The Red Squirrel Trail: cycle route map and campsites along it
The Red Squirrel Trail is the Isle of Wight's main family cycle route. It runs south from Cowes along the Medina to Newport, follows the old railway east through Merstone and Alverstone to Sandown, uses the seafront to Shanklin, then returns on another old railway to Wroxall and over the downs by Godshill to Merstone.
Visit Isle of Wight and Hovertravel give it as 32 miles for the full ride from Cowes, round the loop and back. On our map the Cowes to Merstone stem is about 7.7 miles each way and the loop from Merstone about 14 miles, so you can ride any part of it. Most of it is tarmac or hard gravel on old railway lines and nearly flat. The exception is the stretch between Wroxall and Godshill, which uses bridleways and lanes and climbs to about 100 metres near Appuldurcombe.
It is signed on the ground and partly shared with National Cycle Route 23, and the off-road sections are shared with walkers. Campsites sit right beside it at Alverstone, Godshill and Shanklin. See also our list of campsites on a cycle route.
The Red Squirrel Trail is 21.9 miles. Here is every campsite within about a mile and a half of it, in order, so you can ride it in stages.
Plan my own datesEvery campsite near the route
- Waverley Park Holiday Centre East Cowes · 0.6 miles off the routeIn East Cowes, a short walk from the Floating Bridge across to the start in Cowes.mile 0
- Gurnard Pines Gurnard · 1.2 miles off the routemile 0
- Comforts Farm Northwood · 1.3 miles off the routemile 1
- The Ark Park Cowes · 1.2 miles off the routemile 1
- Last Post CS Newport · 0.9 miles off the routemile 3
- Springfield Oaks Newport · 1.2 miles off the routemile 3
- Island Riding Centre Safari Camp Newport · 1.2 miles off the routemile 3
- Isle of Wight Festival Campsite Newport · 0.3 miles off the routemile 4
- Four Lakes Retreat Newport · 1.2 miles off the routemile 4
- Kids Love Yurts Newport · 0.9 miles off the routemile 5
- Windmill Campersite Carisbrooke · 1.1 miles off the routemile 5
- The Lakes Rookley Rookley · 0.7 miles off the routemile 7
- Bury Lane Farm CL Merstone · on the doorstep off the routeAdults-only members' CL at Merstone, a few hundred metres from the trail.mile 8
- The Chequers Inn Motorhome & Caravan Pitches Rookley · 1.2 miles off the routemile 8
- Moor Farm Yurt Godshill · on the doorstep off the routeBeside the trail on the Godshill section of the loop.mile 9
- Rusty Meadow Godshill · 0.7 miles off the routemile 10
- The Hut at Godshill Park Farm Godshill · on the doorstep off the routeShepherd's hut close to the trail between Godshill and Appuldurcombe.mile 10
- Appuldurcombe Gardens Holiday Park Wroxall · 0.5 miles off the routeAt Wroxall, about half a mile from the trail where the railway path meets the loop.mile 11
- Ninham Country Holidays Shanklin · 0.5 miles off the routemile 14
- Willow Brook Camping Shanklin · 0.7 miles off the routemile 14
- The Old Barn Holiday Park Apse Heath · 1.1 miles off the routemile 14
- Village Way Caravan and Camping Park Apse Heath · 1.1 miles off the routemile 14
- Lower Hyde Holiday Park Shanklin · on the doorstep off the routeOn the trail at Shanklin, near the station, with Routefifty7 bike hire on site.mile 14
- Landguard Holiday Park Shanklin · 0.4 miles off the routemile 14
- Cheverton Copse Holiday Park Lake · 1.1 miles off the routemile 15
- Fort Holiday Park Sandown · 0.4 miles off the routemile 16
- Fairway Holiday Park Sandown · on the doorstep off the routemile 17
- Adgestone Campsite Sandown · on the doorstep off the routeRiverside park a few hundred metres from the trail between Alverstone and Sandown.mile 17
- Alverstone Ponds CL Alverstone · on the doorstep off the routeMembers' CL right by the cycle track at Alverstone, between Newchurch and Sandown.mile 18
- Borthwood Caravans CL Alverstone · 0.7 miles off the routemile 18
- Queen Bower Dairy Caravan Park Alverstone · 0.9 miles off the routemile 19
- The Garlic Farm Yurts Newchurch · 0.6 miles off the routeYurts behind the Garlic Farm at Newchurch, about half a mile from the cycle track.mile 19
- Willow Shepherd's Hut Newchurch · 0.4 miles off the routemile 20
- Southland Club Campsite Newchurch · 0.6 miles off the routemile 20
- Dairymans Daughter Cottage CS Arreton · 0.5 miles off the routemile 21
- Perreton Farm Arreton · 0.5 miles off the routemile 21
The route, section by section
Cowes to Newport, about 4 miles. The trail follows the Cowes and Newport Railway, which opened in 1862 and closed in 1966, along the west bank of the Medina estuary. It crosses Dodnor Creek on the old railway bridge, and Island Roads replaced the deck of the Cement Mills Viaduct on this section in autumn 2025. From East Cowes, cross on the Floating Bridge first.
