Ventor Beach : Colin Tompkins
Top of the list for many holidaymakers is a day or two spent on one of the Island’s glorious beaches. We’re certainly blessed with more than our fair share of them – from quiet coves in the middle of nowhere to huge bays that are the focal points of vibrant family resorts. Choosing where to go can be tough, but have no fear – help is at hand with this whistle-stop coastal tour, starting at East Cowes and heading clockwise around the Island…
EAST COWESThis sand and shingle beach, at the head of the River Medina, is a popular spot. Seafront facilities include a promenade, woodland walks, a children’s play area and a great view across Cowes harbour. |
PUCKPOOLA sandy, sheltered beach, Puckpool is popular with families, and a fantastic spot for beach games as the tide goes out a long, long way. One note of warning – people (…) |
RYDEThis six-mile beach is made up of long stretches of golden sand as well as a number of quiet bays. The beach is popular with surfers and kitesurfers, while its gentle shelving (…) |
SPRINGVALEJust to the east of Ryde, this long sand and pebble beach is next door to Puckpool Park and affords beautiful views of the Solent. Popular with families. |
SEAVIEWThe beach at this traditional seaside village is full of rock pools, which makes it a great place to go crabbing and shrimping. The sailing centre here hosts races most weekends and summer evenings. |
SPRINGVALEJust to the east of Ryde, this long sand and pebble beach is next door to Puckpool Park and affords beautiful views of the Solent. Popular with families. |
SEAGROVE BAYThis sand and shingle bay is a peach. Set is in a glorious, secluded setting, the beach slopes gently and is lapped by calm waters, making it, generally speaking, a fine place to swim. |
ST HELENSThis secluded gem is dotted with dunes, and famed for the wide range of birdlife that call the place home. It is good for swimming and rockpooling, and has spectacular views of Bembridge Harbour. |
BEMBRIDGEStrictly speaking, Bembridge is home not just to one beach, but to several – all of them are pebble, rock and sand, and popular with walkers and beachcombers. For the young at heart or for those with young children, make sure you (…) |
WHITECLIFF BAYA pretty, sandy bay sheltered by the huge Culver Cliffs. The beach – accessed via steps – is great for swimming and watersports, and is home to a popular café. There are a number of footpaths here, including cliff top walks with sweeping views of the area. |
YAVERLANDA hotspot for windsurfing and sailing, this quiet, gently shelving sandy beach lies less than a mile from Sandown town centre. The beach, which adjoins the huge Culver Cliffs, is also one of the Island’s premier locations for fossil hunting. In 2012, Yaverland Beach was recommended by the Marine Conservation Society for the quality of its waters. |
SANDOWNSandown is the Island’s biggest resort. Its huge sandy beach stretches all the way to Shanklin, and its clean waters are great for swimming, windsurfing and sailing. In the heart of the resort, the beach boasts waterfront cafés, bars, (…) |
SHANKLINA wonderful, sandy beach that’s accessible either via steps or by the famous lift that’s built onto its imposing cliffs. It’s quieter than Sandown but on the same beautiful stretch of coast. Safe swimming due to its gentle shelving and (…) |
BONCHURCHPretty Bonchurch beach is made up of shingle with some patches of sand. Rock promontories extend out into the sea and at low tide reveal rock pools. A short stroll along the shore, past tiny fisherman’s cottages, takes you to the charming resort of Ventnor. |
NO DOGSBetween 1st May and 30th September each year, dogs are banned from a number of Island beaches that are owned by the Isle of Wight Council where a byelaw is in place prohibiting people (other than a registered blind person) from allowing their dog(s) to enter or remain on the beaches and any slope or staircase leading on to the beach. |
VENTNORVisit this delightful, crescentshaped, sandy beach at lowtide, as there’s not much left of it when the tide comes in. There’s good swimming here, but hidden rocks and a strong tide mean it’s not great for watersports. |
STEEPHILL COVEAs its name suggests, this beach, just outside Ventnor, is not exactly easy to get to. You can only reach it on foot, but it really is well worth the effort. It is a beautiful bay – peaceful, secluded, (…) [dropdown_box start="hide"]
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REETH BAYJust to the east of St Catherine’s Point, Reeth Bay is hidden away – and all the more charming for it. The 300-metre wide beach is flanked by sheer cliffs and accessed via a one-mile track that’s only just suitable for road vehicles. |
BROOKThis pretty, sandy beach is famous for the fossilised remains of a prehistoric pine forest that’s visible at low tide. Eagle-eyed bathers should also look out for fossils in the surrounding cliffs. |
COMPTON BAYThis two-mile stretch of redgold sand is backed (and sheltered) by substantial cliffs. Largely off the tourist trail, there’s good swimming here and the place is a real hotspot for surfers and kitesurfers. It’s also a great place to go fossil(…) |
FRESHWATER BAYA small bay with a beach made up of pebbles, shingle & sand. Backed and flanked by imposing chalk cliffs, this is one of the best swimming areas off the Island, although the beach shelves fairly steeply into the sea. There are toilet (…) |
ALUM BAYOffering superb views of the Needles, this pebble beach is a fantastic place to watch the setting sun. There are strong currents here, so take care if you’re looking to get more than your feet wet. Steps and a chairlift take you up the towering cliffs to the popular Needles Park overlooking the bay. |
TOTLAND BAYThis is a true joy – one of the best places on the Island to watch the setting sun. The beach is rarely crowded, and is pebbly at the high water mark with golden sand towards the sea. It has a pier, a waterfront restaurant with fabulous (…) |
COLWELL BAYThe unspoilt West Wight resort of Colwell Bay is popular with families and locals, with waterfront cafés, beach huts, watersports and a small amusement arcade. The actual beach is shingle and sand, and affords fabulous views of (…) |
YARMOUTHThis shingle and sand beach is a great place to relax and watch the comings and goings of birds and yachts, but do take care if you take to the water – strong currents mean swimming is not generally recommended. |
GURNARD BAYA sand and shingle beach which shelves gently into the sea. Like neighbouring Cowes, Gurnard is a perfect spot for admiring boats and watching the world sail by. Cafés proliferate on the promenade behind the beach, (…) |
WEST COWESThe beach at Princes Esplanade is ideal for family swimming and for watching the comings and goings out at sea. The sand and shingle seafront is just yards from the town’s shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants, and there’s a good stroll to be had along the broad promenades and sea wall. |