Isle of Wight named top cycling spot in the world

The Isle of Wight is the Lonely Planet's number one place in the world to cycle.

The ubiquitous travel guide has produced a top ten of places "that should be on every cyclist’s wishlist".

First up is the Isle of Wight, of which Lonely Planet says:

The Isle of Wight is a cycling paradise that is home to some of the UK’s most varied terrain: lush velvet hills rolling into the sea, narrow lanes through tidy hedgerows, deep and mysterious green gullies, and the island’s most striking feature, the ridge of white chalk cliffs stretching across its breadth.

Although cyclists have been enjoying its outdoor pleasures for decades now, it’s only been in recent years that Wight has started to attract young and trendy Londoners looking for a romantic weekend by the sea with a buzz – which gastropubs, slick hotels and a calendar full of festivals now provide.

Other locations that come highly recommended include the west coast of Tasmania in Australia, Mont Ventoux in France, Cuba and Vietnam.

Closer to home, County Clare in Ireland comes in at number 5, along with north-east Italy.