Chalk Ridge Extreme

Chalk Ridge Extreme is not for the faint hearted! Test those leg muscles by tackling some of the steepest hills on the Island. Pedal up and over the western coastline and witness some of the Isle of Wight's most stunning scenery. Cruise along the chalk cliffs and hear the sea lapping on the beach below.

The Chalk Ridge Extreme route is hugely challenging due to its steep gradient and the variety of track surfaces, ranging from mud to slippery chalk. Along the way there are some relatively easy sections to give your legs a bit of a rest! These are where the route intersects public byways across rural farmland.

Click the map to the right to see the route on the ViewRanger website. Download the ViewRanger app to your phone and search for 'Chalk Ridge Extreme' to follow the map as your journey around the Island.

Tennyson Trail

The Tennyson Trail in West Wight makes up a good section of the Chalk Ridge Extreme and is extremely popular with local and visiting cyclists. The Good Mountain Biking Guide describes the Tennyson Trail as ‘probably the best chalk trail in the UK’. The Tennyson Trail itself begins in Carisbrooke and ends at The Needles situated at Alum Bay.

The route passes some of the Island's most important historic landmarks including:

• Carisbrooke Castle - a medieval castle where King Charles I was imprisoned in 1649
• Mottistone Longstone - dated between 3000BC and 2000BC, the Mottistone Longstone is situated on Mottistone Down, approximately halfway along the route
• The Needles Battery - in the care of the National Trust, the Battery is a fort that was built in the 1860s. It's open to visitors in the summer months so you can take a peek inside and see the gun barrels it still houses from war days.

Mountain Biking

While you're following the Chalk Ridge Extreme, go offroad and test your mountain biking skills in the surrounding woodland.

The Isle of Wight Mountain Bike Centre at Cheverton Farm in Shorwell is just off the Chalk Ridge Extreme route and offers guided cross country routes for all abilities, including challenging rides through the woods and chalkland trails.

If you feel like tackling the Chalk Ridge Extreme but don't have all the necessary gear, check our list of cycling service providers to make sure you are well equipped for the journey!