Of course, cycling is something which many people enjoy, providing a much easier mode of transport, and able to cope with the older, smaller tracks, the windy paths, and enables you to explore much more of the island. There are six routes marked out for cyclists, with maps and guides, although plenty of tracks exist for those adventurers who enjoy exploring the island their own way. At least you’ll never be very far from the town, even if you’re on the opposite side of the island, so getting lost isn’t a risk. Whilst on the subject of risk, Nantucket has a law regarding cycle safety, and everyone must wear a helmet – you can’t cycle on Nantucket without one.

Of course, you may well not have your bike with you, or a helmet, but there are plenty of places able to hire out such equipment to you for hourly or daily rates. You can usually find bikes to hire for around twenty dollars a day, or for a whole week for around eighty dollars, which represents very good value for money. The three main bike rental places to consider are the Island Bike Company or the Nantucket Bike Shop which are also able to hire out scooters for those who don’t feel quite up to all that pedalling! Scooters are available for about fifty dollars a day. The third company is Young’s Bicycle Shop, and despite the name, they also rent cars and jeeps.

Photo by Terry Pommett

One of the beauties of such a wild, undisturbed island is the wealth of natural wildlife, and the ease of accessing quiet rural areas to enjoy it. Bird watching is a very popular activity, and there are several excellent guided tours for those who would like to find out more. As a third of the island is protected land, there are several very abundant habitats where a wide range of species of bird can be found and watched.