BEACH GUIDE
Our clean and serene beaches
11 out of the 14 Island beaches have the highest rating for bathing water quality. The Environment Agency gave the stamp of approval of ‘excellent’ to 11 beaches with the other 3 receiving a rating of ‘good’.
Brook Bay & Compton Beach
Compton Beach offers a two mile stretch of contrasting golden and dark sands, with rolling seas, tumbling multi-coloured sandstone cliffs, and the white chalk cliffs at Freshwater in the distance.Reminiscent of the beaches in Cornwall or even on the west coast of America, and popular with surfers, Compton is a totally natural do-it-yourself beach.
Bring all you need including windbreaks (if necessary), body and surf boards and food and drink, although there is an ice-cream van that also vends beverages and snacks.Steep steps lead down to the beach from Hanover Point/Shippard's Chine where there is a large National Trust car park. Within this car park there are National Trust visitor facilities that includes three unisex cubicles, baby change facilities, a larger accessible WC and a 'Changing Places' standard cubicle. Or drive further west to Compton Chine/Farm and find a smaller National Trust car park on the opposite side of the coastal road and tiered steep steps down to the beach.Compton is a great place to pick up fossils, including those of dinosaurs, and you can book tours on the beach to see the dinosaur footprints in the sandstone ledge at Hanover Point that are exposed at low tide.The beach is ideal for games and sandcastle making, especially at low tide and you may catch sight of paragliders passing over the cliff line or kite surfers out at sea. Please note there are seasonal restrictions on dogs for this beach.
TOP TIPS: Walk about half way down the beach between Hanover Point and Compton Chine and you'll avoid the rocky outcrop in the shallows of the sea when you swim.
FRESHWATER BAY
Freshwater Bay is one of the most picturesque beaches in West Wight and lies just to the South of the town of Freshwater. The beach is covered in a mixture of grey flint and chalk pebbles that make a unique sound as the waves rise and fall onto the shore. There is sand below the low water mark and some sandy areas to sit if you walk to the more eastern side of the bay. There is also a rock ledge revealed at low tide at this side, which is great for rockpooling with your kids.
The Bay has been hewn from the chalk cliffs that surround it by thousands of years of exposure to the waves and the small river that runs from here to Yarmouth. Now dammed at this end, leaving a marsh in the hollow of the bay area, the river Yar flows northwards from here and the sea wall and coastal road prevent its egress to the sea.
Smugglers once used the caves around the bottom of the chalk cliffs that are exposed at low tide – if you wish to explore them it is best to find a local guide as you can become cut off by the tide. Kayaking is the ideal way to see them and the other small bays, Watcombe and Scratchells, that are also hewn from the chalk. This beach is popular for surfing and watersports and boats will moor offshore to come ashore. The Freshwater Independent Lifeboat is launched from this bay when required by those in trouble at sea.
Overlooking the bay is the Albion Hotel that houses a public bar or visit the Dimbola museum and galleries for an afternoon tea. Dimbola was the home and workplace of the internationally acclaimed Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron.
TOP TIP: Wait until an abnormally low tide (see tide tables) to walk across the rocky exposed ledge to see the caves and small bay to the western side of Freshwater Bay.
Steephill Cove
Tucked away at the foot of the Ventnor Undercliff area, and only accessible by foot is one of the Isle of Wight’s true hidden gems; Steephill Cove. A great place to relax and escape from the world, Steephill Cove offers a great mixture of beautiful scenery, clear swimming waters and rock pools to explore.The buildings in the cove make up a large part of its charm with brightly coloured beach huts and old fisherman’s cottages, with traditional deck chairs, lobster pots and fishing tackle dotted around the area.There is a beach café to the rear of Steephill Cove which serves hot and cold refreshments and food, and there are also restaurants serving locally caught seafood during the season.
TOP TIP:Steephill Cove is a beautiful place to visit whatever the time of year, however out of season many of the cafes and restaurants are closed so be sure to pack your own lunch and refreshments if you are looking to explore the area during the Winter months.
GETTING THERE:Access to the cove is made via a walk from Ventnor Esplanade and Beach along the coast path, or a steeper descent down Love Lane which runs past Ventnor cricket club. It is also possible to get to Steephill Cove by walking from the back of the Ventnor Botanic Gardens, where the path joins the end of Love Lane.
Ventnor beach
is the southernmost holiday beach on the Isle of Wight and is well-loved by locals and visitors alike. Nestled in the bay beneath the tumbling tiers of the Victorian town, Ventnor’s red shingle and golden sand beach has vintage beach huts that once had wheels and transported the gentry down to the sea to bath as they were bathing machines. These can be hired on a daily basis from the hut on the sea wall, as can deckchairs, sun loungers and wind breaks, which are hammered into the sand for you with an old wooden mallet.
The Cascade road winds its way around a rocky waterfall to arrive on the seafront where a bandstand-like structure stands with 360 degree views from its lofty viewing platform. A small haven sits to the left of this and a long rock spit stretches out to sea: an ideal walk with your camera to then look back on the seafront and Cascade. Inside the Haven is a short pier used by local fishermen, who supply wet fish and seafood courtesy of the shop in the building on top – local caught fish and chips are served from a side window.
Opposite here at the foot of the Cascade is the famous Isle of Wight paddling pool, a giant replica of the Isle of Wight map showing all the major towns and roads, that has entertained children for over 100 years. Next to it is a restaurant serving great all day breakfasts as well as lunches and snacks.
Walk along the seafront and there are all the ingredients of an ideal beach holiday: ice-creams, a bistro-style bar serving tapas and drinks, a beach shop, more cafes and, crowning the bay, the world famous Spyglass Inn, which has a quirky nautical-themed interior and upper and lower deck terraces overlooking the sea.
TOP TIP:
Swim from the middle of the beach – there is a channel here free of rocks that was cleared by the fishermen many years ago. At low tide a ridge of rocks appear from beneath the waves and children love to climb and explore them.
Ventnor Beach
Boxing Day Dip
Thanks to Wavy wight for sharing your wisdom...
