Roads on the Isle of Wight

[Nathan Pitman]

So I’m taking my GF for a few days away on the Isle of Wight in the summer and wondered if there are any notable roads worth traversing while we are there. 

Is there a record for lapping the Island???

[Nathan Pitman]

Clearly this is no Isle of Man but...

[LF1]

about 2 hours 20:

http://www.roundtheisland.org.uk/web/code/php/main_c.php?map=rir18&style=std&ui=rir5&override=&section=results&page=results2017&classrequest=995&submit=

[Nathan Pitman]

Unfortunately my Evora is not ‘bond’ spec so has no outboard motor. 

[eeyoreish]

The Military Road along the south side of the island is well worth a drive. There's a fantastic viewpoint just above Blackgang Chine where you can look right along the island down to the Needles. From there it's a nice fast drive down to Freshwater Bay with some lovely coastal views along parts of the way.

The Downs Road from Brading to the Hare & Hounds is also spectacular. Up, down and bendy and high up so you get glimpses of the mainland on one side and a panoramic view of Sandown Bay on the other. Another fab viewpoint towards the Brading end.

Plenty of country lanes criss crossing the island, which are lovely to drive too. Only a mile of dual carriageway though and most of that is 40 limit now I think!

It's a lovely place. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

[Trevsked]

And as a bonus they’ve resurfaced a lot of the island and roads are notably smoother now.

 

Trevor.

[eeyoreish]

About time! Maybe Chichester Council will eventually do the same round here...

[Nathan Pitman]

1 hour ago, eeyoreish said:

The Military Road along the south side of the island is well worth a drive. There's a fantastic viewpoint just above Blackgang Chine where you can look right along the island down to the Needles.

Yea I read online that this was a rocket testing base in the 50’s and 60’s!

[JG220]

Some good roads. My only caution is that they seem happy with a some pretty steep gradients and i managed to clip the front bumper of my Golf a few times, which never happened on the mainland at the time. (this was 4 years ago)

[DJW]

Did the island in my E400 and enjoyed it,  no idea where I was half the time mind you

 

[eeyoreish]

9 hours ago, Nathan Pitman said:

Yea I read online that this was a rocket testing base in the 50’s and 60’s!

Yes, I think they tested rockets from the Needles Old Battery. 

There's free parking at the Needles pleasure park and an opportunity to get a photo of your car with the Needles in the background I think.

as @DJW said, it's a lovely place with some good driving roads but sometimes you're just between hedges and thinking 'I wonder where this road comes out'...

[PhilW]

Culver Down is the best view on the island in my opinion. It is on the far east coast. There is a monument on the cliff top. There is a pub up there. You can see Portsmouth, right across the Solent and then in the other direction Sandown and Shanklin. On a nice day it is just beautiful 

[eeyoreish]

Yes, +1 for Culver Down, great views and cracking spot for a picnic or evening barbie. You can park on the grass overlooking Sandown Bay.

It's  the Yarborough monument up there. There's a pub up there too, The Culver Haven but it's never been great when I've been in. A few years ago now so it might have improved. There's always the coastguard hut tea counter if you're after something more casual..😐