The Red Squirrel Trail website will help you get the most out of the trail. There are printer friendly maps, downloadable GPS tracks of the route and lots of information on what you might see along the way and places you can visit.
The Red Squirrel Trail covers 32 miles of mostly traffic-free cycling through the heart of the Isle of Wight’s beautiful countryside. The trail takes in estuaries, woodland, farmland, downland, and a stretch of the Island’s fantastic coastline.
There is no official Facebook page for the trail, but the Facebook link below takes you to the Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Trust's page if you wish to learn more about the Island's iconic and beautiful creatures.
The entire trail makes an ideal two or three day cycling tour, taking time to take in the wildlife along the way and visit some of the many attractions, cafes and restaurants along and nearby the trail. Or the trail can be split into sections for a shorter outing. Many people start at Shanklin and cycle a circular route that takes them through Wroxall, Merstone and Sandown. It's relatively easy for families.
There are two linear routes that start/end in Wroxall, near Ventnor, but by linking the third one, you can create one long loop of about 14 miles.
SANDOWN TO WROXALL (5.25 miles)
Stunning seafront and former railway trail
This linear route takes you around Sandown Bay, stretching from Sandown to Shanklin. A short section on-road through the two towns is rewarded by the flat ride between. It follows the traffic-free esplanade with sandstone cliffs soaring above you on one side and sand & sea stretched out on the other. You might want to take some time to explore the two towns which have a range of visitor attractions and great places to get something to eat or drink. From Shanklin you’ll head along the former route of the railway line towards Ventnor, upgraded in 2014 to provide better multi-user access. This route takes you right into Wroxall which has a convenience store and a pub. Just further along the route is the beautiful ruined shell of the stunning Baroque mansion, Appuldurcombe House.
Wildlife on this section
You’ll see lots of birds along this section, especially gulls like the black headed gull and the large and rather noisy herring gull, but you may also spot guillemots, cormorants, red necked grebes and many other interesting birds. If you venture along to the cliffs at Yaverland at the northern end of the bay you’ll find rather older evidence of wildlife, as the cliffs here regularly turn up prehistoric fossilised remains, including the only known fossil of a small theropod called Yaverlandia.
https://redsquirreltrail.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/RST_4_Sandown_ to_ Wroxall.pdf
WROXALL TO MERSTONE (3.5 miles)
The sunniest ride in the country?
This linear route follows the route of the former sunshine trail, now incorporated into the Red Squirrel Trail as the sunshine loop, so named because this part of the Island often tops the charts for the most sunshine hours in the country. Whatever the weather there’s always plenty to see with stunning downland views, country houses and more old railway lines.
Some parts of this section of the trail are best suited to all-terrain bikes, though in good weather many people have no problems with hybird or touring bikes.
Coming from Shanklin the old railway path ends at Wroxall, where you’ll cycle on-road for a short section into the Appuldurcombe Estate. The route from Wroxall is more undulating than the rest of the trail and through Appuldurcombe you’ll take a cross-field bridleway. If your bike’s not suitable or you’re cycling the route after heavy rain you might want to cycle up to Appuldurcombe House then walk your bike along the gravel footpath to Freemantle Gate instead, or use Redhill Lane (marked on the downloadable map). After passing through the impressive gate you can enjoy a downhill ride towards Godshill on a surfaced track, then back to the railway path near Merstone along a mixture of bridleways and quiet country lanes.
Wildlife on this section
A large part of this section runs through the Appuldurcombe Estate, originally much larger than it is today. You’ll skirt round the edge The Beech plantation of Freemantle Copse and see many other remnants of the planting around the estate. The small woodlands and hedgerows team with birds and butterflies.
https://redsquirreltrail.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/RST_5_ Wroxall_to_Merstone.pdf
MERSTONE TO SANDOWN (5.5 miles)
Through the wetlands to the beach
If you wish to create a long loop that starts and finishes in Wroxall, then add this section of the trail. Following the course of the old railway line on well surfaced, flat paths, this section follows the Eastern Yar River for a large section. You’ll enjoy a variety of landscapes form the patchwork of agricultural fields in the fertile Arreton Valley to the stunning wetlands as you approach Sandown. There are various visitor attractions near the route if you fancy a detour along the way.
If you feel like exploring the Merstone area a little further, Gift to Nature and the Isle of Wight Council have put together a series of six cycling routes that start from Merstone Station. These allow cyclists to travel on less used rights of ways in a peaceful part of the Island. The routes are for differing abilities and energy levels, and a map can be downloaded here or from the board at the station.
Wildlife on this section
This section of the route passes Alverstone Mead Nature Reserve, which is one of the best locations on the Isle of Wight for Red Squirrel spotting. Leave your bike and take a stroll up to the bird hide. You are most likely to see them first thing or late afternoon, and only if it's quiet as they are very shy. Even if you don’t manage to spot any of our elusive Red Squirrel’s you’re bound to see plenty of other fascinating wildlife. Also along this section you can see all manner of wetland wildlife including Kingfishers, Water Voles and some amazing wildlfowers.
Gift to Nature Sites
Next to the Longwood Lane junction you’ll find a carved arch leading you into Gift to Nature’s wetland walk and community orchard site. Follow the boardwalk to our pond (great for dragonflies) and then follow the path into the picnic area and orchard. You can help yourself to fruit in the autumn.
https://redsquirreltrail.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/RST_3_Merstone_to_Sandown.pdf
Rail Trail Cycling
In 2003 some of the Isle of Wight's disused railway lines were turned into smooth cycleways to create safe passages for cyclists. These paths are perfect for family groups of cyclists and beginners. Take in the stunning countryside as you ride the routes that cars can't access.
Red Squirrels & Wildlife
The route is called the Red Squirrel Trail in celebration of one of the Isle of Wight’s most iconic species, the native Red Squirrel. Eradicated from the mainland of southern England and much of the rest of the UK, the Isle of Wight is one of the last few strongholds of our native Red Squirrel. But squirrels aren’t all you’ll spot, the route is teaming with wildlife and we think getting on your bike is one of the best ways to experience the Island’s fantastic natural environment.
Trail Summary
The Trail runs from East Cowes, across the Cowes Chain Ferry (known as the Floating Bridge) to Cowes, then follows the old railway line to the Island’s county town of Newport. Following a mostly off-road route through Newport alongside the river Medina the trail then joins another old railway line, which it follows all the way to Sandown on the coast. The trail then follows minor roads to Sandown's esplanade, where you can enjoy a flat ride along the seafront for just under 2 miles, alongside some of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the country. A short on-road section through Shanklin brings you to another rail-trail section to Wroxall, the start of the Sunshine Loop, so named because this area receives among the highest number of sunshine hours of any location in the country. From Wroxall you cycle through countryside near Appuldurcombe House and along a series of bridleways under you rejoin the railway line at Merstone.
PedalAid
If you are going to cycle on the Red Squirrel Trail then why not register with PedalAid. The downloadable app app allows you to raise money for charity while you ride. Every kilometre you ride along the designated routes releases money for the nominated charity. Each month there is a Charity Challenge with an overall distance target and if the target is reached the donation per km is doubled. PedalAid has supported the improved facilities at Merstone Station.
