Isle of Wight short tour, 9th - 12th May 2017

A smaller hostelling group than usual (Pam, Tim, Tony, Ed, Vic and Terry) met at Woking Wetherspoon’s for 11s on Tuesday May 9th before catching a train to Brockenhurst. After a pleasant alfresco pub lunch there at the Foresters Arms we rode to Lymington (passing one of Tony’s old schools) to catch the ferry to Yarmouth. Tim had plotted a route from Yarmouth alongside the river Yar to the Youth Hostel at Totland - some of it was on roads, some of it was along an old railway track.

The warden at the Hostel is Bob, a very good, friendly chap - he ran Streatley Hostel for a year but we never saw him there. We had a ten minute walk up to The Highdown Inn for dinner - Bob had forewarned us of the size of the raspberry pavlova. We had a very good meal, Tim and Terry shared a pavlova but one member managed a whole one on his own. After arriving back at the Hostel Vic realised his wallet was missing.

Tony had plotted a route for Wednesday and after checking at the pub for the wallet (no luck) we headed for The Needles and the New Battery. The view was superb. We then headed in a clockwise direction, diverting slightly to admire the view from Sconce Point, then keeping to minor, deserted roads to 11s at Gossips in Yarmouth and lunch at The Waters Edge in Gurnard. Tony modified his afternoon route and after successfully navigating through Cowes and via a splendid ‘avenue verte’ (avenue wight?) to Newport, diverted slightly to see the entrance to Carisbrooke Castle. A somewhat undulating road (but a good fast final 3 miles) brought us back to the Hostel where we were pleased to hear Vic’s wallet had been found at the pub.  We had dinner with wine at the Hostel.

Thursday morning we split up - Tony wanted to see a model railway and Vic took Ed to hopefully see a rare butterfly, leaving Pam and Terry to follow Tim. His route was anti-clockwise on the coast road to Brook, then inland to Brighstone and on to 11s at a deserted Wight Mouse Inn at Chale. Another pleasant, undulating 8 miles and we arrived at Wroxall for a leisurely, alfresco pub lunch at The Star Inn. A series of quiet roads, farm tracks and cycle paths along former railway lines led to Newport and 3s, after which we returned to the Hostel via Shorwell, Brighstone and Shalcombe . Another very enjoyable day. Meanwhile Tony had found the railway closed, Vic and Ed had seen a few butterflies but they had flown by too quickly to be photographed. We had good dinners at the pub again, this time lemon cheesecakes were shared.
 
Friday morning we returned to Yarmouth by road to catch the ferry and having time to spare had 11s at the nicely converted Yarmouth station. It must have been wonderful when all railway lines were being used by trains.


J.Obsworth was driving the train from Lymington to Brockenhurst and he was only licenced to carry four cycles, so we rode to Brockenhurst. We soon noticed we were on English roads. After changing at Basingstoke we arrived at Woking about 1430 in time for a late lunch at JDW, after which we made our way home.

A great holiday, thanks to all for company especially Tony and Tim for route planning. The island was very quiet, roads good, motorists courteous and weather wonderful.

~ Terry and Tim