Shanklin Ride 32 Kilometres

1. Shanklin - America Woods

Starting from Shanklin Train Station car park, take a right across the car park, (as you face away from the station) towards the downs in the distance. There are some steps to negotiate, but this saves a journey around Shanklin's one-way system. Turn right on the road. After fifty metres, just past the entrance to the Lidl store, join the SS18 Ninham

Passing through the Holiday Camp, you go through the five bar gate, and turn left at the crossroads to follow the SS18A Ninham till you reach the pond, and Ninham Farm. Keeping the farm on your left, go through the gate on to the SS19 towards America Woods.

At the entrance to the woods go through the gate on to the SS37A climbing up through the woods.

When you reach the stone cottage in the wood, continue past, but on the path that is 30 metres to the right of the cottage. Do not take the path adjacent to the cottage. Continue through the wood until you reach the road.

2. America Woods - Ventnor RADAR Station

Cross the road, and go past the houses to join the Cycle Track. At the Cycle Track turn right.

Continue on the Cycle Track for 1.5 kilomteres, until the 2nd bridge. Just after the bridge, on the right, take the narrow track to the top of the bridge.

Turn right on the bridge and continue upwards towards the downs.

Eventually the path merges with several others, care is required here. You need to bear left and upwards on the V46 till you reach the wooden gate. Aim for the old quarry and gate across the field, then climb upwards alongside the quarry.

At the top bear left and upwards on the obvious path until you meet the distant hedgerow. Turn right, keeping the hedgerow on our left. Go through the two gates and continue onwards on the wide flint and chalk track which joins the edge of the Old Radar Station.

Although there are no RADAR facilities anymore, it is still known as Ventnor RADAR station. It now hosts many telecommunication facilities.

3. Ventnor RADAR Station - Freemantle Gate

Take a right and continue on the road past the RADAR station. After one kilometre the road drops steeply leftwards and downhill to reach the crossroads at the end of Down Lane. There is a shop 50 metres on your right here - if you need it. At the junction, turn left and downhill, taking the first right on to Steephill Down Road. Climb up on the road towards the Golf Course, until you join the V54A on your left. Follow this path until it joins the V55 where you turn right and steeply uphill.

When the track levels off, continue on the ridge, negotiating several gates, until the path joins a tarmac road. Continue onwards to the aerials. 200 metres past the first set of aerials continue left, on to the V51. Keeping the hedge on our right, continue downhill through a couple of gates until levels off at a five bar gate. Go through the gate and continue onwards, keeping to the edge of the field. After the open field, the path narrows and becomes undulating. Continue on this path until it reaches some tall metal deer gates.

Continue straight over, keeping the steep downs on your right until you reach a large stone arch called Freemantle Gate.

4. Freemantle Gate - Borthwood

You now will be following the well sign-posted Sunshine Trail for 4 kilometres.

Continue downhill, until the road at Godshill, (plenty of café’s here). Now take a left and almost immediately right. Keep to the Sunshine Trail, going past Billingham Manor, until you reach a bridge.

The Sunshine trail leaves us at the Railway Bridge. You carry on!

Continue onwards towards a crossroads, next to Hillcroft Turf. Turn right on this bridleway, up towards Redhill Farm. At the top of the hill turn left, then right downhill till the path passes close to a house. Cross over and go through the field, (please don't use the road). After the field, go straight on, to join the Cycle Route 23/Sunshine Trail.

You now have 5 kilometres of flat riding, crossing 3 roads. Our last section will be from Alverstone to Sandown - where you leave the Sunshine Trail/Cycle Route 23.

When you meet the road and see the Cycle Route sign with '23 Sandown 1/4" mile, turn right, and uphill past the waterworks, and immediately take a right just after the brown 'Adgestone Camping' sign.

Continue no this bridleway crossing the river, then dog-legging around a field past Alverstone Mead Nature Reserve. Then turn right and uphill to join the top of Alverstone Shute.

At the road turn left  for 400 metres, until the road bears sharply to the right.

5. Borthwood - Shanklin

Here you enter the National Trust wood Borthwood. Ignoring any signs about riding - this is a bridleway. Continue on the wide track straight through the wood. Taking care at the obvious fork, where you continue leftwards and straight on, till the edge of the wood.

At the edge of the wood you continue straight across the field through a couple of gates until you reach the busy main road - where you turn left, and downhill. Just past the airport entrance and over the bridge, take a right onto the bridleway by the white wall (Scotchells Lodge). Follow this bridleway through two gates, continuing straight on into the caravan park -  re-tracing our steps back to the start.