Taking a bike across the Solent to ride around the Isle of Wight and savour its landscape has long been a rite of passage for road cyclists. Now it’s time for mountain bikers to enjoy an island adventure of their own. Resident bikers know how good the riding is, basking in seclusion from the mainland. For 2023, we have created a trip to remember and it’s back for 2025 – delivering the best mountain biking experience on the Isle of Wight with all the logistics taken care of by the Marmalade team.

A big day out

• Sail to Ryde Pier from Portsmouth on the Wightlink passenger ferry, specially designed to carry bikes
• Enjoy a seaside warm-up along Ryde promenade towards Nettlestone Point
• Connecting with the vast off-road trail network we head towards Alverstone and the first of our exhilarating descents
• More superb cross-country miles bring us close to Newport then on to Brighstone Forest
• The white cliffs past Freshwater Bay and the Needles come into view as we ride over Compton Down
• Rounding up a brilliant trans-island adventure with a cold drink in Yarmouth before the ferry to Lymington
• The final leg back returns us to Portsmouth in a luxury minibus and bike trailer

If you are still not sure whether this ride is for you, then please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

What’s included

• Ferry crossings: Portsmouth to Ryde and Yarmouth to Lymington
• Minibus and trailer transport from Lymington to Portsmouth
• Fully guided by a professional MTB leader

Riding with Marmalade

A vital part of the ride is the special Marmalade MTB ingredient: fun. Marmalade events are known for their friendly, sociable and welcoming buzz. We ride and we laugh. With this new Isle of Wight trip, we have captured the adventurous feeling of a big Marmalade weekender into a superb one-day trip. We think you’ll love it.

This route is a traditional cross-country mountain bike ride. There will be fun bumpy descents, rooty forest trails and wide-open pastures. So a hardtail or short travel full suspension mountain bike would be perfect. Big travel bikes are welcome – just be prepared for some extra effort.

This ride can be enjoyed on a conventional mountain bike, e-bike or gravel bike. If this ride is right for your level of experience and fitness, then bring your choice of machine. Marmalade rides have a friendly welcoming atmosphere, and e-bike riders who find themselves first up the hill are always patient and understanding of those relying on human-power alone.

Ensure your bike of choice is maintained and ready to ride, and please pack a spare mech hanger with your usual trail pack spares. For e-bikes please consider bringing a spare battery or range extender if you feel your power consumption may call for one.

• Duration: 4-6 hours
  • We have all day, if we need it, but we expect to take around 4 to 6 hours, with plenty of stops
• Distance: 30 mi | 48 km
• Ascent: 2,800 ft | 850 m
• Level: +Advanced Beginner
  (If you have any questions about your level, just contact us)
• Meet time: 8.00am for a 9.00am ferry crossing
• Meet point: Wightlink Passenger Terminal, Portsmouth Harbour
• Group size: 5-8 (max.)

Equipment, kit and clothing

Essentials:

• Suitable mountain bike in good working order (bikes can be hired in advance)
• Helmet (in good condition, with no damage)
• Clothing and shoes appropriate for cycling and weather conditions on the day
• Personal choice of drink and ride snacks

Recommended:

• Gloves
• Glasses, sunglasses or eyeshields
• Backpack
• Spare inner tube
• Puncture repair kit and bicycle pump
• Padded cycling shorts for comfort

What’s not included

• Bike hire – this can be booked via the ‘Bike Hire‘ section
• Personal clothing & equipment
• Overnight accommodation
• Pre, during or post activity refreshments
• Personal travel or accident Insurance

• You will need reasonable fitness, happy to cycle for around 4-5 hours, with breaks
• You will be confident in mountain bike handling skills and proficient with operating your bike in the correct manner
• The trails will include features such as roots, small rollable steps and loose stones
• Your bike (whether your own, or hired) must be a suitable quality mountain bike. Road, hybrid and budget bicycles are not suitable for this ride
  • Gravel bikes may be suitable for skilled riders who are confident in their bike-handling
  • E-mountain bikes are welcome if they are well maintained and fully charged.
• The ride does contain a number of undulating – and in places challenging – climbs
• Riders must be aged 18 or over unless accompanied by an adult also participating on this ride
• If this ride sounds a little beyond your current skill and fitness level, please contact us and we’ll help you look at other options

If you need to hire a bike, we can recommend these excellent providers. Based in Sussex and Surrey, you may have to co-ordinate carefully with them to agree when you pick up and return your bike before and after our full-day Isle of Wight experience.

• Riverside South Downs | West Sussex (conventional and electric hardtail mountain bikes)
• E-bike Centre | Chichester (electric hardtail and full suspensions bikes)
• Southern eBike Rentals | Hampshire (electric hardtail and full suspension mountain bikes)
• Surrey Hills Bike Rentals | Surrey (conventional and electric full suspension mountain bikes)