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Coventry CTC Women’s Tour to Isle of Wight
26/06/25 – 30/06/25:
Ride Leaders: Carla Skinner and Libby Foster
This women’s tour promised excitement from the moment Carla announced that she would be organising a tour alongside Libby to the Isle of Wight.
We were a select group of four cyclists, three of us fresh from the Tri-vets and the other ‘ All electric’.
When we disembarked the Catamaran, ( welcomed by Carla) and saw the hill up to our accommodation in Ryde, we were fully prepared for the island’s hilly terrain. A short undulating circular ride in the evening sunshine returning by the esplanade reminded us of Ryde’s grand Victorian pas
t.
The next day we set out for Newport along a leafy track visiting the the quirkily designed Quarr Abbey and then onto Cowes via the Chain bridge where we enjoyed a picnic lunch watching the
boats sail past. This was all the more enjoyable because Dilys had transported our panniers!
We then headed to ‘New’ Town which is really very old and we spent time exploring the Old Town Hall and how it was saved by a group of rebellious women known as ‘Ferguson’s gang!’
A wonderful curry rounded off the day!
Day 3’s trip to the Garlic Farm via the delightful Squirrel trail was well worth the uphill ride to it. We all left with more than we had planned!
We enjoyed quiet country lanes to Brading Roman villa where we had morning coffee.
From there it was a wonderful seaside ride through Sandown and Shanklin. The cycle up to Ventnor on an old railway track through wild meadows was peaceful after the beaches. We then ‘flew’ down the ‘Zig Zags’ and lunched at Ventnor’s renowned Botanic gardens. We returned via the quiet Undercliff Rd.
Our penultimate day trip to the Needles via Mottestone Gardens was a great day’s cycling.
The successive climbs to Freshwater and the last climb up to the Needles were rewarded by amazing views towards the Needles and the south coast. It was bliss picnicing in the sunshine. To cap it all, a Spitfire roared past, above us.
Carla enlightened us of the 
unique geological rock formations above Alum Bay.
We really enjoyed the wide former rail track from Freshwater to Yarmouth with stunning views of the marshes and estuary but decided to stop at New Inn for much needed refreshments before meandering back to Newport.
The last day consisted of a lovely ride along the Medina river via Quarr Abbey to Ryde where we parted from Carla and caught the ‘Cat’ to Portsmouth.
The whole tour was unrushed and a joy, just like being on holiday!
Thanks to Carla for her meticulous planning, guidance and patience, to Dilys for her supportive kindness and good humour, to Libby for her travel planning, transporting us and making it so easy for us to do this tour and to Moe for her warm companionship.