Isle of Wight Beaches

What does a beach mean to you? It may be sandcastles, sunbathing, paddling, surfing or walking along a sandy stretch. Here on the Isle of Wight we have beaches galore for all of this and more and you may even find evidence of dinosaurs too…

The Island has a varied coastline and because of this, can boast cliffs, coves, sandy beaches, secret inlets and rock pools to discover. From the sands of the East Wight at Sandown, Shanklin and Yaverland to the cove at Steephill and right around the West Wight to Compton Bay and Freshwater, you’ll be amazed at just how different the landscape becomes.

Surf, sand and sea

The West Wight beaches are perfect for surfers. In Ryde you'll discover some of the most spacious beaches on the Island. The sand shelves gently into the sea, making it an ideal beach for families. Ryde beaches are easy to get to and you'll enjoy some of the warmest bathing waters on the Island as the incoming tide warms itself coming in over the hot sand. The soaring coastline at Compton Bay can be a fossil finders delight with dinosaur footprints visible at low tide. The towns of Sandown and Shanklin encompass award winning Sandown Bay, which won 'Beach of the Year' in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2019 with the magazine calling it a ‘traditional bucket and spade beach on the east coast of the island with miles of golden sand, pier and eclectic seafront – and just a short walk to peace, fossil-rich cliffs and stunning coastal wildlife’. There are smaller beaches at Ventnor, Colwell Bay and Steephill Cove which all have an have an endearing air of the traditional British holiday about them with beach huts and shore-side cafes.

The ideas above are not exhaustive and in fact its easy to find a relaxing beach spot pretty much everywhere around the Island.

Be beach ready during your stay

Plan your visit to the beach during your stay with the simple-to-use Beach Check App. The app provides real-time information for Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor beaches. You can find out how crowded a beach is so you, your friends and family can enjoy promenades and beaches safely. Using a traffic light system, you will be able to check whether beaches are quiet (marked green), starting to get busier (marked orange) or are congested (marked red). Download the free app to plan your next beach trip.

What to do

Apart from getting your Island dose of vitamin sea and basking in the sun, there are plenty of other things to do just a step away from the beaches. Spend your pennies in traditional seaside amusement arcades, have an ice cream or lunch at one of the many excellent cafes and pubs that use locally sourced produce or take a walk along the coastal paths to experience stunning views and spectacular sunsets. And don’t just think that the beach is for the summer. Some of the best, blustery walks can be had along the beach in winter months and throughout the year. Traditional family holidays very often include a four- legged friend and many of the Island’s beaches are partially dog friendly during the summer months – so bring Fido along, after all, it’s his holiday as well!

Where to stay

There is an enormous amount of accommodation just a stone’s throw away from the beach in some of the most popular resorts on the Island from campsites and holiday cottages to bed and breakfasts and hotels. Throw the windows open and enjoy the fresh air and the views before you step out for your day on the beach.

Clean and serene

Did you know that 11 out of the 14 Island beaches have the highest rating for bathing water quality? Well they do. Having introduced a new standard 4 years ago, the Environment Agency gave the stamp of approval of ‘excellent’ to 11 beaches with the other 3 receiving a rating of ‘good’ so you and yours can paddle and swim knowing that you’re doing so in safe water.

The Isle of Wight also champions the ‘drive less see more’ ethos – it’s simple and easy to get to many of our beaches by foot, bike, bus or train. The recently published Slow Wight Travel Guide has some great ideas for getting around without a car – so why not slow down and see more.