Mottistone to Compton cycle trail
Follow our mainly off-road circular cycle trail to visit the Mottistone Estate, Compton Downs and our newly-acquired Dunsbury, enjoying one of the best chalk ridge cycle rides in Britain.
Map
Elevation
Start:
Mottistone Gardens National Trust car park, grid ref: SZ405838
1
Turn left out of the car park. Follow the B-road through Mottistone and take the first left turn into Strawberry Lane at the top of a gentle rise. Turn left just after our estate office buildings into a car park under the trees, and follow the gravel track up the hill to the Long Stone and Mottistone Common. This track leads to our holiday cottage, so beware of cars.
Long Stone and Mottistone Common
The Long Stone dates from Neolithic times - 6,000 years ago. The stones are believed to have marked the entrance to a long barrow or burial chamber and may well have been used in Saxon times as a meeting place; it is also known as the Moot or 'meeting' stone, from which Mottistone takes its name. Mottistone Common, once partly conifer-clad, is now restored heathland and nightjars nest here between May and July.
2
After seeing the Long Stone, carry on upwards, but take the first right through a gate and into the wood (BS88). After the next gate, follow this grassy track left and upwards along the side of Harboro Down until it meets the Tennyson trail (BS44). Turn left, go through the gates and down the hill. Cross the road and continue along the Tennyson trail, now BS53. Take the more steeply rising chalk track up Brook Down. Follow the terrific ridge track over Compton Down and descend Afton Down through a golf course, keeping a look out for golfers. Bear left near to the main road into the top corner of the chalk car park.
Brook, Compton and Afton Downs
Brook, Compton and Afton Downs make up one of the best areas of chalk grassland in Britain, largely unchanged since the Ice Age. The downs are grazed by Galloway cattle which help to produce a patchwork of gorse, scrub and open grassland. This encourages a rich variety of chalk-loving flowers. It is also perfect habitat for butterflies including dark green fritillary, Adonis blue and chalkhill blue. The Tennyson Trail traverses the top of the downland ridge.
3
Turn left onto the A3055 Military Road and up over the crest of the hill overlooking Compton Bay. Then enjoy a good free-wheel down to a farm and camping site entrance in the dip just before the next rise. Turn left and over the cattle grid to Compton Farm. Bear right through the farmyard and through a gate on Byway F55. The track is narrow and can be muddy as it leads steeply upwards onto open land. Go through more gates, keeping just to the left of the ridge top, to reach a path junction.
Compton Bay
Take a moment to enjoy the coast views from the Military road. The many coloured cliffs provide a wonderful backdrop. They also tell the story of the last period of geological time when dinosaurs still roamed the earth – from the grey rocks in the distance where dinosaur foot casts can be seen at low tide, to the white chalk cliffs which are full of marine fossils. Compton Bay has great beaches for surfing, swimming and picnicking.
4
Turn right into the lane and descend, pass Dunsbury Farm, and carry straight on down the grassy BS49 between hedges. Always descending, follow this bridleway to its end in Brook.
Dunsbury
Dunsbury, our largest coastal acquisition for 20 years, has stunning views along the chalk cliffs towards the Needles. The chalk downland is home to an amazing 33 species of butterfly, including the rare Glanville fritillary. Dunsbury links the land we already own at Compton and Mottistone, providing us with a large swathe of arable land, grass downland and woodland. Our vision for Dunsbury is to create the right habitats for wildlife to flourish.
5
Turn left onto the road through Brook village, turning right at a fork just before it meets a B-road. Follow this road through Hulverstone and back to Mottistone Gardens car park. Mottistone Gardens opening hours are 10.30am-5pm every day from mid March to the end of October. Note that the Manor is not open to the public.
Mottistone
Mottistone village with its Elizabethan manor house, garden and pretty country church is part of the Mottistone Estate, purchased by the Seely family in 1861. Changes to the way of life in the 19th century meant that many rural hamlets all but disappeared, but Mottistone enjoyed something of a revival in the 1920s when the Seely family moved into the Manor. Mottistone Gardens is a 20th century garden which has taken advantage of its southerly location to experiment with a Mediterranean-style planting.
End:
Mottistone Gardens National Trust car park, grid ref: SZ405838