Newport to Sandown, about 10 miles. From Newport the trail runs beside the Medina past Shide and Blackwater to the old Merstone station, where the platform is now a wildflower meadow. It then follows the Eastern Yar through the Arreton valley farmland, Newchurch and the wetlands at Alverstone to the coast at Sandown. A link opened in 2025 lets you reach Harvey Browns farm shop off the trail without using the main road.
Sandown to Shanklin, 2 miles, then on to Wroxall. The seafront promenade takes you under the cliffs to Shanklin. From near Shanklin station the trail follows the old Ventnor railway inland to Wroxall, climbing gently all the way.
Wroxall to Merstone, the loop back. The County Press calls this the sunshine loop. Cross-field bridleways run past Appuldurcombe, then paths drop towards Godshill and lanes lead back to the railway trail at Merstone. This is the hilliest and roughest part.
Getting there with a bike
Red Funnel carries bikes free on the car ferry to East Cowes, and its Red Jet to West Cowes has 11 bike racks with a 25 kg limit, which rules out many e-bikes. Wightlink carries bikes free with a foot ticket, but book the bike, as space on the Ryde FastCats is limited.
Island Line trains, which take bikes, call at Ryde, Brading, Sandown, Lake and Shanklin, so you can ride one way between Cowes and Sandown or Shanklin and take the train back towards Ryde. For ferry arrivals at Cowes see campsites near the Red Jet.
Bike hire on the trail
Routefifty7 is at Lower Hyde holiday park in Shanklin, beside the trail and near Shanklin station. It hires bikes and e-bikes and is open 9am to 5pm every day through 2026. Wight Cycle Hire, based at Yarmouth, delivers across the island. In October 2026 it listed day hire from £22 for an adult bike and £45 for an e-bike, with a £100 minimum order for delivery.
Where to camp
Alverstone Ponds CL is a members' site right by the cycle track at Alverstone, and Adgestone Campsite is a large riverside park a few hundred metres from it between Sandown and Brading.
At the Shanklin end, Lower Hyde Holiday Park is on the trail and has touring pitches. On the loop, Moor Farm Yurt and The Hut at Godshill Park Farm are both close to the trail at Godshill, and Appuldurcombe Gardens at Wroxall is about half a mile away.
Closures and conditions
When we checked in October 2026, neither the Isle of Wight Council closures list nor Island Roads showed any closure on the trail. The Cement Mills Viaduct reopened after its new deck in November 2025.
Questions people ask
How long is the Red Squirrel Trail?
About 32 miles for the full ride from Cowes, round the loop via Sandown, Shanklin, Wroxall and Godshill, and back. Cowes to Sandown alone, via Merstone and Alverstone, is about 13 miles.
Where does the Red Squirrel Trail start?
Most people start in Cowes, by the Red Jet terminal, or in East Cowes after crossing on the Floating Bridge. You can also join at Newport, Sandown or Shanklin.
Is the Red Squirrel Trail flat?
Mostly. The old railway sections from Cowes to Sandown and from Shanklin to Wroxall have gentle gradients. The loop between Wroxall and Godshill uses bridleways with steeper climbs.
Is the Red Squirrel Trail suitable for children?
The railway sections, such as Newport to Sandown, are traffic-free and nearly flat, which suits children. There are short road sections, and the Wroxall to Godshill loop is harder.
Can you hire bikes on the Red Squirrel Trail?
Yes. Routefifty7 at Lower Hyde in Shanklin is beside the trail, and Wight Cycle Hire delivers bikes across the island.