.1"N 1°17'25.7"W
UTM
30U 620572 5624441
w3w
///cloud.type.juicy
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
Reviews
Difficulty
easy
Distance
51.5 km
Duration
3:34 h
Ascent
104 m
Descent
103 m
Highest point
104 m
Lowest point
1 m
Statistics
2D
3D
Maps and trails
- Waypoints
- Waypoints
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
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